The Chicago White Sox clinched a playoff spot on Thursday, September 24, by routing the Kansas City Royals 9-1, completing one of the most stunning turnarounds in baseball history.

The win guaranteed Chicago no worse than one of the three American League wild-card spots and sent the team to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

No team in Major League Baseball history had reached the playoffs right after three straight seasons of 100 or more losses. These White Sox did it with three games to spare.

They can still win the AL Central. Thursday's victory lifted Chicago to 82-77, half a game behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians at 82-76.

For a franchise that lost 121 games in 2024, the clinch turned the South Side into the feel-good story of the season.