Jerry Reinsdorf is regarded as one of baseball’s infamous owners. Because of his thrift and his part in the team’s competitive window being abruptly closed, he is not loved by the team’s supporters.
His antiquated ideas about how a baseball team should be managed are well known to have played a significant role in the team’s record-breaking 121-loss season in 2024.
Now that he is refusing to give two wealthy brothers, Justin and Mat Ishbia, majority control of the organization, it feels like he is keeping the team hostage.
Jerry Reinsdorf Continues To Control Chicago White Sox
According to a local sports talk station, 670 the Score, Justin and Mat Ishbia now own 35% of the White Sox, but Jerry Reinsdorf remains the controlling partner with his 20% stake.
Fans have been frustrated with the team’s ownership for their poor performance. Cries to sell the team echo in many home games of the White Sox.
Recently, the 1962 New York Mets’ record of 120 losses was eclipsed by the White Sox, making it the worst record in modern baseball history in terms of total losses. They have three consecutive losing streaks of 12 or more games, making them the first team to do so since 1900.
The White Sox have lost by almost 300 runs to their opponents. The South Siders, who lost 101 games the previous season, were not anticipated to compete. However, none anticipated this degree of incapacity.
In 1981, a group of businessmen led by the 88-year-old Reinsdorf (who owns the Chicago Bulls as well) paid $19 million to purchase the franchise. Since winning the World Series in 2005, they have only gone to the playoffs three times, losing each time.
Games are definitely won by the players, but a lot depends on the ownership, too. The White Sox are often called a dysfunctional franchise with an outdated owner in Reinsdorf. He has occasionally carried a sizable major league payroll while refusing to make investments in the state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure required for success.
READ MORE: Ex-World Series Winner Drops Embarrassing ‘Truth’ About White Sox’s Outdated Operations
Some of Chicago’s wounds, like appointing Tony La Russa to manage, were immediate and self-inflicted. Others, like a leadership structure that caused division and the team’s resistance to embracing analytics, festered for years.
All of this stems from Reinsdorf, who last season disregarded requests from other members of the company to interview external candidates for general manager and instead promoted internal prospects. Because he didn’t like his manner, Reinsdorf even let well-known broadcaster Jason Benetti go.
However, Reinsdorf also has a fondness for the way baseball was played in the past. He is characterized by sources as obstinate and often hesitant to change to recent times.