NL Central
Chicago Cubs
Wrigley Field · Chicago
The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball team in the National League Central division.
Interleague Rivalry
Cubs–White Sox
Chicago's Crosstown Classic
A geographic rivalry between Chicago's North Side Cubs and South Side White Sox, now branded the Crosstown Classic. It pits two fan bases that share one city but little else, from neighborhood loyalty to league allegiance.
The Rivalry
The feud predates regular interleague competition by nearly a century. From 1903 to 1942 the clubs met in the City Series, a best-of-seven postseason exhibition the White Sox dominated. Their lone World Series clash came in 1906, when the underdog "Hitless Wonders" White Sox upset the heavily favored Cubs in six games. For decades afterward the rivalry was largely civic pride, since the two played in separate leagues. That changed in 1997, when interleague play sent the clubs into regular-season meetings. The series gained an edge in 2006 when a home-plate collision triggered a brawl between catchers Michael Barrett and A.J. Pierzynski. With Wrigley Field on the North Side and the White Sox park on the South Side, the rivalry remains rooted in neighborhood identity as much as standings.
What's at Stake
Because the Cubs and White Sox play in different leagues and divisions, almost nothing in the standings hinges on these games, which makes pride the whole point. The split runs down neighborhood and family lines, North Side versus South Side, and the annual series settles a year of office and barroom arguments. With both ballparks inside one city, fans can attend without leaving home.
Famous Moments
- 1906 — The White Sox, nicknamed the "Hitless Wonders," upset the favored Cubs in six games for the franchises' only World Series meeting.
- 1997 — The Cubs beat the White Sox 8-3 at Comiskey Park in the first regular-season game between the clubs.
- 2005 — The White Sox won the World Series, their first title since 1917, sharpening South Side bragging rights.
- 2006 — Cubs catcher Michael Barrett punched A.J. Pierzynski after a home-plate collision, sparking a brawl.
- 2016 — The Cubs won the World Series, ending a 108-year drought.
The Two Teams
Plan the Trip
No rivalry is easier to see in a single trip, because both ballparks sit within Chicago. Visit Wrigley Field on the North Side, a 1914 landmark with ivy-covered walls and the surrounding Wrigleyville bars. Then head south to Rate Field for a modern stadium and a passionate South Side crowd. Pairing two historic clubs in one transit-friendly city makes this an essential baseball bucket-list stop.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cubs–White Sox
The two teams first met in 1903. A geographic rivalry between Chicago's North Side Cubs and South Side White Sox, now branded the Crosstown Classic. It pits two fan bases that share one city but little else, from neighborhood loyalty to league allegiance.
Because the Cubs and White Sox play in different leagues and divisions, almost nothing in the standings hinges on these games, which makes pride the whole point. The split runs down neighborhood and family lines, North Side versus South Side, and the annual series settles a year of office and barroom arguments. With both ballparks inside one city, fans can attend without leaving home.
Yes — they meet in an interleague series during the 2026 MLB season.
Chicago Cubs host at Wrigley Field in Chicago; Chicago White Sox play at Rate Field in Chicago.