Chicago White Sox fans have purchased two billboards urging owner Jerry Reinsdorf to sell the team.
The Chicago White Sox have not had the most success as of late. After a strong 2021 season that saw them win the AL Central for the first time since 2008, the White Sox drastically underperformed their expectations this past campaign. Sure, injuries played a part in it, but the team finished second with an 81-81 record.
With the offseason underway, disgruntled White Sox fans wanted to let owner Jerry Reinsdorf know of their displeasure. A White Sox fan decided to launch a GoFundMe to purchase a billboard with the message “Sell the Team, Jerry” near Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
The goal was set for $2,100. As of this writing, it is over $5,000, and now two billboards will be purchased, per Block Club Chicago.
White Sox fans purchase billboard urging owner Jerry Reinsdorf to sell the team
The fan who organized the GoFundMe page, Bennett Karoll, spoke with Mack Leiderman of Block Club Chicago and had this to say about the state of the team.
“The team just has so many holes in it,” said Karoll, h/t Block Club Chicago . “Some of our best players are gone, and our competitive window should be now. We needed to make more moves and there’s been nothing. I’m tired of the Sox being marred in mediocrity.”
This offseason, the team saw first baseman Jose Abreu leave for the Houston Astros on a three-year, $58.5 million contract. Although, Abreu did say that the White Sox gave him a “really good offer.”
Their major additions this offseason included signing former Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger to a one-year, $12 million contract, and former Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees outfielder Andrew Benintendi to a five-year, $75 million.
Since purchasing the team in 1981, the White Sox have made it to the playoffs just seven times. He does have a World Series title to his credit in 2004, but that was their only appearance.
Reinsdorf may be hearing the complaints from the fanbase, but now he will probably see those complaints in the form of two billboards near the home stadium.