Even more so than usual, the 2024 MLB season has given us countless entertaining, unusual, and unexpected moments. From historic failures and embarrassments to majestic achievements and comebacks, I have compiled several of the most interesting, notable, and entertaining footnotes from this past season.
Low: The Lowly White Sox
Despite a second-last finish in the AL Central just last season, hopes were high for Southside Chicago’s beloved team coming into 2024. With Cuban phenom Luis Robert Jr. leading the squad, coming off of his first All-Star selection at just 25 years old, the team appeared to have the star power it had previously lacked. This, combined with an array of new acquisitions, led fans to anticipate improvements on a disappointing year.
Regrettably, however, the opposite was true. Following a less-than-promising 3-22 start (T-worst in MLB history), they proceeded to a final record of 41-121, the worst since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, and the most losses of all time. Their 21-game losing streak through July and August has been the worst in AL history, and the team’s dismal offense, led by the struggles of the aforementioned Robert Jr., scored nearly 100 runs fewer than the second-worst team, complemented by a pitching staff fourth-worst in the league. Truly a season to forget.
High: Late-Career Resurgences and Unexpected Breakouts
Contrasting the White Sox’s 2024 struggles is the success of their former ace Chris Sale, who, in his first season with the Atlanta Braves, led the NL in strikeouts, ERA (the amount of runs allowed per game), and wins, and looks to take home his first Cy Young Award (the trophy for the best pitcher in each league). Since his 2018 World Series Championship with Boston, the 35 year old has suffered from: a season-ending elbow inflammation in 2019, a missed 2020 season due to elbow surgery, a late start in 2021 due to surgery recovery, COVID-19, a broken wrist, a broken finger, and a rib injury all in 2022, as well as a stress reaction in his shoulder in 2023. His resurgence has been one of the most inspirational storylines of the year, as he has reclaimed his rightful spot as one of baseball’s best.
In another surprising turn, Kansas City starting pitcher Seth Lugo played in his first All-Star game at 34 years old, following a tumultuous career with three teams which saw his role fluctuate between a starting and bench player. San Francisco outfielder Heliot Ramos was also chosen as an All-Star in his breakout season. With just twelve hits and a single home-run to his name entering 2024, Ramos hit 22, leading his Giants and becoming an everyday starter for the first time. Finally, in his first season with our own Texas Rangers, closing pitcher Kirby Yates was an All-Star at 37 years old, five years since his last selection, a span which saw him miss the entirety of 2021 due to surgery.
Low: World Series Hangover
Despite the MVP-caliber play of Arizona’s Ketel Marte and Rangers Rookie Wyatt Langford’s breakout season, neither of the two 2023 World Series teams qualified for the 2024 Playoffs. Underwhelming performances on both sides of the ball caused the two sides to sit out these playoffs, the first time the two reigning World Series teams have done so in 17 years. Arizona’s woes are largely due to a rough season from their 2023 season’s two best players; Corbin Carroll, the reigning Rookie of the Year, saw his batting average drop from .285 to a miserable .231, and Zac Gallen, a top-3 Cy Young finisher last year, struggled to stay healthy and pitched many less innings than he had hoped. Similarly, Texas’ star players also underperformed, as Marcus Semien and Adolis García saw their batting numbers drop, while pitcher Nathan Eovaldi’s ERA jumped, as he struggled as the team’s star pitcher in Jordan Montgomery’s absence.
High: Family Connections
2024 saw the debuts of several players with familiar names, including those of former All-Stars and Hall of Famers. Luisangel Acuña, brother of Atlanta’s MVP Robert, appeared in 14 games for the Mets, hitting three home runs and batting over .300. 20 year old Jackson Holliday, son of St. Louis and Colorado’s Matt Holliday, started his career for Baltimore, hitting five homers in his rookie year. Finally, Darren Baker, son of former Houston coach Dusty, batted .500 through his first nice career games for the Nationals.
Low: The End of an Era
Four World Series Championships. Seven league MVPs. Five Cy Young Awards. 4,762 total games won. A hundred-million-dollar box-office blockbuster film. For half a century, East Bay residents have been treated to countless highlights and cherished memories from their beloved Oakland Athletics, from the charisma of MVP Ricky Henderson’s base-running, to the home runs of MVPs Canseco, Jackson, and Tejada, and to the dazzling pitching of Barry Zito and MVP Dennis Eckersley.
However, in the summer of last year, following low attendance and the denial of a new stadium’s construction, owner John Fisher decided to relocate to Las Vegas. As the A’s have no contract in place with the infamous Oakland Coliseum next year, they are expected to play 2026’s games in the AAA Sacramento River Cat’s stadium under the sole name “Athletics.” The team, who finished with a 93-loss season this year, has sparked little hope for their future, despite a young roster and the optimism for a fresh start.
NEED CONCLUSION HERE
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