Reinsdorf taking in special White Sox playoff run no one saw coming

HOUSTON -- White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has a sharp sense of humor, and it was made a little bit sharper with the vast success of his team during this 2026 season.

It was on full display Wednesday night following the South Siders’ 7-3 victory over the Astros at Daikin Park, locking down the American League Wild Card Series in Game 2.

Before providing great commentary on what this current group has accomplished, Reinsdorf couldn’t help but take a few playful jabs at some of the articles that were written when he hired Chris Getz as general manager.

“I lived up to the faith you guys all had in me when I hired Chris,” said a smiling Reinsdorf. “You know, happy we vindicated your judgment in praising me for hiring him.”

Of course, there were quite a few questions when Getz was announced as the team’s new general manager on Aug. 31, 2023. Getz served as director of player development during the last rebuild, which ultimately netted the organization two playoff game victories. Fans were wondering what exactly would change.

This thought process wasn’t exactly altered when the team lost a single-season Modern Era record of 121 games in 2024. But here they are, just two years later, with Reinsdorf joined by his sons, Michael and Jonathan, observing yet another raucous celebration in the visitors’ clubhouse in Houston.

The last celebration he witnessed, when the 2005 White Sox completed a four-game World Series sweep, also marked the organization’s last playoff series victory.

“That was a pretty good night, too. That was 2005. I remember that it was unbelievable. That was unbelievable, that series,” Reinsdorf said. “But there’s something better about this because nobody thought that this club could win except the players.

“In Spring Training, they thought they were going to win. Nobody believed them, but they did. It’s a young [team], it’s almost like a college group. It’s just unbelievable. It’s just a great, great team.”

It’s been a great time, too. Is it the most fun Reinsdorf has experienced in his 46 seasons as White Sox chairman? It was tough for him to choose.

“It’s just been gratifying. I don’t know about fun,” Reinsdorf said. “It’s been gratifying to see these kids who believed in themselves when very few other people did believe in them. They were the ones that did. It’s all different.

“Those six [Michael] Jordan years [with the Bulls] were unbelievable. The ‘83 [White Sox] team was unbelievable. The players they had, a mix of some of the greatest guys. The World Series? How do you beat that? There’s no point in trying to grade them and say which one is better than the other. Enjoy each one as it comes along.”

Reinsdorf started to believe in this team having a postseason chance sometime after the All-Star break. They made it tougher on themselves by falling short of the American League Central title, finishing one game behind the Guardians, who host the White Sox in the AL Division Series on Saturday afternoon.

Their celebration was made even sweeter on Wednesday because Getz was at the center of it all, staying true to his process, and staying true to his beliefs. He built a fearless team that really enjoys being around each other on a daily basis.

“When I started out the interview process, Chris was not on my list of people who I thought were going to get the job,” Reinsdorf said. “I started talking to all the people in the baseball department, different people in the organization, to find out what went wrong. I wanted to know how we got to where we did.

“Chris of course had an important job. I would talk to him from time to time. As time went on, I realized I got my guy right here.”

Reinsdorf’s hiring process with Getz reminded him of house hunting.

“One of the worst things that can happen when you are house hunting is to find the best house first and you keep on going, and [then] somebody else bought the house,” Reinsdorf said. “I realized I had the guy, I didn’t want to go beyond that. There was no reason. I felt in my bones he was the right guy.

“As I said at the time, by starting early it gave us a heads up and a partial season to get started. He’s done a terrific job and I really appreciate all the times you guys have written about you were wrong when I hired Chris.”

One more good-natured jab seems fitting with the way this ‘26 team has gone.