Daily Herald opinion: A crosstown World Series? For once, it’s not a pipe dream

It’s a great year to be a baseball fan in Chicago.

Normally, when the calendar turns to September, at least one fan base — oftentimes both — turns its attention to the Bears.

Not this year, though.

On the South Side, the White Sox are the biggest surprise in baseball. One year after losing 102 games, the Sox are in first place in the AL Central with 18 games left in the season.

On the North Side, the Cubs are trailing the Brewers — again — but are in a great position to make the playoffs.

Both teams making the playoffs is rare air for the city.

None of us were around the first time it happened in 1906, when the two teams met in the World Series. The Sox shocked the Cubs, winning the series in six games.

102 years later, both teams made it in 2008. Neither team lasted long.

Not even a priest sprinkling holy water in the dugout could help the Cubs, as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept them. The White Sox didn’t fare any better, losing in four games to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Both teams made the playoffs in the 2020 COVID-19 season, but with no fans in the stands, it was tough to get too excited.

There wasn’t much to cheer about anyway. The Cubs scored one run and were swept by the Marlins. That was the last playoff series for Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and the remaining members of the 2016 World Series team.

The White Sox, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, beat Oakland in Game 1, but dropped the next two games. With a young core, that team seemed poised for years of success. One more playoff bid was all that group could get before another rebuild, though.

Going into this season, there wasn’t much reason to think both teams would make the playoffs. The Cubs were the favorites to win the NL Central, but the White Sox were coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, and their young core looked a year or two away from contending for a playoff spot.

But the Sox rebuild is way ahead of schedule. We hope this young core of talented players pans out better than the last rebuild.

With Pete Crow-Armstrong leading the way, the Cubs look like a team that could contend for years to come, too.

The Crosstown Classic was an actual classic this year. Games were filled with drama and excitement on the field and in the stands.

Can you imagine a Crosstown World Series?

While the odds are against either team making the World Series, we can dream. That’s what October baseball is all about.