The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

Mike Vasil on Tarik Skubal, Harry Potter & keys to beating Guardians

White Sox pitcher Mike Vasil returns for his third monthly check-in of the season, but this time the fans take over in a special Ask Me Anything episode. Vasil shares the origin story of the famous wizard hat, discusses what Kyle Teel’s return means to the team, provides an update on his rehab, and answers everything from his exchange with Tarik Skubal and the future of the magic wand to Portillo’s orders, potential managerial aspirations, whether he sees the White Sox as a playoff team, and more.

Ron Kittle on the 1983 "Winning Ugly" White Sox

Chuck Garfien sits down with former White Sox Rookie of the Year, All-Star, and fan favorite Ron Kittle to relive the magic of the 1983 “Winning Ugly” team that captured the AL West title. Kittle shares stories about how the White Sox found him, what made that club so special, memorable moments from the division-clinching season, and the heartbreak of the 1983 ALCS. He also looks ahead to the upcoming 1983 team reunion, reflects on the unforgettable 25-inning game in 1984, and shares his thoughts on the up-and-coming 2026 White Sox.

MLB Network’s Brian Kenny on why the White Sox are for real

Chuck Garfien sits down with Brian Kenny to discuss whether the White Sox are for real and what their recent stretch against the Braves and Dodgers says about the team's progress. Brian compares the White Sox rebuild to successful turnarounds from the past, weighs their chances of winning the AL Central, and breaks down the breakout seasons of Miguel Vargas and Davis Martin. They also discuss the role of technology in hamate bone injuries, preview his upcoming conversation with Ozzie Guillén, and look back on his memorable debate with legendary White Sox announcer Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson on MLB Network.

Kyle Teel on storm chasing, calling Braden Montgomery's home run & more

Chuck Garfien sits down with White Sox catcher Kyle Teel to talk about where he is in his road to recovery from a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. Kyle also tells Chuck that if he weren't playing baseball, he would be a storm chaser.

Ask Me Anything: Chuck answers questions on Braden Montgomery, Trade Deadline, Stacey King & more

Chuck Garfien opens the mailbag and answers a wide range of questions from White Sox fans in this Ask Me Anything episode. He shares his thoughts on Braden Montgomery's future, compares the current White Sox to teams from different eras of franchise history, and identifies the South Side hitter opposing pitchers least want to face right now.
Chuck also tackles a wave of trade deadline scenarios, including whether he would pursue Tarik Skubal, which impact bat he'd like to add, and the surprising All-Star he’d target in a hypothetical deal. Plus he recommends some of his favorite White Sox books, reflects on memorable pickup basketball games during his ESPN days, shares his favorite pizza, and looks back on cherished memories of Stacey King.

Bob Costas talks '83 White Sox, baseball broadcasters, Paul McCartney & more

Chuck Garfien talks with legendary broadcaster Bob Costas to revisit iconic White Sox history, including the 1983 "Winning Ugly" team and the All-Star Game that lit up Comiskey Park that same summer. Bob also reflects on broadcasting giants Vin Scully and Harry Caray and shares his favorite memory from Later with Bob Costas: a sit-down with Paul McCartney that he calls the highlight of his career.
Chuck gets Bob's thoughts on calling Bulls games at Chicago Stadium, the dynasty years with Michael Jordan, and the moment he realized he had just called a historic shot against the Utah Jazz. Plus, Bob weighs in on Ozzie Guillen, the upcoming 80s-themed game where he'll join Steve Stone in the booth, and whether this current White Sox team has a path to October.

If it’s not Roch Cholowsky, could the White Sox draft Grady Emerson instead?

Chuck Garfien welcomes former major leaguer and current head coach for Fort Worth Christian Rusty Greer for an inside look at one of the most talked-about names heading into the 2026 MLB draft, Grady Emerson. Greer breaks down what separates Emerson from other top prospects, the big-league players he sees in his game, and why his makeup continues to stand out just as much as the tools that have him projected near the top of the draft.
Greer shares stories from Emerson’s rise, including arranging a meeting with Bobby Witt Sr. and Bobby Witt Jr., navigating a season filled with scouts and expectations, and watching Emerson thrive under pressure while posting eye-popping numbers. Chuck also asks Greer about his playing days when he was a bonafide White Sox killer. 

Tyler Davis: The call-up NOBODY saw coming

Tyler Davis joins the podcast to reflect on the winding path that finally led him to the major leagues at 27 years old. Davis revisits his days as a two-way standout at Sam Houston State, where he posted a 1.112 OPS in his senior season, and shares the frustration of going undrafted despite putting up huge offensive numbers. He also looks back on life in independent baseball with the Oakland Ballers and the moment everything changed when the White Sox signed him and gave him another opportunity to keep chasing the dream.
Davis also shares stories from his rise through the White Sox system, including winning a championship in Birmingham alongside teammates like Rikuu Nishida and the emotions of learning he was heading to the big leagues. He relives striking out the first batter he faced in MLB, talks about navigating pressure situations with runners on base, and explains what he’s learned from tough outings this season. Plus, Davis weighs in on whether he misses hitting, how he thinks he’d fare against MLB pitching as a position player, the teammates who helped him settle in, and what he hopes people remember most about his career years down the road.

Why Sam Antonacci IGNORES the Numbers and Focuses on Winning

Chuck Garfien sits down with White Sox rookie Sam Antonacci for a discussion that dives into both his personality and the style of baseball that has quickly connected him with fans on the South Side. Sam talks about life inside a clubhouse full of gamers, why he embraces an old-school mentality in today’s analytical era, and how he tries to impact games in ways beyond hitting for power. He also reflects on his first career home run that turned into an unforgettable inside-the-park moment and explains why winning means far more to him than any individual stat line.
Chuck and Sam also get into the relationships that have helped shape his rookie season, from sharing a locker area with Mike Vasil to reuniting in the organization with former teammate Rikuu Nishida. Sam shares stories about the personalities inside the clubhouse, discusses growing more comfortable in left field, and talks about hitting in front of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami in the lineup. He also opens up about the pride he feels every time he puts on a White Sox uniform and why he believes fans have embraced the edge and mentality he brings to the field.

Can the White Sox win the AL Central?!

Chuck Garfien chats with The Athletic's Dan Hayes to break down a surprisingly competitive American League Central race and why the division may be more wide open than expected, including for the Chicago White Sox. They discuss how the Cleveland Guardians continue to win despite losing one of baseball’s top closers, while the Minnesota Twins have struggled to protect leads even with strong starting pitching and one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses. Chuck also lays out what the White Sox need to do to seriously contend for the division, especially in head-to-head games against Cleveland.
Chuck and Dan explore why the idea of the White Sox winning the AL Central may not sound as unrealistic as people think, including comparisons between the Sox’ current momentum and Cleveland’s 2022 run. They revisit the memorable 15-inning Twins-Guardians game from 2022, examine why Chicago now has several “Guardian-like” players on the roster, and debate which team is best positioned to finish on top when the season ends. The episode wraps up with Dan’s prediction for the eventual AL Central winner and Chuck offering some playful advice to noted Sox-killer Byron Buxton before the next White Sox-Twins series.