The White Sox is a Chicago-based Major League Baseball team based in the South Side of Chicago. They are one of the eight charter members of the American League, playing since the inaugural season in 1901.
The team began in Sioux City as a minor league team and played in the Western League. With Ban Johnson as President, the WL reshuffled in November of 1893. The White Sox, then known as the Cornhuskers, won the Western League Pennant in 1894.
Johnson had been recommended by his friend Charles Comiskey, a former star in the Major League known for his work at the St. Louis Browns, then the Cincinnati Reds. After the 1894 season, Comiskey bought the Sioux City team and transferred it to Saint Paul, Minnesota, resulting in a name change to the St. Paul Saints. The team enjoyed some success.
In 1900, the Western League became the American League. It was still officially a minor league team, subject to the National Agreement (and an underling of the National League). The NL permitted the AL to start a group in Chicago, as long as they didn’t use the city name in the team’s branding. Comiskey moved his St. Paul club to the South Side and renamed it the White Stockings, a nickname belonging to the Chicago Cubs.
The White Stockings won the 1900 pennant, led by Dick Padden, their final WL/AL championship as a minor league team. After that season, the AL declined to renew its membership in the National Agreement and declared itself a major league.
The White Sox went on to win the World Series in 1906 with a defense-focused team known as ‘The Hitless Wonders.’ They also won the 1917 World Series, led by Eddie Collins, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and Eddie Cicotte. The Black Sox Scandal hurt the 1919 World Series; several team members were accused of conspiring with gamblers to fix the games. The new MLB commissioner banned the accused players for life.
Despite some mediocrity, the White Sox have the most unique, challenging, and celebrated history of any Major League team. They’ve won six AL pennants and three World Series titles, most recently in 2005.
Famous Chicago White Sox trademarks
The Chicago White Sox are one of the original 8 American League teams, with a unique and challenging history. They’re reported to be worth more than 400 million USD. Let’s look at the intellectual property owned by the White Sox, under Chicago White Sox Ltd.
White Sox
The first trademark filing owned by the White Sox is the word mark ‘White Sox’. It was registered in 1968, following its first use in 1900. It was registered for use in:
- Entertainment services of professional baseball exhibitions which are rendered through television and radio
- Paper goods and printed matter, including bumper stickers, decals, posters, note paper, baseball cards, calendars, ungraduated rulers, and book covers
- Books and booklets relating to baseball
- Clothing for men, women, and children, including shirts, shorts, pants, infant wear, headwear, and more
- Flashlights
- Home textile items
Sox logo
The first Sox logo, consisting of a diagonal chainlink design made up of the word ‘Sox,’ was registered in 1968, following its first use in the 1950s. It’s registered for use in:
- Entertainment related to professional baseball exhibitions and games
- Clothing, namely, caps
Related: Trademarking your logo
Chicago Sports Depot
The Chicago Sports Depot is the team store for the Chicago White Sox, the first store was opened in 2011, and the trademark registration took place in 2012 in the following categories:
- Retail store services featuring sporting goods, apparel, and memorabilia
Chicago White Stockings
The trademark for the Chicago White Stockings belongs to the White Sox, though it hasn’t been the official team name for some time. The trademark was registered in 2010 for use in:
- Clothing and merchandise, namely, T-shirts
Soxfest
Soxfest is an annual fan event run by the Chicago White Sox for their fan base; according to their website ‘‘SoxFest has been built on nearly three decades of 10,000 fans, players, coaches, and staff who come together under one roof to celebrate the White Sox.’’
The trademark application for Soxfest was submitted and approved in 1992 for use in the following categories:
- Jewelry, including cloisonne pins, ornamental pins, and related accessories
- Printed programs featuring information on entertainment exhibitions
- Textile fabrics, including pennants
- Clothing such as T-shirts and sweatshirts
- Conducting entertainment exhibitions like tradeshows featuring autograph sessions, selling or displaying various goods and services relating to baseball, and musical entertainment
Sox logo
An updated Sox logo, building upon the previous one, features bold stylized writing in a chainlink diagonal design. It was registered in 1992 for use in:
- Paper goods, bumper stickers, pencils, writing pads, note paper, baseball cards, calendars, stickers, and sticker books
- Beverage containers including water bottles, mugs, trash cans, foam can holders, ceramic mugs, salt and pepper shakers, bottle openers, and other home items
- Food products such as popcorn, sugar, candy, and ice cream
- Smokers articles including matches, ashtrays, and lighters
- Restaurant services
- Entertainment and educational services, including baseball games, competitions, and exhibitions
- Sharing information related to sports online
- Toys and sporting goods including stuffed toys, bean bags, sports toys, puzzles, board games, checkers, and chess sets
- Golf clubs, balls, and bags
- Baseball bats and related equipment, including mitts and catcher masks
- Christmas tree ornaments and accessories
- Educational services include providing information related to sports
- Multi-user interactive computer games via a global computer network
- Athletic bags, overnight bags, duffel bags, wallets, umbrellas, card cases, and knapsacks
- Dog collars and pet accessories
Sox Degrees
One of the most recent trademark applications lodged with the USPTO is Sox Degrees, a trademark related to the new White sox-endorsed podcast. The trademark application was submitted in 2021 for the following categories:
- Downloadable webcasts and podcasts in the field of baseball
- Entertainment services related to providing webcasts and podcasts on the baseball field; and an Internet website featuring information on the baseball field
Wht Sx
The trademark application for ‘Wht Sx’ was submitted in 2021 for use in the following:
- Clothing, including headwear, jerseys, tank tops, vests, bottoms, dresses, skirts, shawls, aprons, and more
Chicago logo
The Chicago logo often appears on baseball caps, consisting of a stylized cursive font. It was registered in 2011 for use in:
- Clothing: jerseys, jackets, shirts, athletic uniforms, bottoms, infant wear, ties; headwear; footwear
Wrapping up
The Chicago White Sox are fan favorites, with a passionate fan base and a high net worth. To protect your intellectual property, you should register your unique branding with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Chicago White Sox has around 35 registered trademarks. Registering your trademarks prevents anyone from misusing them to bolster their brand, and you can sue for copyright or trademark infringement.
