Any time anyone from my hometown talks about how Chicago is the greatest city in the world, the first dissenting retort you’ll hear is “but what about those long, harsh, brutal winters?”

Fair point, especially since we’ve had a whooping three days of 70+ degrees in 2011. (’09 had 11 by this point, last year had 14, the average is ten), and even though it’s Cinco de Mayo, this week felt an awful lot like winter at times.

The other main negative stereotype against Chicago (surprisingly, it’s not the obesity rate, people usually save the fat jokes for Milwaukee first, and Houston second) is it’s pathetic track record in MLB history.

Prior to the 2005 World Series win by the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Cubs combined with the Sox to produce an incredible 176 seasons without a title. What follows is some numbers that redefine the ugly, the uglier and the hideous. Or as you can call it in 2011, the Cubs, the local forecast and the White Sox.

[Read more…]