1978 Chicago White Sox season

The 1978 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 78th season in Major League Baseball, and its 79th overall. They finished with a record of 71–90, good enough for fifth place in the American League West, 20.5 games behind the first-place Kansas City Royals.

Offseason

 * November 28, 1977: Rich Hinton was signed as a free agent by the White Sox.
 * December 5, 1977: Brian Downing, Chris Knapp, and Dave Frost were traded by the White Sox to the California Angels for Bobby Bonds, Thad Bosley and Richard Dotson.

Regular season

 * Larry Doby replaced Bob Lemon as manager of the White Sox in 1978. Doby was the second African-American to lead a major league club.

Opening Day lineup

 * Ralph Garr, LF
 * Jorge Orta, 2B
 * Lamar Johnson, 1B
 * Bobby Bonds, RF
 * Ron Blomberg, DH
 * Chet Lemon, CF
 * Eric Soderholm, 3B
 * Wayne Nordhagen, C
 * Don Kessinger, SS
 * Steve Stone, P

Notable transactions

 * April 1, 1978: Royle Stillman was released by the White Sox.
 * April 1, 1978: Bob Coluccio was released by the White Sox.
 * July 17, 1978: Guy Hoffman was signed as an amateur free agent by the White Sox.

Draft picks

 * June 6, 1978: 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
 * Britt Burns was drafted by the White Sox in the 3rd round.
 * Bobby Meacham was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 14th round of the 1978 amateur draft, but did not sign.
 * Gary Gaetti was drafted by the White Sox in the 3rd round of the secondary phase, but did not sign.

Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Knoxville, Appleton