Young, irreverent White Sox 'like a college team' partying through MLB playoffs

Sean Burke does, in fact, have a family.

It even includes a mother, father and plenty of other relatives the Chicago White Sox pitcher made sure to shout out after his AL Wild Card Game 2 performance lifted the recently woebegone franchise to its first playoff series victory since winning the 2005 World Series.

It was a necessary correction for Burke, who, the night before a 7-3 White Sox win eliminated the Houston Astros, told James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times that baseball is his life.

“I don’t have family,” Burke quipped. “No girl, no kids. This is all I do.”

He still does not have any children, Burke confirmed – so far as he knows, his teammates joked.

For a franchise whose last three seasons were defined by lowlights and humiliation, Burke’s comments typified the turnaround not just of his ballclub, but the wider perception of the White Sox. The quote took off online. Memes were spawned, and those who’d never paid Burke any mind suddenly had reason to lock in for his next appearance.

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The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox stand during the national anthem prior to game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Grant Taylor (31) reacts with Chicago catcher Kyle Teel (8) after game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.

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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) stretches to first base to hit a RBI single in the eighth inning against Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.

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The Houston Astros line up for the beginning of the game against the Chicago White Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026.

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Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery gets hit by a pitch in the seocnd inning against the Houston Astros during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.

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The Philadelphia Phillies line up before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason has arrived as the thrills of playoff baseball in the fall has fans ecstatic to watch every moment unfold.

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A detailed view of Philadelphia Phillies equipment in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga.

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“Yeah our Ace answered the question, ‘how do you feel for tomorrow’s start’ with basically ‘if I died nobody will mourn me’, he might throw a perfect game.” A Sox fan posted in response.

Burke had to settle for four innings of four-hit ball with eight strikeouts. He gave up three solo home runs, but sat down AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez twice with a fastball-knuckle curve combo the slugger couldn’t catch up to.

After Chicago‘s lack of rotation depth forced manager Will Venable to throw a bullpen game for Game 1, Burke’s 72-pitch outing was exactly what the ballclub required to avoid taxing its relievers even further. It also sparked a new rallying cry of sorts in the clubhouse: “Celibate for Sean” echoed across the clubhouse amid the raucous celebrations in Houston, and his teammates tried their best to get the phrase trending on social media not long after.

For those who have followed Chicago’s magical run all season, these shenanigans are nothing new. The pregame dugout dance party that’s since gone viral was a staple of the summer. Before Pope Leo XIV invoked “abundant blessings” on his beloved Southsiders, rehabbing pitcher Mike Vasil was casting spells across the diamond with a $20 wand purchased off Amazon in April.

The White Sox later gave out replica wands in a rare impromptu promo night for a player who hasn’t even appeared in a game this season. When Vasil finally threw his first pitch off flat ground since Tommy John surgery in the spring, the whole team came out to cheer him on.

“It’s like a fraternity,” Chase Meidroth said hours after his three-run homer on Tuesday slammed the door on Houston’s comeback. “It’s like a college team.”

Vasil has served as the team’s Minister of Vibes since getting hurt, keeping the energy up, making sure his teammates are partying hard and conducting impromptu interviews, like the one that allowed Burke to clear the air after his comments went viral.

That family was with Burke on the field in Houston after Game 2. They’ll be locked in when he makes his next start against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. And even if Burke were living that loner life, he’d still have 40,000 fans dressed in all black waiting for him back on the South Side when the White Sox play their first postseason game at Rate Field since 2021.

Whether the team stays “celibate for Sean,” the brotherly love in the dugout that’s taken Chicago this far will remain ineffable.