There are several factors that give the Cubs a cultural cache unrivaled by the White Sox
1)Marketing, the city pimps Wrigley as a tourist attraction due to it’s advanced age, it’s the 2nd oldest park and # 3 isn’t close, it’s an icon even though it’s somewhat dilapidated.
2)For many years all the Cubs games were aired nationally on WGN so the whole country could see them, I don’t think another team could claim that
3)Cubs have way more day games than any other team, there’s a whole culture of “bleacher bums” who frequent those day games, for many of them it’s more about drinking beer than watching the game.
4)Wrigley is in a much better part of town, in a much better ‘hood than US Cellular and is very accessible via public transport, lots of bars and eateries nearby. Only Sox fans bother to go down to the Cell.
5)The whole not winning since 1908 thing creates a “mystique”, it hasn’t hurt the teams image, their image is built on that. People want to see them win.
The White Sox had never won for almost as long (1917 last win, 1959 last World Series appearance) before 2005 but were almost completely overlooked thanks to the Cubs (1908 last win, 1945 last WS appearance)
As for what you say about the players, yes, all fans in all professional team sports pretty much “root for the uniform”. That’s how team sports is. Would you root for the US Army if it was entirely made up of Hessian mercenaries? ;)
for $25 I can get into the Mets game on Thurs afternoon July 2nd. vs CUBS!
free parking too. no traffic jam. except the game gets out at rush hour.