The 1996 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 97th season. They finished with a record of 85–77, good enough for second place in the American League Central, 14.5 games behind the first place Cleveland Indians.

Offseason December 28, 1995: Tim Raines was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later. The New York Yankees sent Blaise Kozeniewski (minors) (February 6, 1996) to the Chicago White Sox to complete the trade.Tim Raines Statistics Baseball-Reference.com January 20, 1996: Tony Phillips was signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.Tony Phillips Statistics Baseball-Reference.com January 22, 1996: Danny Tartabull was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago White Sox for Andrew Lorraine and Charles Poe (minors).Danny Tartabull Statistics Baseball-Reference.com

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || March 31 || @ Mariners || 2–3 (12) || Hurtado || Simas (0–1) || — || 57,467 || 0–1

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 2 || @ Mariners || 2–3 || Hitchcock || Alvarez (0–1) || Charlton || 38,570 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 3 || @ Mariners || 4–2 || Magrane (1–0) || Wolcott || Hernandez (1) || 22,783 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 5 || @ Angels || 6–7 (11) || James || McCaskill (0–1) || — || 22,812 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || @ Angels || 8–4 || Fernandez (1–0) || Abbott || — || 26,447 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || @ Angels || 5–6 || Finley || Alvarez (0–2) || Percival || 16,970 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || Rangers || 2–3 || Gross || Thomas (0–1) || Henneman || 34,750 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 11 || Rangers || 8–5 (11) || Thomas (1–1) || Henneman || — || 16,685 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 12 || Athletics || 2–7 || Reyes || Fernandez (1–1) || — || 13,623 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 13 || Athletics || 6–5 (12) || Karchner (1–0) || Wengert || — || 15,812 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 14 || Athletics || 5–10 || Groom || Simas (0–2) || — || 15,236 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 15 || @ Royals || 11–10 || Karchner (2–0) || Pichardo || Hernandez (2) || 12,653 || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 16 || @ Royals || 5–6 || Belcher || Bere (0–1) || Montgomery || 12,399 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 17 || @ Royals || 3–1 || Fernandez (2–1) || Appier || Hernandez (3) || 13,350 || 6–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 19 || @ Athletics || 4–3 || Karchner (3–0) || Briscoe || Hernandez (4) || 31,320 || 7–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 20 || @ Athletics || 8–3 || Tapani (1–0) || Van Poppel || — || 16,480 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 21 || @ Athletics || 5–6 || Corsi || Simas (0–3) || Mohler || 16,125 || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 22 || @ Rangers || 12–4 || Fernandez (3–1) || Witt || Karchner (1) || 22,348 || 9–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || April 23 || @ Rangers || 6–5 || Baldwin (1–0) || Hill || Hernandez (5) || 29,123 || 10–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 24 || Mariners || 2–1 || Alvarez (1–2) || Bosio || Hernandez (6) || 15,882 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || April 25 || Mariners || 4–3 || Tapani (2–0) || Wolcott || Hernandez (7) || 14,679 || 12–9 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 26 || Angels || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 24 || 12–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 27 || Angels || 2–1 || Fernandez (4–1) || Abbott || Hernandez (8) || 18,139 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 28 || Angels || 10–1 || Baldwin (2–0) || Finley || — || 15,574 || 14–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 29 || Angels || 4–3 || Alvarez (2–2) || Grimsley || Hernandez (9) || 12,549 || 15–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 30 || @ Indians || 3–5 || Martinez || Tapani (2–1) || Mesa || 40,268 || 15–10

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 1 || @ Indians || 5–9 || McDowell || McCaskill (0–2) || Plunk || 40,447 || 15–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 2 || @ Yankees || 1–5 || Cone || Fernandez (4–2) || — || 19,773 || 15–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 3 || @ Yankees || 0–2 || Rivera || Thomas (1–2) || Wetteland || 15,599 || 15–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 4 || @ Yankees || 11–5 || Karchner (4–0) || Nelson || — || 20,661 || 16–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 5 || @ Yankees || 1–7 || Pettitte || Tapani (2–2) || — || 26,525 || 16–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 7 || Orioles || 3–2 || Fernandez (5–2) || Wells || Hernandez (10) || 16,130 || 17–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 8 || Orioles || 11–2 || Baldwin (3–0) || Erickson || — || 14,974 || 18–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 9 || Orioles || 4–6 || Mussina || Alvarez (2–3) || Myers || 14,507 || 18–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 10 || Yankees || 5–2 || Tapani (3–2) || Pettitte || Hernandez (11) || 15,784 || 19–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 11 || Yankees || 7–5 || McCaskill (1–2) || Wetteland || — || 25,722 || 20–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 12 || Yankees || 8–9 || Wickman || Thomas (1–3) || Wetteland || 17,405 || 20–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 13 || @ Brewers || 2–6 || Sparks || Baldwin (3–1) || Boze || 9,544 || 20–17 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || May 14 || @ Brewers || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for August 16 || 20–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 15 || @ Brewers || 20–8 || Alvarez (3–3) || Bones || Keyser (1) || 8,733 || 21–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 16 || @ Brewers || 2–3 || Lloyd || Tapani (3–3) || Fetters || 13,849 || 21–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 17 || @ Tigers || 11–6 (10) || Hernandez (1–0) || Lewis || — || 12,094 || 22–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 18 || @ Tigers || 16–4 || McCaskill (2–2) || Farrell || Simas (1) || 21,673 || 23–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 19 || @ Tigers || 14–3 || Alvarez (4–3) || Gohr || — || 9,709 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 21 || Blue Jays || 2–1 || Tapani (4–3) || Ware || Hernandez (12) || 17,483 || 25–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 22 || Blue Jays || 2–1 (11) || McCaskill (3–2) || Timlin || — || 17,882 || 26–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 24 || Brewers || 4–3 || Thomas (2–3) || Sparks || Hernandez (13) || 18,346 || 27–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 25 || Brewers || 9–7 || Alvarez (5–3) || Bones || Hernandez (14) || 20,585 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 26 || Brewers || 12–1 || Tapani (5–3) || McDonald || — || 21,151 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 27 || @ Blue Jays || 4–5 || Janzen || Fernandez (5–3) || Timlin || 30,013 || 29–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 28 || @ Blue Jays || 8–5 || Baldwin (4–1) || Viola || Hernandez (15) || 30,104 || 30–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 29 || @ Blue Jays || 5–6 || Hanson || Magrane (1–1) || Timlin || 31,074 || 30–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 30 || Tigers || 8–2 || Alvarez (6–3) || Olivares || — || 17,339 || 31–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 31 || Tigers || 9–0 || Tapani (6–3) || Lira || — || 16,983 || 32–20

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || June 1 || Tigers || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 2 || 32–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 2 || Tigers || 4–2 || Baldwin (5–1) || Thompson || Hernandez (16) || — || 33–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 2 || Tigers || 13–5 || McCaskill (4–2) || Keagle || — || 26,125 || 34–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 4 || @ Red Sox || 6–4 || Alvarez (7–3) || Gunderson || Hernandez (17) || 23,715 || 35–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 5 || @ Red Sox || 8–6 (12) || Keyser (1–0) || Slocumb || — || 24,246 || 36–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 6 || @ Red Sox || 4–7 || Eshelman || Magrane (1–2) || Stanton || 24,382 || 36–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 7 || @ Orioles || 8–2 || Fernandez (6–3) || Erickson || — || 47,209 || 37–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 8 || @ Orioles || 2–1 || Baldwin (6–1) || Mercker || Hernandez (18) || 47,634 || 38–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 9 || @ Orioles || 12–9 || Karchner (5–0) || Mussina || Hernandez (19) || 47,352 || 39–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 10 || Red Sox || 8–2 || Tapani (7–3) || Wakefield || — || 21,799 || 40–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 11 || Red Sox || 2–9 || Eshelman || Magrane (1–3) || — || 20,792 || 40–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 12 || Red Sox || 2–3 (12) || Hudson || Karchner (5–1) || — || 21,139 || 40–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 14 || @ Mariners || 4–1 || Alvarez (8–3) || Hitchcock || Hernandez (20) || 30,163 || 41–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 15 || @ Mariners || 6–8 (12) || Carmona || McCaskill (4–3) || — || 47,042 || 41–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 16 || @ Mariners || 6–7 || Wells || Magrane (1–4) || Jackson || 34,588 || 41–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 17 || @ Angels || 8–9 (13) || Hancock || McCaskill (4–4) || — || 17,836 || 41–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 18 || @ Angels || 4–5 || Finley || Simas (0–4) || Percival || 19,213 || 41–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 19 || @ Angels || 2–14 || McElroy || Alvarez (8–4) || — || 22,960 || 41–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 20 || Mariners || 5–8 || Hitchcock || Tapani (7–4) || Charlton || 23,017 || 41–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 21 || Mariners || 2–12 || Wagner || Magrane (1–5) || — || 23,253 || 41–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 22 || Mariners || 2–4 || Wells || Fernandez (6–4) || Charlton || 27,036 || 41–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 23 || Mariners || 7–6 (10) || McCaskill (5–4) || Guetterman || — || 26,768 || 42–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 24 || Angels || 4–2 || Alvarez (9–4) || James || Hernandez (21) || — || 43–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 24 || Angels || 4–6 || Hancock || Sirotka (0–1) || Percival || 24,469 || 43–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 25 || Angels || 3–2 || Tapani (8–4) || Langston || Hernandez (22) || 23,270 || 44–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 27 || Indians || 15–10 || Fernandez (7–4) || Swindell || — || 27,782 || 45–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || June 28 || Indians || 4–2 || Baldwin (7–1) || Tavarez || Hernandez (23) || 33,136 || 46–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 29 || Indians || 2–3 (10) || Shuey || Karchner (5–2) || — || 43,601 || 46–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 30 || Indians || 2–4 || Hershiser || Tapani (8–5) || Mesa || 30,351 || 46–34

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 1 || Twins || 7–10 || Aguilera || Sirotka (0–2) || — || 19,211 || 46–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 2 || Twins || 7–4 || Fernandez (8–4) || Aldred || Hernandez (24) || 18,357 || 47–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 3 || Twins || 5–6 || Radke || Andujar (0–1) || Stevens || 26,113 || 47–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || July 4 || @ Indians || 6–5 (10) || Karchner (6–2) || Mesa || Hernandez (25) || 42,355 || 48–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 5 || @ Indians || 7–0 || Alvarez (10–4) || Hershiser || — || 42,536 || 49–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 6 || @ Indians || 3–2 || Karchner (7–2) || Shuey || Hernandez (26) || 42,454 || 50–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 7 || @ Indians || 1–6 || Ogea || Fernandez (8–5) || Assenmacher || 42,343 || 50–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 11 || @ Royals || 2–3 || Haney || Alvarez (10–5) || — || 22,928 || 50–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 12 || @ Royals || 7–6 || Tapani (9–5) || Belcher || Hernandez (27) || 18,458 || 51–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 13 || @ Royals || 3–1 || Fernandez (9–5) || Rosado || — || 25,363 || 52–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || July 14 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Baldwin (8–1) || Linton || Hernandez (28) || 17,024 || 53–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 15 || @ Twins || 5–16 || Aldred || McCaskill (5–5) || — || 13,636 || 53–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 16 || @ Twins || 11–2 || Alvarez (11–5) || Radke || — || 18,502 || 54–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 17 || @ Twins || 3–4 || Trombley || Simas (0–5) || — || 20,755 || 54–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"