About The Author

Phil Flynn

Phil Flynn is writer of The Energy Report, a daily market commentary discussing oil, the Middle East, American government, economics, and their effects on the world's energies markets, as well as other commodity markets. Contact Mr. Flynn at (888) 264-5665

Visit Website →

My Southside White Sox Roots. The Energy Report 10/09/2026

By On October 9, 2026 - 10:48 AM · In Market Commentaries, Phil Flynn Energy Report
As the Chicago White Sox head into game 5 of the 2026 American League Division Series this Cinderella story of the century as a team that lost 100 games in the previous three seasons is now one game away from playing in the American League Champion Series of the century, something that is the annals of baseballer history has never happened before. And even though the White Sox failed  to clinch it on their home field for the first time since the hitless wonders of 1908 it’s a reminder how baseball so entwined in our culture and in our families, it’s definitely entwined in my family that even goes back to my family’s ties to what you might say is our own “Field of Dreams” story.
I grew up in the South Side of Chicago in a neighborhood called Beverly Hills a place where they had three religions basically, Catholicism, the White Sox and the Chicago Bears even though there was a schism, but the Chicago Cardinals left eventually all were converted to Bears fans.
My family ties to the White Sox run deep as I was brought up to cheer for the Southsiders and as my mother told me stories of a grandfather that I never met, my mom’s dad who died when she was in high school.
He was too a Southsider and a diehard White Sox fan and even shared a communication to the original owner of the Chicago White Sox. Charles Comiskey, the man they called the old Roman and the man who built Comiskey park, the Baseball Palace of The World.
  Now anyone who knows baseball history probably knows about the 1919 black Sox scandal or saw the movie or read the book ‘Eight Men Out “where some players of the White Sox took money from gamblers to throw the World Series where the White Sox were heavily favored with a team some say were among the best ever assembled on a baseball diamond.
When the story broke, it broke the hearts of White Sox Fans as the famous news story of a young fan to Shoeless Joe Jackson pleaded to “say it ain’t so Joe.”
My grandfather, I am sure, also hoped it was not so. But when it became apparent that it was he wrote a letter to the Old Roman — the man Black Sox ringleader Chick Gandil called a “cheap old bastard” who treated the players like a bunch of hired men. I will share this letter
Mr. Charles A. Comiskey
President, Chicago White Sox
West 35th St. & So. Wells St., Chicago.
My dear Sir:
It is with genuine sorrow that I read of the crookedness on the part of certain players in the past World Series, and I desire to let you know that I heartily approve of your action in suspending the players in question, even though it meant an enormous sacrifice on your part. I feel confident that the game will come back stronger than ever. I want to assure you of my hearty support the coming season. The public appreciate men of your type and you have my best wishes for success.
Yours truly,
Arthur C. Dunne
While my grandpa was correct, baseball did survive and come back stronger than ever. He also expressed of course that despite the scandal he would continue to support the White Sox. In fact,  he continued his support even though he did not live to see his team get back to the 1959 World Series and he didn’t live to see that his brother Earl Dunne became an investor to help Bill Veeck buy the Chicago White Sox in 1958. But My grandfather’s letter did find a way to soften the heart of that Old Roman  who responded on the White Sox Letter head of the time ;
Charles A. Comiskey, President J. Louis Comiskey, Treasurer Harry M. Grabiner, Secretary Wm. Gleason, Manager
Comiskey Park 35th and Shields Avenue Chicago
Mr. Arthur C. Dunne,        Oct. 7, 1920. Chicago Railway Supply Co., Peoples Gas Bldg., Chicago.
My dear Friend:
Your letter of recent date received and was delighted to hear from you.
I was gratified indeed, and feel fully compensated by the thought and expressions of confidence tendered me by my friends. Your sentiments touched me deeply, and have been a source of great pleasure.
I was actuated solely by what I considered my duty to the American Public, to whom baseball belongs, and as one of the custodians of our national game, no other course was open to me.
I wish to thank you and to assure you of my sincere appreciation for your kindly consideration of me.
With my best wishes, I am,
Gratefully yours,
Chas. A. Comiskey
And so Saturday when my White Sox go to Cleveland my family will root for our beloved Southsiders but win or lose for a victory the Chicago White Sox will always be a very important part of our family. And I’m sure across the country, baseball America’s pastime touches many families in the same way. Go White Sox!
Now back to oil. The biggest problem area continues to be diesel. We saw diesel hit record highs as Tropical Storm Isaias became a hurricane and headed toward some of the refineries. We did get a little good news on the supply front. Reuters reported that China is set to resume October fuel exports after the Golden Week halt, with about 3.7 million metric tons approved for gasoline, diesel, and jet combined. That should put a bit more product on the market and take some heat out of the crack, which hit another record yesterday at $114.18. Do not overread it. This is a pause ending, not a full return to pre-war export flows. Chinese diesel stocks are still well below where Beijing wants them.
That surge came with the Middle East still dangerous and talk of reduced flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and now with Hurricane Isaias on top of it. Fox Weather has the storm as a Category 2 with 110 mph winds, sitting on the edge of major-hurricane strength, about 300 miles south of Mobile and moving north-northeast. Landfall is expected tonight along the northern Gulf Coast, most likely between Mobile Bay and the Pensacola area. Fox Weather says the worst of it runs from Mobile to Pensacola, with storm surge up to 7 feet from Biloxi to Port St. Joe, gusts of 70 mph or stronger, and heavy rain pushing inland across south Alabama into Saturday. This is not a Houston storm. Refinery Row on the Texas coast is largely out of it. The concern is Mobile and the plants just west of it.
The refineries most at risk right now are Chevron’s Pascagoula plant in Mississippi, about 356,000 barrels a day and the big diesel maker in the cone, Vertex Energy at Saraland north of Mobile, about 88,000 barrels a day and sitting closest to the track, and Hunt’s Tuscaloosa plant, about 50,000 barrels a day, farther inland but exposed to power and flooding. If Pascagoula goes down, that crack is not coming in just because China turned the export tap back on.
Hurricane Isaias is still aimed at the northern Gulf Coast, with landfall looking like late Friday or early Saturday somewhere between the Alabama coast and the Florida Panhandle. Fox Weather is already warning of an incredible storm surge in that cone. Listen to local officials and get out of the way if you’re told to. A direct hit is not required to scare the cracks. Gulf producers have already shut in a big share of offshore oil and gas, and in a market where diesel was tight before the storm showed up, that risk premium can stick around.
Going into the weekend, the other watch is Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Talks are still alive. President Trump has called the discussions productive and said he does not plan strikes before the midterms, while the blockade on Iranian shipments stays in place and Tehran is reviewing a proposal to reopen the strait. Until tankers are moving normally again, crude and products stay headline-driven.
Natural gas popped on the storm and the Gulf shut-ins, then pulled back after yesterday’s EIA report. The Energy Information Administration reported an injection of 85 billion cubic feet for the week ended October 2, above the roughly 70-to-83 Bcf consensus. Working gas in storage rose to 3,500 Bcf — 130 Bcf below a year ago, but 68 Bcf, or about 2 percent, above the five-year average of 3,432 Bcf. A bigger-than-expected build took some of the heat out of the rally. Offshore gas is only a small slice of U.S. supply, so this is more about timing and psychology unless the storm hangs over pipes and LNG plants.
Download the Fox Weather app and keep an eye on the track. It can still move diesel and gasoline prices from here. Stay tuned to the Fox Business Network — the only network in America that is truly invested in you.
If you want a plan for this volatility, call to open a trading account today at 888-264-5665, or email me at pflynn@pricegroup.com. Follow the daily read on X at @EnergyPhilFlynn.
Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell any commodity.

Thanks,

Phil Flynn

Senior Market Analyst & Author of The Energy Report

Contributor to FOX Business Network

2918 S. Wentworth Ave. FL 1, Chicago, Illinois 60616

312 264 4364 (Direct)  |  888 264 5665 (Direct)  |  800 769 7021 (Main)  |  312 264 4303 (Fax)

www.pricegroup.com

Please do not leave any instructions for orders in your message, as we cannot execute instructions left through email or voicemail. Orders must be entered via direct verbal communication with a representative of our firm. We cannot be held responsible for orders left in any other manner.  PAST RESULTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. Investing in futures can involve substantial risk & is not for everyone. Trading foreign exchange also involves a high degree of risk. The leverage created by trading on margin can work against you as well as for you, and losses can exceed your entire investment. Before opening an account and trading, you should seek advice from your advisors as appropriate to ensure that you understand the risks and can withstand the losses. Member NIBA, NFA.

Questions? Ask Phil Flynn today at 312-264-4364        
Tagged with: • • • •