PHOTO ESSAY: Polaroids capture Chicago Cubs vs. White Sox 'Crosstown Classic'

CHICAGO (AP) — A fierce rivalry between Chicago's North and South Siders comes to life each summer during the “ Crosstown Classic,” when the Cubs and White Sox face off in their home stadiums.

This unique series is loaded with team history and memories for both sets of fans, who hail from the North and South Sides respectively.

The Associated Press photographed the latest Cubs-White Sox games with a Polaroid Now+ camera and i-Type film, which match the classic Polaroid look and process but offer modern advantages including a USB charger. Each Polaroid image was first exposed to light, then went into a black felt bag.

Polaroids convey nostalgia, and nothing says nostalgia quite like baseball. The film format requires a level of intimacy not often seen in modern photo coverage of baseball games, when speed and instant images are prioritized.

Many people were excited by the camera’s familiar boxy case, the distinctive sound of the photos sliding smoothly out.

“Is that a Polaroid?” they ask. “I haven’t seen one of those in forever.”

Shooting with a Polaroid requires patience, planning for the right moment. You need the right light and direct interaction with the subject. The result takes several minutes to appear, often with a soft or slightly faded focus.

The experience reflects baseball in many ways. Major League Baseball was officially established 149 years ago, but the methodical work it takes to win, team traditions and a personal connection to the game are what keeps many fans engaged season after season.

Outside the White Sox home stadium, Rate Field, fans are allowed to grill, drink, play games and socialize in a sea of parking lots surrounding the park. Over the rivalry weekend, White Sox and Cubs fans mingled under the sometimes brutal July sun.

Flory Aquino, wearing Sox gear, and Kristina Willer, in Cubs gear, played beer pong together before a game. They said they are “friends before anything.”

“We just have a good time, that’s it, you know?” said Aquino. “And actually, it doesn’t matter what team it is. They’re both from Chicago, and we just come out here to have a great time.”

Inside the park, too, Polaroids made a memory tangible — a single image that can be seen and held instantly. There's no negative, no possible way to replace it.

Aylin Servin, 8, and her father Aldo took pictures together behind a giant “Chicago” sign inside the ballpark, the city skyline in the background.

The elder Servin said while he is a long-time Cubs fan, his daughter picked the White Sox. She was attending her first baseball game ever.

The images also capture the White Sox fan base's recent embrace of their most famous member — Pope Leo XIV. Born Robert Prevost on Chicago's South Side, the new pope attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series sweep of the Houston Astros.

A fresh mural memorializes that moment. And there are T-shirts and other merchandise nodding to the famous fan sold everywhere.

Tom Dermody has been a security guard at the park for the last 14 years and remembers many a Crosstown Classic. He's got a positive view of his job and the fans he interacts with. But he admits the stickier moments are hard to forget.

“Almost three years ago today, I broke up a fight out in the left field bleachers on a Sunday and wound up tearing, completely tearing my rotator cuff,” he said. “I found out later on, it was an irate Sox fan that threw a beer on a Cubs fan and the whole section went up for grabs.

“It looked like a food fight from one of John Belushi’s movies,” he reminisced.

A flag is displayed at a tailgate party before a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Veteran groundskeeper Jose Diaz watches the field during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Aylin Servin, 8, left, and her father Aldo Servin have their photo taken with the "Chicago" sign during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The city skyline can be seen as fans tailgate in a parking lot before a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans sit in the stands during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Helmets and bats are kept in a dugout during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Veteran security guard Tom Dermody watches fans during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Players warm up between innings during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson prepares to take the field during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Jeremiah Avila, 4, top, holds a Puerto Rican flag as friends and family tailgate before a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Hot dogs and onions are grilled during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell stands in the dugout during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Pope Leo XIV-themed shirts are for sale before a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

A mural of Pope Leo XIV is seen on the concourse during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Flory Aquino, left, and Kristina Willer tailgate with friends and family before a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Players stand for the Star-Spangled Banner during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Young fans wait for players before a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Rate Field is seen during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's latest reboot is off to a flying start.

In Michael Carrick's first game as coach United pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday and lifted the gloom hanging over Old Trafford.

“It’s a great start, there’s no getting away from that,” Carrick said.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed victory in the 198th Manchester derby.

The job now is to keep the good times going.

“That’s the challenge ultimately, and I think it needs to be a version of normal,” said Carrick, who was appointed the coach this week.

The former United midfielder is contracted only to the end of the season and has 17 games to convince the club hierarchy to give him the job on a permanent basis after Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent manager to be dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

He could not have made a better first impression as United dominated all-conquering City. Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged it.

“The better team won,” Guardiola said. “When a team is better you have to accept it. They had an energy we didn’t have. Congratulations.”

United was fifth in the standings, one point behind defending champion Liverpool, which extended its winless run to four games after drawing with relegation-fighting Burnley 1-1 at Anfield.

Chelsea was sixth after beating Brentford 2-0.

Watching over Carrick's first game with a beaming smile was Ferguson. He was not alone in enjoying the game after so many dark days for the club since he departed.

Winning had United fans singing in full voice inside Old Trafford and drowning out City's.

“The supporters were incredible and I said yesterday that this could be a magical place,” Carrick said. “To get that feeling is exactly what we want. Hopefully it’s just the start.”

The result could have been more emphatic as United twice hit the goal frame and had three goals ruled out for offside.

United claimed city bragging rights and boosted its chances of Champions League qualification, and dealt another blow to City's title challenge. City's recent winless run was extended to four games.

Mbeumo fired low into the far corner at the end of a swift United break to open the scoring in the 65th minute. It was the least Carrick’s team deserved in a performance full of attacking intent.

Dorgu doubled the lead in the 76th, converting from close range after beating Rico Lewis to substitute Matheus Cunha’s cross.

Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo had chances fly off the woodwork in each half and further celebrations were cut short in the 89th when VAR ruled Mason Mount's goal offside. It mattered little by that stage.

Liverpool is still waiting for its first league win of 2026 after being held at home by second-to-last Burnley.

While Florian Wirtz's impressive recent run continued with his fourth goal in six games, it wasn't enough as Marcus Edwards equalized in the second half.

West Ham also boosted it's chances of avoiding the drop after beating Tottenham 2-1. Callum Wilson got the decisive goal in the third minute of added time. It ended West Ham's 10-game winless run and made it back-to-back victories for Nuno Espirito Santo's team after beating QPR in the FA Cup last week.

Liam Rosenior took charge of his first league game as Chelsea coach and watched his team beat high-flying Brentford 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, from the penalty spot, scored in each half to end Brentford's five-game unbeaten run. Chelsea also leapfrogged its London rival to sixth in the standings.

Leeds is going from strength to strength. Lukas Nmecha's goal in added time secured a 1-0 win against Fulham. The newly promoted team has lost just one of its last nine games in the league and one of 10 in all competitions.

A day after manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, he watched his team lose at Sunderland 2-1.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Brentford in London, Saturday Jan. 17, 2026. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot enters to the pitch prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Burnley in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick, centre, arrives ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola walks during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick celebrates during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)