Disco Demolition Night took place on July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park between two games of a Tigers – White Sox doubleheader.

It started when Tigers pitcher Jeff Weaver hit White Sox batter Carlos Lee on the first pitch.

The hit by pitch occurred after Weaver gave up an RBI double to Chris Singleton to make it 5–1 White Sox.

When it looked like things had calmed down, things escalated again in right field when Tigers first base coach Juan Samuel threw a punch at White Sox pitcher Bill Simas and Simas was eventually attacked by Tigers catcher Robert Fick who was trying to hold back Simas while another fight occurred next to them when White Sox closer Keith Foulke went to attack Samuel and was attacked by Karim García and then by Bobby Higginson, who punched Foulke in the left eye.

Six from the White Sox with those being Sturtze, Howry, Ordóñez, Simas, manager Jerry Manuel and bench coach Joe Nossek with five from the Tigers with those being Weaver, Palmer, Fick, Danny Patterson, and Brocail.

[15] That off-season the White Sox would lose long time all star Magglio Ordóñez to the Tigers in free agency, partly due to injuries and an off field issue with manager Ozzie Guillen.

[16][17][18] The rivalry has seen flare ups despite the fluctuating success of both teams, in 2014 White Sox pitcher Chris Sale accused Tigers catcher Víctor Martínez of having pitches tipped from someone in the outfield stands saying "that's your boy out there."

That off-season the Tigers would sign Javier Baez, who had won the World Series in Chicago as a member of the Cubs to help compete with the Sox.

The teams also each have a fanbase and history associated with Midwestern hip hop and music culture that is associated with the larger Chicago and Detroit areas.

The series is also of importance to the "Michiana" area of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan where fans of both teams live and travel well to each others stadiums.