Throughout the history of Major League Baseball (MLB), franchises have had various postseason and World Series droughts.
All 16 of the original major league franchises (i.e., those in place when the first World Series was played in 1903) have won the World Series, with the longest wait for a franchise's first championship being for the Phillies (77 seasons, ending in 1980). Since expansion began in 1961, five of the 14 expansion teams have never won the World Series. Furthermore, one franchise, the Cleveland Guardians, currently has a championship drought that predates the expansion era. The three longest championship droughts in history were ended recently by the Red Sox (85 seasons, ending in 2004), the White Sox (87 seasons, ending in 2005), and the Cubs (107 seasons, ending in 2016).
Only one expansion franchise (the Seattle Mariners) has never won a pennant (i.e., the league championship, the two winners of which meet in the World Series). The three longest pennant droughts in history were recently ended by the Rangers (49 years, starting with the team's foundation and ending in 2010), the Cubs (70 years, ending in 2016), and the Nationals (50 years, starting with the team's foundation and ending in 2019, and including the franchise's entire 36 years as the Montreal Expos). As the Nationals are the third franchise to be based in the city of Washington, their 2019 pennant also ended a drought of 52 seasons played in Washington since their last pennant, which was in 1933 (discounting the 33 seasons during which there was no team in Washington).
As of the 2025 season, every active MLB franchise has qualified for the playoffs, especially since expansion of the playoffs in 1994 made that feat easier. The Angels have the longest active postseason drought at 11 years, while the Cincinnati Reds have the longest active postseason series-win drought at 30 years.[1] Long postseason droughts were ended recently by the Nationals (30 years, ending in 2012), the Pirates (20 years, ending in 2013), the Royals (28 years, ending in 2014), the Blue Jays (21 years, ending in 2015), and the Mariners (20 years, ending in 2022).
This list includes only the modern World Series between the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), not the various 19th-century championship series. Those teams which have never achieved a particular accomplishment in their franchise history are listed by the date they entered the leagues.
Postseason droughts
Longest current postseason droughts
Longest postseason droughts in the expanded-postseason era
After the postseason was expanded in 1995 to include eight teams (further expanded in 2012 to ten teams and again expanded in 2022 to 12 teams, including a 16-team postseason in 2020), 18 of the 30 teams qualified within the first five years, and few teams went for long droughts without at least participating in the first round of the postseason. This list only shows droughts of 15 or more seasons that occurred primarily in the expanded-postseason era.[2] Active droughts are listed in bold type.
| Seasons | Team | Previous appearance | Next appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals | 1981 | 2012 |
| 28 | Kansas City Royals | 1985 | 2014 |
| 25 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1982 | 2008 |
| 21 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1993 | 2015 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1992 | 2013 |
| 20 | Seattle Mariners | 2001 | 2022 |
| 18 | Detroit Tigers | 1987 | 2006 |
| 16 | Florida/Miami Marlins | 2003 | 2020 |
| 15 | California/Anaheim Angels | 1986 | 2002 |
Longest active postseason series win droughts
Longest postseason game win droughts
| Games | Seasons | Team | Previous game won | Next game won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 16 | Minnesota Twins | 2004 ALDS Game 1 | 2023 AL Wild Card Series Game 1 |
| 13 | 11 | Boston Red Sox | 1986 World Series Game 6 | 1998 ALDS Game 1 |
| 11 | 61 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1915 World Series Game 1 | 1977 NLCS Game 1 |
| 10 | 11 | Baltimore Orioles | 2014 ALDS Game 3 | Active |
| 10 | 33 | Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves | 1958 World Series Game 4 | 1991 NLCS Game 2 |
| 10 | 4 | Kansas City Royals | 1980 World Series Game 4 | 1985 ALCS Game 3 |
Longest current postseason game win droughts
| Games | Seasons | Team | Last game won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 11 | Baltimore Orioles | 2014 ALDS Game 3 |
| 8 | 13 | Cincinnati Reds | 2012 NLDS Game 2 |
| 7 | 4 | Tampa Bay Rays | 2021 ALDS Game 1 |
| 5 | 5 | Miami Marlins | 2020 NL Wild Card Series Game 2 |
| 5 | 5 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2020 NL Wild Card Series Game 1 |
League division champion droughts
Longest current division champion droughts
No league division championships were won in 1994 due to the players' strike that year.
* Because of the wild card postseason berth, the franchise has won two World Series championships (1997 and 2003) without winning their division.
Longest division championship droughts through history
List begins with 1969, the time divisional play started in Major League Baseball. This list only shows droughts of 10 or more seasons. Active droughts are listed in bold type.
| Seasons | Team | Previous Division Title | Drought Streak | Next Division Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Colorado Rockies | — | 1993–2025 | — |
| 33 | Florida/Miami Marlins | — | 1993–2025 | — |
| 33 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1992 | 1993–2025 | — |
| 30 | Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals | 1981 | 1982–2011 | 2012 |
| 29 | Kansas City Royals | 1985 | 1986–2014 | 2015 |
| 28 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1982 | 1983–2010 | 2011 |
| 27 | Washington Senators/Texas Rangers | — | 1969–1995 | 1996 |
| 26 | Cleveland Indians | — | 1969–1994 | 1995 |
| 23 | Detroit Tigers | 1987 | 1988–2010 | 2011 |
| 23 | Seattle Mariners | 2001 | 2002–2024 | 2025 |
| 21 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1993 | 1993–2014 | 2015 |
| 19 | San Diego Padres | 2006 | 2007–2025 | — |
| 18 | Seattle Mariners | — | 1977–1994 | 1995 |
| 17 | California/Anaheim Angels | 1986 | 1987–2003 | 2004 |
| 17 | New York Mets | 1988 | 1989–2005 | 2006 |
| 16 | Minnesota Twins | 1970 | 1971–1986 | 1987 |
| 16 | Baltimore Orioles | 1997 | 1998–2013 | 2014 |
| 15 | Chicago Cubs | — | 1969–1983 | 1984 |
| 15 | San Diego Padres | — | 1969–1983 | 1984 |
| 15 | San Francisco Giants | 1971 | 1972–1986 | 1987 |
| 15 | Houston Astros | 2001 | 2002–2016 | 2017 |
| 14 | Chicago White Sox | — | 1969–1982 | 1983 |
| 14 | New York Yankees | 1981 | 1982–1995 | 1996 |
| 14 | Cincinnati Reds | 1995 | 1996–2009 | 2010 |
| 14 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2011 | 2012–2025 | — |
| 13 | St. Louis Cardinals | — | 1969–1981 | 1982 |
| 13 | Baltimore Orioles | 1983 | 1984–1996 | 1997 |
| 13 | Chicago Cubs | 1989 | 1990–2002 | 2003 |
| 13 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1993 | 1994–2006 | 2007 |
| 13 | Cincinnati Reds | 2012 | 2013–2025 | — |
| 12 | Montreal Expos | — | 1969–1980 | 1981 |
| 12 | Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers | — | 1969–1980 | 1981 |
| 12 | New York Mets | 1973 | 1974–1985 | 1986 |
| 12 | Chicago White Sox | 2008 | 2009–2020 | 2021 |
| 12 | Atlanta Braves | 1969 | 1970–1981 | 1982 |
| 12 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2011 | 2012–2023 | 2024 |
| 11 | Houston Astros | — | 1969–1979 | 1980 |
| 11 | Detroit Tigers | 1972 | 1973–1983 | 1984 |
| 11 | San Diego Padres | 1984 | 1985–1995 | 1996 |
| 11 | Boston Red Sox | 1995 | 1996–2006 | 2007 |
| 11 | Detroit Tigers | 2014 | 2015–2025 | — |
| 11 | Los Angeles Angels | 2014 | 2015–2025 | — |
| 10 | California Angels | — | 1969–1978 | 1979 |
| 10 | Boston Red Sox | 1975 | 1976–1985 | 1986 |
| 10 | Cincinnati Reds | 1979 | 1980–1989 | 1990 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1979 | 1980–1989 | 1990 |
| 10 | Houston Astros | 1986 | 1987–1996 | 1997 |
| 10 | Minnesota Twins | 1991 | 1992–2001 | 2002 |
| 10 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays | — | 1998–2007 | 2008 |
| 10 | Texas Rangers | 1999 | 2000–2009 | 2010 |
| 10 | Kansas City Royals | 2015 | 2016–2025 | — |
| 10 | New York Mets | 2015 | 2016–2025 | — |
League championship appearance droughts
Longest current league championship appearance droughts
No league championships were played in 1994 due to the players' strike that year.
World Series appearance droughts
Longest current World Series appearance droughts
No World Series was played in 1994 due to the players' strike that year.
Longest major league pennant droughts through history
List begins with 1903, about the time the current configuration of National League and American League stabilized and also the year of the first World Series. No pennants were won in 1994 due to the players strike that year. This list only shows droughts of 20 or more seasons. Active droughts are listed in bold type.
| Seasons | Team | Previous Pennant | Drought Streak | Next Pennant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Chicago Cubs | 1945 | 1946–2015 | 2016 |
| 50 | Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals | — | 1969–2018 | 2019 |
| 49 | Washington Senators/Texas Rangers | — | 1961–2009 | 2010 |
| 49 | Seattle Mariners | — | 1977–2025 | — |
| 46 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1979 | 1980–2025 | — |
| 45 | Chicago White Sox | 1959 | 1960–2004 | 2005 |
| 43 | Houston Colt .45s/Astros | — | 1962–2004 | 2005 |
| 43 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1982 | 1983–2025 | — |
| 42 | Baltimore Orioles | 1983 | 1984–2025 | — |
| 41 | St. Louis Browns | — | 1903–1943 | 1944 |
| 41 | Los Angeles/California/Anaheim Angels | — | 1961–2001 | 2002 |
| 40 | Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics | 1931 | 1932–1971 | 1972 |
| 40 | Cleveland Indians | 1954 | 1955–1994 | 1995 |
| 39 | Chicago White Sox | 1919 | 1920–1958 | 1959 |
| 35 | Cincinnati Reds | 1990 | 1991–2025 | — |
| 35 | Oakland Athletics/Athletics | 1990 | 1991–2025 | — |
| 34 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1915 | 1916–1949 | 1950 |
| 34 | Minnesota Twins | 1991 | 1992–2025 | — |
| 33 | Boston Braves | 1914 | 1915–1947 | 1948 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1927 | 1928–1959 | 1960 |
| 32 | Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves | 1958 | 1959–1990 | 1991 |
| 31 | Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins | 1933 | 1934–1964 | 1965 |
| 31 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1993 | 1994–2024 | 2025 |
| 29 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1950 | 1951–1979 | 1980 |
| 28 | Kansas City Royals | 1985 | 1986–2013 | 2014 |
| 28 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1988 | 1989–2016 | 2017 |
| 27 | Boston Red Sox | 1918 | 1919–1945 | 1946 |
| 27 | Cleveland Indians | 1920 | 1921–1947 | 1948 |
| 27 | San Diego Padres | 1998 | 1999–2025 | — |
| 26 | San Francisco Giants | 1962 | 1963–1988 | 1989 |
| 24 | Detroit Tigers | 1909 | 1910–1933 | 1934 |
| 23 | St. Louis Cardinals | — | 1903–1925 | 1926 |
| 23 | Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels[a] | 2002 | 2003–2025 | — |
| 22 | Detroit Tigers | 1945 | 1946–1967 | 1968 |
| 22 | Florida/Miami Marlins | 2003 | 2004–2025 | — |
| 21 | Washington Senators | — | 1903–1923 | 1924 |
| 21 | St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles | 1944 | 1945–1965 | 1966 |
| 21 | Minnesota Twins | 1965 | 1966–1986 | 1987 |
| 21 | Detroit Tigers | 1984 | 1985–2005 | 2006 |
| 21 | Atlanta Braves | 1999 | 2000–2020 | 2021 |
| 21 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2001 | 2002–2022 | 2023 |
| 20 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1920 | 1921–1940 | 1941 |
| 20 | Cincinnati Reds | 1940 | 1941–1960 | 1961 |
| 20 | Boston Red Sox | 1946 | 1947–1966 | 1967 |
| 20 | Chicago White Sox | 2005 | 2006–2025 | – |
Major league pennant droughts by city/region
This list only includes cities/regions with current Major League Baseball franchises. Years during which a city/region did not field a Major League Baseball team are not counted.
*city without Major League Baseball franchise for 7 seasons (1970–1976)
†number does not indicate a pennant won, but rather total seasons played.
World Series championship droughts
Longest current World Series championship droughts
The Commissioner's Trophy was introduced during the 1967 World Series.
No World Series was played in 1994, and counts as a drought season for those franchises.
Longest World Series championship droughts through history
The first World Series was played in 1903. No World Series was played in 1904 or 1994. This list only shows droughts of 30 or more seasons. Active droughts are listed in bold type.
World Series championship droughts by city/region
This list only includes cities/regions with current Major League Baseball franchises. Years during which a city/region did not field a Major League Baseball team are not counted.
*city without Major League Baseball franchise for 4 seasons (1966–1969)
†city without Major League Baseball franchise for 7 seasons (1970–1976)
‡number does not indicate a title won, but rather total seasons played.
World Series in which neither team had previously won a championship
In these instances, the World Series matchup ensured that one team would win the first championship in its history.
*In these cases, each team was making its first World Series appearance.
World Series in which neither team had previously lost a championship
In these instances, the World Series matchup ensured that one team would lose the first championship in its history.
*In these cases, each team was making its first World Series appearance.
World Series in which both teams had ended pennant droughts of 20-plus seasons
| Season | Won | Drought (seasons) | Lost | Drought (seasons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Chicago White Sox | 45 | Houston Astros | 43 |
| 1948 | Cleveland Indians | 27 | Boston Braves | 33 |
World Series in which neither franchise had won a championship in 30-plus seasons
Bold denotes team that won.
| Season | American League | Drought (seasons) | National League | Drought (seasons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Cleveland Indians | 67 | Chicago Cubs | 107 |
| 2010 | Texas Rangers | 49* | San Francisco Giants | 55 |
| 2005 | Chicago White Sox | 87 | Houston Astros | 43* |
| 2002 | Anaheim Angels | 41* | San Francisco Giants | 47 |
| 1995 | Cleveland Indians | 46 | Atlanta Braves | 37 |
| 1975 | Boston Red Sox | 56 | Cincinnati Reds | 34 |
| 1972 | Oakland Athletics | 40 | Cincinnati Reds | 31 |
Numbers marked with * indicates that the number is counted from either the franchise's first year of existence or the first year of the modern World Series (1903).
World Series Championship droughts by division
| Division | Last World Series championship | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| American League Central | 2015 — Royals | 10 |
| National League Central | 2016 — Cubs | 9 |
| American League East | 2018 — Red Sox | 7 |
| National League East | 2021 — Braves | 4 |
| American League West | 2023 — Rangers | 2 |
| National League West | 2025 — Dodgers | 0 |
Closest approaches without winning the World Series
| Team | Wild Card Series appearances | Division Series appearances | Championship Series appearances | World Series appearances | Fewest wins short of World Series Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 win short: 1982 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 wins short: 2020 |
| San Diego Padres | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 wins short: 1984 |
| Colorado Rockies | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 wins short: 2007 |
| Seattle Mariners | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 wins short: 2025 |
See also
- List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason streaks
- List of Major League Baseball postseason series
- List of Major League Baseball postseason teams
- List of all-time Major League Baseball win–loss records
- List of NBA franchise post-season droughts
- List of NFL franchise post-season droughts
- List of NHL franchise post-season droughts
- List of MLS club post-season droughts
References
- ↑ "Longest MLB Postseason Series Win Droughts, Active and All-Time". champsorchumps.us. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ↑ "How did these teams do after ending long playoff droughts?". mlb.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ↑ (never since moving from NL East in 1994)
- ↑ (never since joining NL in 1998)
- ↑ Pre-dates the Commissioner's Trophy
- ↑ Known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2005 to 2015
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