List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason droughts


Throughout the history of Major League Baseball, franchises have had various postseason and World Series droughts.
All 16 of the original Major League franchises have won the World Series, with the longest wait for a franchise's first championship being for the Phillies. Since expansion began in 1961, six of the 14 expansion teams have never won the World Series. Further, one franchise has a current championship drought that pre-dates the expansion era. The three longest championship droughts in history were ended recently by the Red Sox, the White Sox, and the Cubs.
Only one expansion franchise has never won a pennant. The three longest pennant droughts in history were recently ended by the Nationals, the Rangers and the Cubs. As the Nationals are the third franchise to be based in the city of Washington, their 2019 pennant also ended a drought of seasons played in Washington since their last pennant, which was in 1933.
Every MLB franchise has at least been to the postseason, especially since expansion of the playoffs in 1994 made that feat easier. The Mariners have the longest active postseason drought at years. Long postseason droughts were ended recently by the Nationals, the Pirates, the Royals, and the Blue Jays.
This list includes only the modern World Series between the American League and the National League, 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.

World Series championship droughts

Longest current World Series championship droughts

No World Series was played in 1994, and counts as a drought season for those franchises.
SeasonsTeamLast World Series championship wonLast World Series appearance
Cleveland Indians19482016
Texas RangersNever 2011
Milwaukee BrewersNever 1982
San Diego PadresNever 1998
Seattle MarinersNever Never
Pittsburgh Pirates19791979
Baltimore Orioles19831983
Detroit Tigers19842012
New York Mets19862015
Los Angeles Dodgers19882018
Oakland Athletics19891990
Cincinnati Reds19901990
Minnesota Twins19911991
Colorado RockiesNever 2007
Toronto Blue Jays19931993
Atlanta Braves19951999
Tampa Bay RaysNever 2008
Arizona Diamondbacks20012001
Los Angeles Angels20022002
Miami Marlins20032003
Chicago White Sox20052005
Philadelphia Phillies20082009
New York Yankees20092009
St. Louis Cardinals20112013
San Francisco Giants20142014
Kansas City Royals20152015
Chicago Cubs20162016
Houston Astros20172019
Boston Red Sox20182018
Washington Nationals20192019

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.
SeasonsTeamPrevious TitleNext Title
Chicago Cubs19082016
Chicago White Sox19172005
Boston Red Sox19182004
Philadelphia Phillies1903*1980
'Cleveland Indians1948—
St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles1903*1966
Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins19241987
'/Texas Rangers1961*—
Houston Colt.45s/Astros1962*2017
New York/San Francisco Giants19542010
Brooklyn Dodgers1903*1955
'Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers1969*—
'San Diego Padres1969*—
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals1969*2019
'Seattle Mariners1977*—
Boston/Milwaukee Braves19141957
Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics19301972
Los Angeles-California-Anaheim Angels1961*2002
'Pittsburgh Pirates1979—
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves19571995
'Baltimore Orioles1983—
'Detroit Tigers1984—
Pittsburgh Pirates19251960
Cincinnati Reds19401975
'New York Mets1986—
Detroit Tigers1903*1935
'Los Angeles Dodgers1988—
Oakland Athletics1989—

* Year does not indicate a title won, but rather the team's first year of existence or the first year of the modern World Series.

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.
RegionDrought Last World Series title
ClevelandCleveland Indians, 1948
Milwaukee*Milwaukee Braves, 1957
San Diego‡-
Dallas-Ft. Worth‡-
Seattle‡ †-
PittsburghPittsburgh Pirates, 1979
BaltimoreBaltimore Orioles, 1983
DetroitDetroit Tigers, 1984
CincinnatiCincinnati Reds, 1990
Minneapolis–Saint PaulMinnesota Twins, 1991
Denver‡-
TorontoToronto Blue Jays, 1993
AtlantaAtlanta Braves, 1995
Tampa-St. Petersburg‡-
PhoenixArizona Diamondbacks, 2001
Los AngelesAnaheim Angels, 2002
Miami-Ft. LauderdaleFlorida Marlins, 2003
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Phillies, 2008
New York CityNew York Yankees, 2009
St. LouisSt. Louis Cardinals, 2011
San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Giants, 2014
Kansas CityKansas City Royals, 2015
ChicagoChicago Cubs, 2016
HoustonHouston Astros, 2017
BostonBoston Red Sox, 2018
Washington, D.C.Washington Nationals, 2019

*city without Major League Baseball franchise for 4 seasons
†city without Major League Baseball franchise for 7 seasons
‡number doesn't 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.
SeasonWonLost
1980Philadelphia PhilliesKansas City Royals
1920Cleveland IndiansBrooklyn Dodgers
1909Pittsburgh PiratesDetroit Tigers
1907Chicago CubsDetroit Tigers
1906*Chicago White SoxChicago Cubs
1905*New York GiantsPhiladelphia Athletics
1903*Boston AmericansPittsburgh Pirates

*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

World Series in which neither franchise had won a championship in 30-plus seasons

Teams that had never won the World Series are included, even if they were less than 30 seasons old at the time. Bold denotes team that won.
SeasonAmerican LeagueDrought National LeagueDrought
2016Cleveland IndiansChicago Cubs
2010Texas Rangers*San Francisco Giants
2005Chicago White SoxHouston Astros*
2002Anaheim Angels*San Francisco Giants
1997Cleveland IndiansFlorida Marlins*
1995Cleveland IndiansAtlanta Braves
1992Toronto Blue Jays*Atlanta Braves
1980Kansas City Royals*Philadelphia Phillies*
1975Boston Red SoxCincinnati Reds
1972Oakland AthleticsCincinnati Reds
1920Cleveland Indians*Brooklyn Dodgers*
1909Detroit Tigers*Pittsburgh Pirates*
1907Detroit Tigers*Chicago Cubs*
1906Chicago White Sox*Chicago Cubs*
1905Philadelphia Athletics*New York Giants*
1903Boston Americans*Pittsburgh Pirates*

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.

Major League pennant droughts

Longest current Major League pennant droughts

No pennants were won in 1994 due to the players' strike that year.
SeasonsTeamLast pennant
Seattle MarinersNever
Pittsburgh Pirates1979
Milwaukee Brewers1982
Baltimore Orioles1983
Cincinnati Reds1990
Oakland Athletics1990
Minnesota Twins1991
Toronto Blue Jays1993
San Diego Padres1998
Atlanta Braves1999
Arizona Diamondbacks2001
Los Angeles Angels2002
Miami Marlins2003
Chicago White Sox2005
Colorado Rockies2007
Tampa Bay Rays2008
New York Yankees2009
Philadelphia Phillies2009
Texas Rangers2011
Detroit Tigers2012
St. Louis Cardinals2013
San Francisco Giants2014
Kansas City Royals2015
New York Mets2015
Chicago Cubs2016
Cleveland Indians2016
Boston Red Sox2018
Los Angeles Dodgers2018
Washington Nationals2019
Houston Astros2019

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.
SeasonsTeamPrev. PennantNext Pennant
Chicago Cubs19452016
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals1969*2019
/Texas Rangers1961*2010
Chicago White Sox19592005
Houston Colt.45s/Astros1962*2005
'Seattle Mariners1977*—
St. Louis Browns1903*1944
Los Angeles-California-Anaheim Angels1961*2002
Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics19311972
Cleveland Indians19541995
'Pittsburgh Pirates1979—
Chicago White Sox19191959
'Milwaukee Brewers1982—
'Baltimore Orioles1983—
Philadelphia Phillies19151950
Boston Braves19141948
Pittsburgh Pirates19271960
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves19581991
Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins19331965
Philadelphia Phillies19501980
'Oakland Athletics1990—
'Cincinnati Reds1990—
Kansas City Royals19852014
Los Angeles Dodgers19882017
'Minnesota Twins1991—
Boston Red Sox19181946
Cleveland Indians19201948
San Francisco Giants19621989
'Toronto Blue Jays1993—
Detroit Tigers19091934
St. Louis Cardinals1903*1926
Detroit Tigers19451968
St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles19441966
Minnesota Twins19651987
Detroit Tigers19842006
Washington Senators1903*1924
San Diego Padres1998—
Brooklyn Dodgers19201941
Cincinnati Reds19401961
Boston Red Sox19461967

* Year does not indicate a pennant, but rather the team's first year of existence or the first year of the modern World Series.

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.
RegionDrought Last pennant
Seattle* †-
PittsburghPittsburgh Pirates, 1979
MilwaukeeMilwaukee Brewers, 1982
BaltimoreBaltimore Orioles, 1983
CincinnatiCincinnati Reds, 1990
Minneapolis–Saint PaulMinnesota Twins, 1991
TorontoToronto Blue Jays, 1993
San DiegoSan Diego Padres, 1998
AtlantaAtlanta Braves, 1999
PhoenixArizona Diamondbacks, 2001
Miami-Ft. LauderdaleFlorida Marlins, 2003
DenverColorado Rockies, 2007
Tampa-St. PetersburgTampa Bay Rays, 2008
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Phillies, 2009
Dallas-Ft. WorthTexas Rangers, 2011
DetroitDetroit Tigers, 2012
St. LouisSt. Louis Cardinals, 2013
San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Giants, 2014
Kansas CityKansas City Royals, 2015
New York CityNew York Mets, 2015
ClevelandCleveland Indians, 2016
ChicagoChicago Cubs, 2016
Los AngelesLos Angeles Dodgers, 2018
BostonBoston Red Sox, 2018
HoustonHouston Astros, 2019
Washington, D.C.Washington Nationals, 2019

*city without Major League Baseball franchise for 7 seasons
†number doesn't indicate a title won, but rather total seasons played.

League championship appearance droughts

Longest current league championship appearance droughts

No league championships were played in 1994 due to the players' strike that year.
SeasonsTeamLast appearance
Pittsburgh Pirates1992
Cincinnati Reds1995
San Diego Padres1998
Atlanta Braves2001
Seattle Mariners2001
Minnesota Twins2002
Miami Marlins2003
Chicago White Sox2005
Oakland Athletics2006
Arizona Diamondbacks2007
Colorado Rockies2007
Tampa Bay Rays2008
Los Angeles Angels2009
Philadelphia Phillies2010
Texas Rangers2011
Detroit Tigers2013
San Francisco Giants2014
Baltimore Orioles2014
Kansas City Royals2015
New York Mets2015
Toronto Blue Jays2016
Cleveland Indians2016
Chicago Cubs2017
Milwaukee Brewers2018
Boston Red Sox2018
Los Angeles Dodgers2018
New York Yankees2019
St. Louis Cardinals2019
Washington Nationals2019
Houston Astros2019

League division champion droughts

Longest current division champion droughts

No league division champions were won in 1994 due to the players' strike that year.
SeasonsTeamDivisionLast division champion
Colorado RockiesNL WestNever
Miami Marlins*NL EastNever
Pittsburgh Pirates**NL Central1992
Seattle MarinersAL West2001
San Diego PadresNL West2006
Chicago White SoxAL Central2008
Tampa Bay RaysAL East2010
Arizona DiamondbacksNL West2011
Philadelphia PhilliesNL East2011
Cincinnati RedsNL Central2012
San Francisco GiantsNL West2012
Oakland AthleticsAL West2013
Baltimore OriolesAL East2014
Detroit TigersAL Central2014
Los Angeles AngelsAL West2014
Kansas City RoyalsAL Central2015
New York MetsNL East2015
Toronto Blue JaysAL East2015
Texas RangersAL West2016
Chicago CubsNL Central2017
Washington NationalsNL East2017
Boston Red SoxAL East2018
Cleveland IndiansAL Central2018
Milwaukee BrewersNL Central2018
Atlanta BravesNL East2019
Houston AstrosAL West2019
Los Angeles DodgersNL West2019
Minnesota TwinsAL Central2019
New York YankeesAL East2019
St. Louis CardinalsNL Central2019

* Because of the wild card postseason berth, the franchise have won two World Series champions without winning the division.
** Also the franchise without a winning record for 20 consecutive seasons.

Postseason droughts

Longest current postseason droughts

* Also longest active drought in North American sports

Longest postseason droughts in the expanded-postseason era

After the postseason was expanded in 1995 to include eight teams, 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. Active droughts are listed in bold type.
SeasonsTeamPrevious Postseason AppearanceNext Postseason Appearance
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals19812012
Kansas City Royals19852014
Milwaukee Brewers19822008
Toronto Blue Jays19932015
Pittsburgh Pirates19922013
Detroit Tigers19872006
'Seattle Mariners2001—
'Miami Marlins2003—
Los Angeles Angels19862002