No Rings Yet
Starting in 2005, I have seen three teams with long World Series droughts finally win the World Series. In 2005, the Chicago White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years. Their players “threw” the Series in 1919 in the famous Black Sox scandal, having defeated the Giants in 1917. It took 88 years to win again.
In 2016, the other Chicago team, broke a record breaking streak. It had been since their team of 1908 since they won. That team won both in 1907 and 1908 as a powerhouse of the league. The Cubs took 108 years to win again.
Finally this year the Texas Rangers won their first World Series ever in their 62 years of existence as either the Washington Senators or the Texas Rangers.
That got me wondering which franchise deserves to be the next to break a long streak. Consider these six candidates.
Let us start with the franchises, who, like the Rangers, have never won a single World Series in their existence.
The Tampa Bay Rays (Devil Rays) were formed in 1998. Despite having some excellent teams recently, they still have not won in their 25 years.
In 1991 the Colorado Rockies started. They also have never won, despite having a few very good teams. In 2007 they lost in the World Series to the Red Sox. However, it has now been 32 years without a crown.
In 1977, the Seattle Mariners were formed. They remain the ONLY major league baseball team to NEVER play in a World Series. It has been 46 years for them.
There are two teams formed in 1969 and neither of them have won a World Series. They are the Seattle Pilots (now Milwaukee Brewers) and the San Diego Padres. Although both have competed in the World Series, nether have ever won and that is a period of 54 years.
That may be interesting but there is an established older franchise that has not won a World Series in 75 years. That is the Cleveland Indians/Guardians. In 2016, they led the Cubs three games to one, with the last two games at home. However, they could not win the last game.
Like this year’s Rangers, these six franchises long for and dream of that year when their losing streak will end. For all of us we ask, will this happen in my lifetime? Wait until next year.