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, 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, 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 Rangers, the Cubs, and the Nationals. 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.
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 29 years. Long postseason droughts were ended recently by the Nationals, the Pirates, the Royals, the Blue Jays, and the Mariners.
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.

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, 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 appearanceNext appearance
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals19812012
Kansas City Royals19852014
Milwaukee Brewers19822008
Toronto Blue Jays19932015
Pittsburgh Pirates19922013
Seattle Mariners20012022
Detroit Tigers19872006
Florida/Miami Marlins20032020
California/Anaheim Angels19862002

Longest active postseason series win droughts

Longest postseason game win droughts

Longest current postseason game win droughts

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 PiratesNL Central
San Diego PadresNL West
Arizona DiamondbacksNL West
Cincinnati RedsNL Central
Detroit TigersAL Central
Los Angeles AngelsAL West
Kansas City RoyalsAL Central
New York MetsNL East
Texas RangersAL West
Washington NationalsNL East
Boston Red SoxAL East
Chicago CubsNL Central
Oakland Athletics/AthleticsAL West
San Francisco GiantsNL West
Tampa Bay RaysAL East
Chicago White SoxAL Central
St. Louis CardinalsNL Central
Atlanta BravesNL East
Baltimore OriolesAL East
Minnesota TwinsAL Central
Houston AstrosAL West
New York YankeesAL East
Philadelphia PhilliesNL East
Milwaukee BrewersNL Central
Los Angeles DodgersNL West
Toronto Blue JaysAL East
Cleveland GuardiansAL Central
Seattle MarinersAL West

* Because of the wild card postseason berth, the franchise has won two World Series championships without winning the 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.
SeasonsTeamPrevious Division TitleDrought StreakNext Division Title
'Colorado Rockies—1993–2025—
'Florida/Miami Marlins—1993–2025—
'Pittsburgh Pirates19921993–2025—
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals19811982–20112012
Kansas City Royals19851986–20142015
Milwaukee Brewers19821983–20102011
Washington Senators/Texas Rangers—1969–19951996
Cleveland Indians—1969–19941995
Detroit Tigers19871988–20102011
Seattle Mariners20012002–20242025
Toronto Blue Jays19931993–20142015
'San Diego Padres20062007–2025—
Seattle Mariners—1977–19941995
California/Anaheim Angels19861987–20032004
New York Mets19881989–20052006
Minnesota Twins19701971–19861987
Baltimore Orioles19971998–20132014
Chicago Cubs—1969–19831984
San Diego Padres—1969–19831984
San Francisco Giants19711972–19861987
Houston Astros20012002–20162017
Chicago White Sox—1969–19821983
New York Yankees19811982–19951996
Cincinnati Reds19951996–20092010
'Arizona Diamondbacks20112012–2025—
St. Louis Cardinals—1969–19811982
Baltimore Orioles19831984–19961997
Chicago Cubs19891990–20022003
Philadelphia Phillies19931994–20062007
'Cincinnati Reds20122013–2025—
Montreal Expos—1969–19801981
Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers—1969–19801981
New York Mets19731974–19851986
Chicago White Sox20082009–20202021
Atlanta Braves19691970–19811982
Philadelphia Phillies20112012–20232024
Houston Astros—1969–19791980
Detroit Tigers19721973–19831984
San Diego Padres19841985–19951996
Boston Red Sox19951996–20062007
'Detroit Tigers20142015–2025—
'Los Angeles Angels20142015–2025—
California Angels—1969–19781979
Boston Red Sox19751976–19851986
Cincinnati Reds19791980–19891990
Pittsburgh Pirates19791980–19891990
Houston Astros19861987–19961997
Minnesota Twins19911992–20012002
Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays—1998–20072008
Texas Rangers19992000–20092010
'Kansas City Royals20152016–2025—
'New York Mets20152016–2025—