The Captain's Blog

Baseball’s final four is set, and it features a quartet with one of the longest cumulative championship droughts in LCS history. So, forget the recent talk of dynasties and title defenses. When the champagne flows after this year’s World Series, it will quench the thirst of a long-suffering fan base.

Yearly Cumulative World Series Drought of LCS Participants, 1969-2015

Note: Includes the sum of years between a World Series victory and the current season for all teams. A team that won the World Series and played in the LCS in the following year is considered to have a drought of one year. For teams without a World Series victory as a reference point, either their first season or 1903 was used.
Note: 1904 and 1994 were included in calculating the durations.
Source: baseball-reference.com (data)

LCS with Longest Combined Championship Drought
Note: Includes the sum of years between a World Series victory and the current season for all teams. A team that won the World Series and played in the LCS in the following year is considered to have a drought of one year. For teams without a World Series victory as a reference point, either their first season or 1903 was used.
Note: 1904 and 1994 were included in calculating the durations. Droughts of longer than 20 years in bold.
Source: baseball-reference.com (data)

It’s been 188 cumulative years since the Cubs, Royals, Mets or Blue Jays last won a World Series. In only 2003, when the Cubs and Red Sox were each vying for a pennant, have baseball’s final four teams collectively represented a longer championship drought. However, this time, the pain has been shared more evenly. Although the Cubs still shoulder the overwhelming burden, the Blue Jays, Mets, and Royals each have their own multi-decade long laments, marking the first time that all LCS teams have gone at least 20 years without winning the World Series.

World Series with Longest Combined Championship Drought
*Drought dates back to 1903, the year of the first World Series.
Note: 1904 and 1994 were included in calculating the durations. Winner in bold.
Source: baseball-reference.com (data)

If the Cubs and Royals each advance, it will represent the longest combined drought among teams in the World Series. That matchup would also ensure that the winner would graduate from the list of clubs that have gone at least three decades without winning the Fall Classic. Needless to say, with teams like the Rangers and Astros already eliminated, long suffering has certainly been a theme in this year’s postseason.

Longest Current World Series Droughts, By Team (30 Years or Longer)
Note: For teams without a World Series victory as a reference point, their first season is used.
Source: baseball-reference.com (data)

When it comes to the postseason, long suffering can take on different meanings. For fans of teams who rarely play in October, having to endure a fruitless regular season is the real burden. The White Sox exemplify this form of misery. Since the World Series was first played in 1903, the White Sox have only qualified for the postseason nine times, the second lowest percentage of the current 30 franchises and fewest among the original 16 teams.

Percentage of Total Seasons with Postseason Play, By Franchise
Note: Calculations are as of 1903 or each franchise’s inaugural season and exclude 1904 and 1994.
Source: baseball-reference.com (data)

White Sox fans probably believe it is better to have made the playoffs and lost than to have watched so many at home, but those teams who frequently qualify for the postseason only to have their hopes dashed might disagree. Would Astros fans trade in their 10 postseason appearances in 54 years, which ranks 11th among the 30 franchises, for the White Sox’ 2005 championship that was won against them? If so, they’re probably not alone. Fans of the Dodgers, Braves and Athletics probably feel the same way. At least the Astros played in a World Series within the last 10 years. Los Angeles, Atlanta and Oakland have each made the playoffs nine times since their last pennant, only to be sent home without a trip to the Fall Classic.

Percentage of World Series Victories in Years When Team Qualified for Postseason, By Franchise

Source: baseball-reference.com (data)

Although fans of the Cubs, Royals, Mets or Blue Jays enter the LCS with hope for a championship, all but one will eventually be faced with misery yet again. However, there is a bright side for the teams who come up short. It may have taken them awhile to get this point, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they’re all back next year.