Which teams have never won the World Series? The annual Major League Baseball play-off series between the champions of the American League and the National League is a battle for the Commissioner's Trophy and the right to be called the best team in baseball.
Major League Baseball’s greatest prize, the World Series has been contested since 1903. There are only six teams that have never won the World Series. Let’s take a look at them all.
You can also check out a little video I put together on 3Speak about these teams.
6. Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are one of six teams that have never won the World series. They’re yet to even win a division title, but in 2007 the Rockies did earn a Wild Card spot in the National League. They went on a streak of 21 wins in 22 games to earn their only World Series appearance but would get swept by the Boston Red Sox.
Colorado's Coors Field sits at 5,200 feet (1,580 m) above sea level which is the highest altitude stadium in Major League Baseball. Because of the dry and thin Denver air it's one of the most hitter friendly ballparks in the world and the Rockies typically have a slightly better offensive advantage there.
The Rockies are one of the youngest teams after joining the MLB in 1993. They've been home to superstars like Todd Helton, Larry Walker and Troy Tulowitzki and they’ll be hopeful they can win a World Series in the near future.
Happy 15th Anniversary to Game One of the 2007 World Series, the Fall Classic debut for the Colorado #Rockies pic.twitter.com/EuAhAUhLqf
— DNVR Rockies (@DNVR_Rockies) October 24, 2022
5. Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have the longest World Series drought for a team that has never won the World Series. Stretching back to 1961, the drought stretches back then to when the franchise was first founded as the Washington Senators.
Relocation in 1972 came with a name change and they became known as the Rangers. It took until 1996 for the Rangers to make their first playoff appearance and they went on to lose four games to the Yankees in the Division Series.
Heartbreakingly, the Rangers suffered back-to-back World Series losses in 2010 and 2011 to the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals respectively. Against the Cardinals they held a two-run lead heading into the ninth inning and they were even one strike away from winning it all until David Freese hit a two-run triple.
The signing of shortstop Corey Seager on a 10-year, $325 million contract, one of the biggest Major League deals of all time, is a statement from the Rangers on ending their drought.
October 27, 2011: In G6 of the WS, the Cardinals’ David Freese hits a game-tying two-run triple in the B9, then a walk-off home run in B11 to force a G7 against the Rangers.
“We will see you tomorrow night!”-Joe Buck (tribute to his Dad’s WS G6 call in ‘91 on Puckett walk-off) pic.twitter.com/Z5M5NgtBGx — This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) October 27, 2020
4. Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have never won the World Series but are the newest team in Major League Baseball after being founded as the Devil Rays in 1998. Many fans weren’t impressed with the word "Devil" in the team name and it was dropped much to the delight of 7,000 celebrating supporters.
Following the rebrand the Rays’ fortunes took an immediate turn for the better. They went from averaging 97 losses a season to winning the American League pennant in 2008 and again in 2020.
Tampa Bay lost the 2008 World Series in five games against the Philadelphia Phillies but it was still a remarkable season considering it was their first ever playoff appearance. In 2020 the Rays lost in six games to the LA Dodgers.
Despite playing out of one of the smallest Major League Baseball markets, and Tropicana Field being one of the worst stadiums in the league, Tampa Bay has a remarkable ability of finding hidden gems and they’re able to compete with some of the best teams even with their limited resources.
FLORIDA FINALS— For the first time ever, 4 major sports teams from one state have represented in their prospective championships.
• Miami Heat- 2020 NBA finals • Tampa Bay Lightning- 2020 Stanley Cup final • Tampa Bay Rays- 2020 World Series • Tampa Bay Bucs- 2021 Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/L2FdGeLXTn — Spectrum Sports 360 (@SpecSports360) February 12, 2021
3. Milwaukee Brewers
After being founded as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee and became known as the Milwaukee Brewers after going bankrupt in Seattle, having had the worst stadium in the league and the highest ticket prices.
The Brewers clinched the American League pennant in 1982 and appeared in their first ever World Series. After taking Game 1 with a massive 10-0 win, they went 3-2 up in the series before the Cardinals came back to win the World Series in seven.
Milwaukee reached the NL Championship Series in 2018 but lost to the LA Dodgers, and again in 2021 to the Atlanta Braves. The Brewers have every chance of winning a World Series for their loyal fan base, and in recent times have consistently punched above their weight in the playoffs.
Oct 20, 1982: the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 7 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. #80s pic.twitter.com/9wdCq9KeTr
— Old School 80s (@OldSchool80s) October 20, 2020
2. San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres first season in Major League Baseball was in 1969 and they’re still yet to win a World Series. The Padres have won two National League pennants in 1984 and in 1998.
In 84’ the Padres made it to the World Series by defeating the Chicago Cubs and earning a match up against the Detroit Tigers. In 98’ they beat the Atlanta Braves and faced the New York Yankees in the World Series. The Padres lost both of those series in five games.
San Diego remains the largest American city not to win a major league sports championship and their chances got even harder with the San Diego Chargers relocation to Los Angeles in 2016. They won't be able to do it in the NFL as the San Diego Chargers relocated to Los Angeles in 2016.
The promising thing for Padres fans is that the owners have expressed an ongoing willingness to spend money like a large market team. Signing one of the best shortstops in the league, Fernando Tatis Jr, to one of the biggest MLB contracts ever is showing intention that the Padres want to end their World Series drought.
It’s time for the San Diego Padres to win the 2023 World Series pic.twitter.com/7W8VHfg9OZ
— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) February 13, 2023
1. Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners joined Major League Baseball in 1977 and have never won the World Series. In fact they’re the only team in the MLB never to have made an appearance in the World Series.
Some success was seen in the 90s and early 2000s with the Mariners making the American League Championship game three times but they lost them all. In 2022 the Mariners ended the longest playoff drought in North America, finishing the regular series 90-72 and ending a 20-year absence from the playoffs.
With one of the best Major League Baseball stadiums in T-Mobile Park, the Mariners will be hoping to host more playoff baseball. As Seattle is also a large market, the franchise is able to compete with blockbuster trades and can carry a sizable payroll in an effort to end their World Series drought.
My girlfriend asked me this last night:
“Would you rather spend a happy lifetime with me at the cost of the Mariners never winning a World Series or lose me and they win it this year?” She wasn’t thrilled that I hesitated, and I am currently tweeting this from the doghouse 🙃 — Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) July 8, 2022
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
I'm not a baseball fan myself, but I remember de 2004 WS won by the Boston Red Sox. I was a 14 years old boy back then, my god, what a series... They made it, after 86 years (1918). Just beautiful.
This means that the Seattle Mariners are the champions. Congratulations to them