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November 3, 2015Multiple Major League Baseball postseason droughts ended this October. Toronto drank champagne like it was 1993. The World Series returned to Queens for the first time since 2000. The Royals scratched that 30-year itch and raised The Commissioner’s Trophy. Baseball’s thirty teams all endure periods of success and ineptitude. With the events of this postseason behind us, where do our beloved Cleveland Indians rank among their peers? (Note: In 1994 a players strike wiped out the playoffs including the World Series. While the Fall Classic was not contested that season, the year did happen so it will count in all figures. All x-axes are years and y-axes are teams.)
World Series Drought
Longest drought: Chicago Cubs (1908, 107 years ago)
Indians rank: Second (1948, 67 years ago)
The Chicago Cubs’ World Series drought is as much a part of the team as the ivy at Wrigley Field. Maybe that billy goat really did curse them. Maybe they are just unlucky. Either way, they outlast all comers in baseball’s championship waiting room. Cleveland “enjoys” a prolific drought as well. One would have to go back to the Truman Administration to see a champion Indians team.
Pennant Drought
Longest Drought: Chicago Cubs (1945, 70 years)
Indians Rank: 12th (1997, 18 years)
Once again the Cubs wear the crown when it comes to pennant-less streaks. A full seven decades have elapsed since the Cubbies won the National League. The Washington Nationals/Ghost of Montreal Expos have never made the World Series in 47 years. The Seattle Mariners have not won the American League since joining it in 1977. Eighteen years have passed since the 1997 Indians won the American League, placing them twelfth in the overall list.
Division Drought
Longest Drought: Pittsburgh Pirates (1992, 23 years)
Indians Rank: Seventh (2007, 8 years)
Major League Baseball bifurcated its clubs into East and West Divisions in 1969 when the number of teams expanded from 20 to 24. The standings further splintered in 1994 with the introduction of the Central Divisions. The droughts here are therefore much shorter than those of the pennant or World Series categories. Cleveland most recently won the AL Central in 2007, a full eight seasons ago.
Playoff Drought
Longest Drought: Seattle Mariners (2001, 14 years)
Indians Rank: Tied for 10th (2013, 2 years)
Before the 2015 campaign began, Toronto bore the burden of longest active playoff drought. Their playoff appearance means the crown passes to the M’s. Seattle fired their manager already and looks to be more than a few players away from October. We can now say that all MLB teams have qualified for the postseason this century. Cleveland made a cameo appearance in the 2013 postseason, but lost the Wild Card game to Tampa Bay, 4-0. The Tribe has finished over .500 for three straight seasons, and looks to return to playoffs in 2016.
In a perfect world, every team would take turns winning the World Series, and a franchise drought would never last more than 30 years. However, the baseball world is far from perfect. Some teams slog through seemingly endless deserts while others win the pennant as if it were their birthright. The Indians are neither the longest suffering nor most blessed baseball team, though as this postseason showed, no drought is unbeatable and any year could be The Year. Pitchers and catchers report in February. Until then, Cleveland is still waiting for ne-…well, you get the idea.
1 Comment
I’m just glad the Cubs didn’t go further this year. Unfortunately fellow AL Central member KC won it all so at least the Indians will have that reminder constantly.