Chasing Postseason Glory: Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals

In recent years, Major League Baseball (MLB) has witnessed the growing anticipation of the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals inching closer to securing their first postseason berths since 2014 and 2015, respectively. A successful campaign would mark the end of some of the most enduring postseason dry spells in the sport’s history.

Contextualizing the Droughts in MLB History

The record for the most protracted postseason drought in MLB history is held by the Washington Nationals, formerly known as the Montreal Expos. This team experienced a playoff hiatus spanning from 1982 to 2011. However, they are not the only team to have endured such a lengthy postseason drought. Here’s a look at other MLB teams that have experienced extensive gaps between playoff appearances.

Longest Active Postseason Droughts (as of 2024 Season)

T1. Detroit Tigers: No playoffs since 2014
T1. Los Angeles Angels: No playoffs since 2014
T2. Kansas City Royals: No playoffs since 2015
T2. Pittsburgh Pirates: No playoffs since 2015
5. Colorado Rockies: No playoffs since 2018

Longest Postseason Droughts Since 1969

1. Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos): 29 years (1982-2011)
2. Kansas City Royals: 27 years (1986-2013)
3. Texas Rangers: 26 years (1969-1995)
4. Cleveland Guardians (formerly Cleveland Indians): 25 years (1969-1993)
5. Milwaukee Brewers: 24 years (1983-2007)

Additional MLB Highlights

For those interested in further exploring MLB records and statistics, including which teams have never won a World Series, who has won the most World Series titles, and the current playoff tracker, check out our MLB Standings page. It provides breaking news, scores, stats, standings, and more to keep you updated on everything MLB.