The Captain's Blog

Last year’s World Series matchup ensured that a long championship drought would be broken. The Giants entered the 2010 Fall Classic without a title in 56 seasons, while the Rangers had never won a World Series. The two teams’ combined 105 years chasing the trophy ranked as the third longest of all time, but after the Giants proved victorious, only the Rangers’ stretch of championship futility remained.

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: mlb.com

After failing to win a playoff series in their first 49 years of existence, the Rangers have now won consecutive A.L. pennants and given themselves another chance to snap baseball’s third longest stretch without World Series success. With the exception of the Cubs and Indians, no team has gone longer without tasting champagne after the Fall Classic, so, needless to say, the fans in Dallas are probably somewhat anxious. In fact, the entire state of Texas will probably be on edge. Combined with the Astros, major league baseball has existed in the Lone Star state for 89 years without producing a World Series winner.

Longest Current World Series Droughts, By Team (30 Years or Longer)
Note: Texas’ streak does not include the current season.
Source: mlb.com

By winning one of the next two games, the Rangers would also remove their name from the list of eight teams that have never won the World Series, and, by doing so, put an end to the fourth longest stretch without winning a championship from either franchise inception or the advent of the Fall Classic in 1903. To this point, only the Dodgers, Orioles and Phillies needed more time to record their first ring, but the Rangers are moving up the list. If Texas can seal its first championship, that would leave the cross-state Astros as the longest-tenured team without a World Series banner to hang.

Longest Stretch Before Winning First World Series, Since Inception or 1903 (click to enlarge)

Note: 1904 and 1994 were included in calculating the durations.
Source: mlb.com

Should the Rangers falter in St. Louis, not only would the franchise continue its World Series drought, but it would also become only the tenth team and sixth franchise to lose consecutive Fall Classics. Under those circumstances, the Cardinals would increase their National League leading championship total to 11, while notching at least one title in seven different decades, a measure of consistency surpassed only by the Yankees’ eight.

Teams that Have Lost Consecutive World Series

Source: mlb.com

In many ways, this year’s World Series has been a battle between the haves and have nots. The Cardinals have a history second only to the Yankees, while the Rangers are still looking to make their mark. With one more victory, however, Texas will join the ranks of baseball champions, so perhaps it’s fitting that one of the game’s royalty stands in the way. Do good things come to those who wait? Rangers’ fans are undoubtedly looking forward to finding out.