The New York Yankees have lost more World Series than any other team (13). Of course, they’ve won more as well (27).
As the Mets and Royals face off in the 2015 World Series, we can be assured that a World Championship drought of at least 28 years will be broken. The Royals last won MLB’s Fall Classic in 1985, the Mets in 1986. Still, neither is close to the Cubs’ run of futility – Chicago’s NL entry last won a World Series 107 seasons ago (1908). And, among non-expansion teams, the Cubs’ have the worst won-lost record – having won the title just twice in ten trips to the Series. Further – again among non-expansion teams – the Cubs have gone the longest since last appearing in the World Series – all the way back to 1945.
Among expansion teams,we have the Nationals/Expos and Mariners, who have never been to the World Series – and the Rays, Rockies, Padres, Brewers, Astros and Rangers, who have never won a Series title.
In this post, BBRT would like to look at some of the World Series’ records for futility – both in terms of reaching the Fall Classic and performance on the big stage. For the more positive side of the record book, you can get a look at World Series’ single-game records, by clicking here. For even more on the World Series’ records, click here.
Long Careers Without Reaching the World Series
Phil Niekro – A Man for Many Seasons
Phil Niekro – earned a statue and a plaque (Hall of Fame), but never got a chance to earn a win in the Fall Classic.
No player took the field for more seasons without playing in the World Series than hurler Phil Niekro (24 seasons; 1964-87). The Hall of Fame knuckleballer also holds the record for the most wins for any pitcher never appearing in the Fall Classic at 318 (versus 274 losses). During his career, Niekro pitched for the Braves (in Milwaukee and Atlanta); Yankees; and Blue Jays. He was a five-time All Star, two-time 20–game winner (leading the NL in wins in 1974 and 1979), led the NL in winning percentage (17-4, .810) in 1982 and even won five Gold Gloves. On the other side of the coin, Niekro also led the NL in losses for four consecutive seasons (1977-1980), when he went a cumulative 71-76. Notably, Phil’s brother Joe nearly matched his World Series’ drought. Joe Niekro pitched 22 years in the big leagues – and didn’t make his first World Series appearance until his 21st season (1987, with the Twins).
The only other pitcher to win 300 games and not appear in the World Series is Gaylord Perry (314-265 over 22 seasons). BBRT note: Phil Niekro and Gaylord Perry are both part of MLB’s winningest brother combinations. Phil and Joe Niekro rank first (a combined 539 MLB wins) and Gaylord and Jim Perry rank second (529 wins).
Among position players, the most seasons played without appearing in a World Series is 23 (Julio Franco; 1982-94, 1996-97; 1999; 2001-07).
Phil Niekro – 20/20 Vision
Phil Niekro, who went 21-20 for the Atlanta Braves in 1979, is the last MLB pitcher to lead his league in wins and losses in the same season – and the last MLBer to win and lose 20 or more games in the same season. That same season, Phil’s brother Joe went 21-11 for the Houston Astros, marking the only season in which two brothers have tied for the league lead in victories.
Rafael Palmeiro – Stretching for October
Rafael Palmeiro played the most regular-season games without making it to baseball’s finals – 2,831 from 1986-2005. Palmeiro also has the most at bats without playing in a World Series (10,472) and is one of only two players with at least 3,000 hits not to make it to the Fall Classic .(Palmeiro retired with 3,020 hits; Rod Carew amassed 3,053 hits without ever making it to the Series.) With 569 career homers, Palmeiro has the third-most of any player not to appear in the World Series (Ken Griffey, Jr. is number-one at 630, followed by Sammy Sosa at 609. The only other member of the 500+ HR Club not to play in the World Series is Ernie Banks at 512.)
Rafeal Palmeiro – The No-So-Golden Glove
In 1999, Rafael Palmeiro won his third-consecutive Gold Glove at first base – in a season in which he started only 25 games at the position (and played first base in only 28 games) – while starting 128 games as a Designated Hitter.
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Of course, getting to the World Series is only half the battle.
World Series’ Futility – On the Playing Field
Whitey Ford – Leading in Losses (not to mention starts and wins)
Whitey Ford holds the record for most career World Series losses at eight, but that came in 22 starts and was accompanied by an MLB-best 10 World Series wins.
Four by Four: No WS Wins – Four Losses
The most career WS losses without a win is four:
Charlie Liebrandt … 0-4, 4.84 in five WS starts – Royals in 1985, and Braves 1991 and 1992.
Don Newcombe … 0-4, 8.59 in five WS starts – Dodgers in 1949, 1955 and 1956.
Bill Sherdel … 0-4, 3.26 in four WS starts – Cardinals in 1926 and 1928.
Ed Summers … 0-4, 5.73 in four WS starts – Tigers in 1908 and 1909.
Three Losses in a Single Series
The record for the most losses in a single World Series belongs to George Frazier of the Yankees, who went 0-3, with a 17.18 ERA versus the Dodgers in 1981. Frazier appeared in three games, giving up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.
An 0-For World Series Career at the Plate
As you might expect, the record for World Series’ futility at the plate belongs to a player who earned his keep on the mound. Philadelphia Athletics’ pitcher George Earnshaw holds the record for most career World Series at bats without a hit at 22 – accumulated over eight games in three Fall Classics (1929, 1930, 1931). As a pitcher, Earnshaw went 4-3, 1.58, with five complete games in his eight WS starts. Note: Earnshaw was a 20-game winner in all three of his WS seasons – winning 66 games and losing just 28 from 1929-31.
Among position players, catcher Bill Sullivan (Senior) holds the record for most World Series at bats without a hit. Sullivan went 0-for-21 for the White Sox in the 1906 Series and never made it back to October baseball.
Worst Single Series
In 1968, Cardinals’ shortstop Dal Maxvill, who hit a career-high .253 and won a Gold glove in the regular season, went 0-for-22 as the Cardinals lost the World Series (in seven games) to the Tigers. In the process, Maxvill set the record for the most at bats in a single series without a safety. Dodger Gil Hodges had gone 0-for-21 in the 1952 Series. Maxvill played in four World Series over his career, hitting .115 (7-for-61). The slick fielding infielder hit .217 over a 14-year MLH career.
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