5 teams that have the longest losing streaks in MLB history ft. Phillies, Orioles and more
The Chicago White Sox broke their undesired franchise record for the longest losing streak. The White Sox lost their 15th consecutive game with an 8-5 reversal at home to the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.
Incidentally, the team had previously set the record for the longest losing streak during a single season less than two months ago at 14 losses. The White Sox had previously lost 15 games at a stretch, although it panned two years from the end of the 1967 season to the start of the 1968 campaign.
Here's a closer look at the five longest losing streaks in MLB history.
5 teams that have the longest losing streaks in MLB history
#5 Baltimore Orioles (1988) - 21 games
The Baltimore Orioles are one of the oldest members of the American League, having been a part of it since their inception in 1901. The Orioles have produced some of the best teams in MLB history and have clinched seven AL pennants and three World Series titles. Their list of Hall of Fame players includes Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr.
Despite having a decent team, the Baltimore Orioles began the 1988 season with a 0-21 record, which set the mark for the worst start to a major league campaign.
#4 Philadelphia Athletics (1890) - 22 games
The Philadelphia Athletics were one of the founding members of the American Association in 1882. However, they should not be confused with the franchise that emerged in the American League and is currently known as the Oakland Athletics. The former Athletics won the AA title in 1883, but they shut down operations after just nine seasons due to financial constraints.
In 1890, the Philadelphia Athletics lost their best players to the Players League and ended the season with a 22-game losing streak before disbanding entirely.
#3 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1890), Philadelphia Phillies (1961) - 23 games
The Pittsburgh Alleghenys were the forerunners of the current Pittsburgh Pirates, who have won nine pennants and five World Series championships. The Alleghenys were part of the American Association when it was founded before they joined the National League in 1887.
12 Pittsburgh players are in the Hall of Fame, including Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell.
The Allghenys lost nearly all their stars to the Players' League in 1890 and ended the year with a 23-113 record, which included a 23-game losing streak.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the longest-existing teams in MLB, began as the Philadelphia Quakers in 1883. The Phillies had one of their worst seasons in 1961 when they finished with a 47-107 record, which also contained a 23-game losing streak.
The Phillies have eight National League pennants and two World Series crowns in their long history. Six former players have been enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt.
#2 Cleveland Spiders (1899) - 24 games
The Cleveland Spiders were another franchise that existed solely in the 19th century and competed in the major leagues from 1887 to 1899. The Spiders featured in the American Association for a couple of years before moving to the National League in 1887. Six of its players were later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Bobby Wallace, Buck Ewing and Cy Young.
In 1899, the Cleveland Spiders ran into bankruptcy and lost 24 straight games before ending the season with a 20-134 record and disbanding permanently.
#1 Louisville Colonels (1889) - 26 games
The Louisville Colonels were a 19th-century baseball team that played in the major leagues between 1882 and 1889. The Colonels were in the American Association during its 10-year existence from 1882 to 1891, before joining the National League the next year.
Five Hall of Famers — Fred Clarke, Hugh Jennings, Rube Wadell, Honus Wagner and Eddie Collins — played for the team during their careers.
In 1889, the Louisville Colonels lost 26 games from May 22 and June 19 to set the record for the longest losing streak, which still stands to this day.