With the Royals having just won the World Series three years ago and on pace for over 100 losses this season, I got curious as to other teams who have had similar first-to-futility downturns.
Here are teams who won the World Series (or similar) and then had a 100-loss season within three years (4 World Series champions, 5 times total)...
- 1906 Boston Americans (currently Boston Red Sox) lost 105 games after winning the 1903 World Series (also won the AL pennant in 1904 when no World Series was held).
- 1915 Philadelphia Athletics (currently Oakland Athletics) lost 109 games after winning the 1913 World Series (also won the 1914 AL pennant, but lost the World Series).
- 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (currently Oakland Athletics) lost 109 games after winning the 1913 World Series (also won the 1914 AL pennant, but lost the World Series).
- 1998 Florida Marlins lost 108 games after winning the 1997 World Series (FIRE SALE!!!)
- 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks lost 111 games after winning the 2001 World Series (also won NL West in 2002 but lost in the NLDS).
Other teams to lose 100 games or more within three seasons after making the postseason...
- 1982 Concinnati Reds lost 101 games after winning NL West in 1979 and losing in the NLCS.
- 1989 Detroit Tigers lost 103 games after winning the AL East in 1987 and losing in the ALDS.
And here's the list of all 100-loss seasons in MLB (not necessarily "MLB" in the early years)...
1889 Louisville Colonels (111; American Association)
1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (113) (currently Pittsburgh Pirates)
1892 Baltimore Orioles (101) (1882-1899; not associated with St. Louis Browns, Milwaukee Brewer, or Baltimore Orioles)
1897 St. Louis Browns (102) (currently St. Louis Cardinals since 1900)
1898 Washington Senators (101) (1891-1899; not associated with 1901 Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, or Texas Rangers)
1898 St. Louis Browns (111) (currently St. Louis Cardinals since 1900)
1899 Cleveland Spiders (134)
1904 Philadelphia Phillies (100)
1904 Washington Senators (113) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1905 Brooklyn Superbas (104) (currently LA Dodgers)
1905 Boston Beaneaters (103) (currently Atlanta Braves)
**** 1906 Boston Americans (105) (currently Boston Red Sox): 1904 Won AL (95-59)/No World Series held; 1903 Won AL (91-47)/Won World Series over Pittsburgh Pirates.
1906 Boston Beaneaters (102) (currently Atlanta Braves)
1907 Washington Senators (102) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1907 St. Louis Cardinals (101) (formerly original St. Louis Browns until 1900)
1908 New York Highlanders (103) (currently New York Yankees)
1908 Brooklyn Superbas (101) (currently LA Dodgers)
1908 St. Louis Cardinals (105) (formerly original St. Louis Browns until 1900)
1909 Washington Senators (110) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1909 Boston Doves (108) (formerly Boston Beaneaters; currently Atlanta Braves)
1910 St. Louis Browns (107) (currently Baltimore Orioles)
1910 Boston Doves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters; currently Atlanta Braves)
1911 St. Louis Browns (107) (currently Baltimore Orioles)
1911 Boston Rustlers (107) (currently Atlanta Braves)
1912 St. Louis Browns (101) (currently Baltimore Orioles)
1912 Boston Braves (101) (formerly the Boston Beaneaters, the Boston Doves, and the Boston Rustlers; currently the Atlanta Braves)
1912 New York Highlanders (102) (currently the New York Yankees)
1914 Cleveland Naps (102) (currently the Cleveland Indians)
**** 1915 Philadelphia Athletics (109) (currently Oakland Athletics): 1914 Won AL/Lost to Boston Braves in World Series (99-53); 1913 Won AL (96-57)/Won World Series over NY Giants.
**** 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (117) (currently Oakland Athletics): 1914 Won AL/Lost to Boston Braves in World Series (99-53); 1913 Won AL (96-57)/Won World Series over NY Giants.
1917 Pittsburgh Pirates (103) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1919 Philadelphia Athletics (104) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1920 Philadelphia Athletics (106) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1921 Philadelphia Athletics (100) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1921 Philadelphia Phillies (103)
1922 Boston Braves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1923 Boston Braves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1923 Philadelphia Phillies (104)
1924 Boston Braves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1925 Boston Red Sox (105) (formerly Boston Americans)
1926 Boston Red Sox (107) (formerly Boston Americans)
1927 Philadelphia Phillies (103)
1927 Boston Red Sox (103) (formerly Boston Americans)
1928 Philadelphia Phillies (109)
1928 Boston Braves (103) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1930 Philadelphia Phillies (102)
1930 Boston Red Sox (102) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1932 Chicago White Sox (102)
1932 Boston Red Sox (111) (formerly the Boston Americans)
1935 Boston Braves (115) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1936 Philadelphia Athletics (100) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1936 Philadelphia Phillies (100)
1937 St. Louis Browns (108) (formerly the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1938 Philadelphia Phillies (105)
1939 St. Louis Browns (111) (formerly the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1939 Philadelphia Phillies (106)
1940 Philadelphia Athletics (100) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1940 Philadelphia Phillies (103)
1941 Philadelphia Phillies (111)
1942 Philadelphia Phillies (109)
1943 Philadelphia Athletics (105) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1945 Philadelphia Phillies (108)
1946 Philadelphia Athletics (105) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1948 Chicago White Sox (101)
1949 St. Louis Browns (101) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1949 Washington Senators (104) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1950 Philadelphia Athletics (102) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1951 St. Louis Browns (102) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1952 Detroit Tigers (104)
1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (112) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1953 Pittsburgh Pirates (104) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1953 St. Louis Browns (100) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1954 Baltimore Orioles (100) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers and 1902 St. Louis Browns)
1954 Philadelphia Athletics (103) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1954 Pittsburgh Pirates (101) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1955 Washington Senators (101) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1956 Kansas City Athletics (102) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1961 Philadelphia Phillies (107)
1961 Washington Senators (100; Expansion Season) (currently Texas Rangers)
1961 Kansas City Athletics (100) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1962 Washington Senators (101) (currently Texas Rangers)
1962 New York Mets (120; Expansion Season)
1962 Chicago Cubs (103)
1963 Washington Senators (106) (currently Texas Rangers)
1963 New York Mets (111)
1964 Washington Senators (100) (currently Texas Rangers)
1964 Kansas City Athletics (105) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1964 New York Mets (109)
1965 New York Mets (112)
1965 Boston Red Sox (100)
1965 Kansas City Athletics (103) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1966 Chicago Cubs (103)
1967 New York Mets (101)
1969 San Diego Padres (110; Expansion season)
1970 Chicago White Sox (106)
1971 Cleveland Indians (102) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1971 San Diego Padres (100)
1972 Texas Rangers (100) (formerly 1961 Washington Senators)
1973 San Diego Padres (102)
1973 Texas Rangers (105) (formerly 1961 Washington Senators)
1974 San Diego Padres (102)
1975 Detroit Tigers (102): 1972 Won AL East (86-70)/Lost to OAK in ALCS.
1976 Montreal Expos (107) (currently Washington Nationals)
1977 Toronto Blue Jays (107)
1977 Atlanta Braves (101) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, and Boston Braves)
1978 Toronto Blue Jays (102)
1978 Seattle Mariners (104)
1979 Oakland Athletics (108)
1979 Toronto Blue Jays (109)
1980 Seattle Mariners (103)
< 1981 was a mid-year strike season >
** 1982 Cincinnati Reds (101): 1979 Won NL West (90-71)/Swept by PIT in NLCS.
1982 Minnesota Twins (102) (formerly original Washington Senators)
1983 Seattle Mariners (102)
1985 Cleveland Indians (102) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1985 San Francisco Giants (100)
1985 Pittsburgh Pirates (104) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1987 Cleveland Indians (101) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1988 Baltimore Orioles (107) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers and 1902 St. Louis Browns)
1988 Atlanta Braves (106) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, and Boston Braves)
* 1989 Detroit Tigers (103): 1987 Won AL East (98-64)/Lost to MIN in ALDS.
1991 Cleveland Indians (105) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1993 San Diego Padres (101)
1993 New York Mets (103)
< 1994 was a strike-shortened season >
1996 Detroit Tigers (109)
**** 1998 Florida Marlins (108): 1997 NL Wild Card (92-70)/Won World Series over CLE.
2001 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (100)
2001 Pittsburgh Pirates (100) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
2002 Kansas City Royals (100)
2002 Milwaukee Brewers (106)
2002 Detroit Tigers (106)
2003 Detroit Tigers (119)
2004 Kansas City Royals (104)
**** 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks (111): 2002 Won NL West (98-64)/Swept by STL in NLDS; 2001 Won NL West (92-70)/Won World Series over NYY.
2005 Kansas City Royals (106)
2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (101)
2006 Kansas City Royals (100)
2008 Washington Nationals (102) (formerly Montreal Expos)
2008 Seattle Mariners (101)
2009 Washington Nationals (103) (formerly Montreal Expos)
2010 Seattle Mariners (101)
2010 Pittsburgh Pirates (105) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
2011 Houston Astros (106)
2012 Houston Astros (107)
2013 Miami Marlins (100)
2013 Houston Astros (111)
2016 Minnesota Twins (103) (formerly original Washington Senators)
Here are teams who won the World Series (or similar) and then had a 100-loss season within three years (4 World Series champions, 5 times total)...
- 1906 Boston Americans (currently Boston Red Sox) lost 105 games after winning the 1903 World Series (also won the AL pennant in 1904 when no World Series was held).
- 1915 Philadelphia Athletics (currently Oakland Athletics) lost 109 games after winning the 1913 World Series (also won the 1914 AL pennant, but lost the World Series).
- 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (currently Oakland Athletics) lost 109 games after winning the 1913 World Series (also won the 1914 AL pennant, but lost the World Series).
- 1998 Florida Marlins lost 108 games after winning the 1997 World Series (FIRE SALE!!!)
- 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks lost 111 games after winning the 2001 World Series (also won NL West in 2002 but lost in the NLDS).
Other teams to lose 100 games or more within three seasons after making the postseason...
- 1982 Concinnati Reds lost 101 games after winning NL West in 1979 and losing in the NLCS.
- 1989 Detroit Tigers lost 103 games after winning the AL East in 1987 and losing in the ALDS.
And here's the list of all 100-loss seasons in MLB (not necessarily "MLB" in the early years)...
1889 Louisville Colonels (111; American Association)
1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (113) (currently Pittsburgh Pirates)
1892 Baltimore Orioles (101) (1882-1899; not associated with St. Louis Browns, Milwaukee Brewer, or Baltimore Orioles)
1897 St. Louis Browns (102) (currently St. Louis Cardinals since 1900)
1898 Washington Senators (101) (1891-1899; not associated with 1901 Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, or Texas Rangers)
1898 St. Louis Browns (111) (currently St. Louis Cardinals since 1900)
1899 Cleveland Spiders (134)
1904 Philadelphia Phillies (100)
1904 Washington Senators (113) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1905 Brooklyn Superbas (104) (currently LA Dodgers)
1905 Boston Beaneaters (103) (currently Atlanta Braves)
**** 1906 Boston Americans (105) (currently Boston Red Sox): 1904 Won AL (95-59)/No World Series held; 1903 Won AL (91-47)/Won World Series over Pittsburgh Pirates.
1906 Boston Beaneaters (102) (currently Atlanta Braves)
1907 Washington Senators (102) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1907 St. Louis Cardinals (101) (formerly original St. Louis Browns until 1900)
1908 New York Highlanders (103) (currently New York Yankees)
1908 Brooklyn Superbas (101) (currently LA Dodgers)
1908 St. Louis Cardinals (105) (formerly original St. Louis Browns until 1900)
1909 Washington Senators (110) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1909 Boston Doves (108) (formerly Boston Beaneaters; currently Atlanta Braves)
1910 St. Louis Browns (107) (currently Baltimore Orioles)
1910 Boston Doves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters; currently Atlanta Braves)
1911 St. Louis Browns (107) (currently Baltimore Orioles)
1911 Boston Rustlers (107) (currently Atlanta Braves)
1912 St. Louis Browns (101) (currently Baltimore Orioles)
1912 Boston Braves (101) (formerly the Boston Beaneaters, the Boston Doves, and the Boston Rustlers; currently the Atlanta Braves)
1912 New York Highlanders (102) (currently the New York Yankees)
1914 Cleveland Naps (102) (currently the Cleveland Indians)
**** 1915 Philadelphia Athletics (109) (currently Oakland Athletics): 1914 Won AL/Lost to Boston Braves in World Series (99-53); 1913 Won AL (96-57)/Won World Series over NY Giants.
**** 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (117) (currently Oakland Athletics): 1914 Won AL/Lost to Boston Braves in World Series (99-53); 1913 Won AL (96-57)/Won World Series over NY Giants.
1917 Pittsburgh Pirates (103) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1919 Philadelphia Athletics (104) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1920 Philadelphia Athletics (106) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1921 Philadelphia Athletics (100) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1921 Philadelphia Phillies (103)
1922 Boston Braves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1923 Boston Braves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1923 Philadelphia Phillies (104)
1924 Boston Braves (100) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1925 Boston Red Sox (105) (formerly Boston Americans)
1926 Boston Red Sox (107) (formerly Boston Americans)
1927 Philadelphia Phillies (103)
1927 Boston Red Sox (103) (formerly Boston Americans)
1928 Philadelphia Phillies (109)
1928 Boston Braves (103) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1930 Philadelphia Phillies (102)
1930 Boston Red Sox (102) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1932 Chicago White Sox (102)
1932 Boston Red Sox (111) (formerly the Boston Americans)
1935 Boston Braves (115) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, and Boston Rustlers; currently Atlanta Braves)
1936 Philadelphia Athletics (100) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1936 Philadelphia Phillies (100)
1937 St. Louis Browns (108) (formerly the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1938 Philadelphia Phillies (105)
1939 St. Louis Browns (111) (formerly the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1939 Philadelphia Phillies (106)
1940 Philadelphia Athletics (100) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1940 Philadelphia Phillies (103)
1941 Philadelphia Phillies (111)
1942 Philadelphia Phillies (109)
1943 Philadelphia Athletics (105) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1945 Philadelphia Phillies (108)
1946 Philadelphia Athletics (105) (currently the Oakland Athletics)
1948 Chicago White Sox (101)
1949 St. Louis Browns (101) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1949 Washington Senators (104) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1950 Philadelphia Athletics (102) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1951 St. Louis Browns (102) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1952 Detroit Tigers (104)
1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (112) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1953 Pittsburgh Pirates (104) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1953 St. Louis Browns (100) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers; currently Baltimore Orioles)
1954 Baltimore Orioles (100) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers and 1902 St. Louis Browns)
1954 Philadelphia Athletics (103) (currently Oakland Athletics)
1954 Pittsburgh Pirates (101) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1955 Washington Senators (101) (currently Minnesota Twins)
1956 Kansas City Athletics (102) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1961 Philadelphia Phillies (107)
1961 Washington Senators (100; Expansion Season) (currently Texas Rangers)
1961 Kansas City Athletics (100) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1962 Washington Senators (101) (currently Texas Rangers)
1962 New York Mets (120; Expansion Season)
1962 Chicago Cubs (103)
1963 Washington Senators (106) (currently Texas Rangers)
1963 New York Mets (111)
1964 Washington Senators (100) (currently Texas Rangers)
1964 Kansas City Athletics (105) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1964 New York Mets (109)
1965 New York Mets (112)
1965 Boston Red Sox (100)
1965 Kansas City Athletics (103) (formerly Philadelphia Athletics; currently Oakland Athletics)
1966 Chicago Cubs (103)
1967 New York Mets (101)
1969 San Diego Padres (110; Expansion season)
1970 Chicago White Sox (106)
1971 Cleveland Indians (102) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1971 San Diego Padres (100)
1972 Texas Rangers (100) (formerly 1961 Washington Senators)
1973 San Diego Padres (102)
1973 Texas Rangers (105) (formerly 1961 Washington Senators)
1974 San Diego Padres (102)
1975 Detroit Tigers (102): 1972 Won AL East (86-70)/Lost to OAK in ALCS.
1976 Montreal Expos (107) (currently Washington Nationals)
1977 Toronto Blue Jays (107)
1977 Atlanta Braves (101) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, and Boston Braves)
1978 Toronto Blue Jays (102)
1978 Seattle Mariners (104)
1979 Oakland Athletics (108)
1979 Toronto Blue Jays (109)
1980 Seattle Mariners (103)
< 1981 was a mid-year strike season >
** 1982 Cincinnati Reds (101): 1979 Won NL West (90-71)/Swept by PIT in NLCS.
1982 Minnesota Twins (102) (formerly original Washington Senators)
1983 Seattle Mariners (102)
1985 Cleveland Indians (102) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1985 San Francisco Giants (100)
1985 Pittsburgh Pirates (104) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
1987 Cleveland Indians (101) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1988 Baltimore Orioles (107) (formerly 1901 Milwaukee Brewers and 1902 St. Louis Browns)
1988 Atlanta Braves (106) (formerly Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, and Boston Braves)
* 1989 Detroit Tigers (103): 1987 Won AL East (98-64)/Lost to MIN in ALDS.
1991 Cleveland Indians (105) (formerly Cleveland Naps)
1993 San Diego Padres (101)
1993 New York Mets (103)
< 1994 was a strike-shortened season >
1996 Detroit Tigers (109)
**** 1998 Florida Marlins (108): 1997 NL Wild Card (92-70)/Won World Series over CLE.
2001 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (100)
2001 Pittsburgh Pirates (100) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
2002 Kansas City Royals (100)
2002 Milwaukee Brewers (106)
2002 Detroit Tigers (106)
2003 Detroit Tigers (119)
2004 Kansas City Royals (104)
**** 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks (111): 2002 Won NL West (98-64)/Swept by STL in NLDS; 2001 Won NL West (92-70)/Won World Series over NYY.
2005 Kansas City Royals (106)
2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (101)
2006 Kansas City Royals (100)
2008 Washington Nationals (102) (formerly Montreal Expos)
2008 Seattle Mariners (101)
2009 Washington Nationals (103) (formerly Montreal Expos)
2010 Seattle Mariners (101)
2010 Pittsburgh Pirates (105) (formerly Pittsburgh Alleghenys)
2011 Houston Astros (106)
2012 Houston Astros (107)
2013 Miami Marlins (100)
2013 Houston Astros (111)
2016 Minnesota Twins (103) (formerly original Washington Senators)