Record For Consecutive Losing Seasons

[Steel City Slim]

Does anybody know what the major league record record is for most consecutive losing seasons? I am a Pittsburgh Pirate fan and we have 12 in a row in the hopper already and this year will be number 13. We got to be close anyway.

[JohnnyCougar]

1. I think we are right behind you.

We (Tigers) have 11 losing seasons in a row...but this season, we are set to turn that around.

The Brewers are at 12 going on 13 now, too. So any record you break, you will probably break them with the Brewers.

[Steel City Slim]

2. We're #1

Hey, at least we're leading at something.

[Yupster]

3. Did a little looking at

www.baseball-research.com.

Can't say for sure this is right. I pretty much went with less than 76 wins for the olden days. That may have misses a 74-74 season with four rainouts, but anyway...

The worstiest team I could find was the team that Connie Mack left behind after 50 years as manager. The old Philadelphia A's started their losing streak in 1950. Neither the retirement of the "Tall Tactician", or the move to Kansas City could stop the losing streak which was not just bad, but truly awful as the team was last or next to last almost every year. It was 1968 that the losing finally came to an end, thanks to some great young players coming up... Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Vida Blue, Sal Bando and Bert Campaneris. Who would have thoght they were only five years from three straight World Series wins?

Other truly awful teams were the Phillies who had a long losing streak from 1918-1931, and then started another one from 1933-1948. Maybe they should have left and let the A's stay behind.

At the beginning of the cnentury there were two truly dreadful NL teams. The Boston Braves were terrible from 1900-1913, and the Brooklyn Dodgers/Robins/Dodgers were just as bad from 1902-1914.

The Washington Senators were surprisingly not really as bad as their reputation.

[Steel City Slim]

4. Thank You

Thank you for your research and help. So there were some teams that had worse stretches than my Suckos, oops I mean Buccos? It sure is frustrating though. Especially when I see former Pirates (and Baby Bucs) doing well on other teams, ie Bronson Arroyo, Jason Schmidt, Chris Young, Aramis Ramirez. It makes me nuts.

[JohnnyCougar]

5. Huh...you think you have it bad...

The Tigers old GM Randy Smith traded Lius Gonzalez and cash for Karim Garcia.

Karim Garcia is where? Maybe Japan or something. Gonzalez, OTOH, is hitting the lights out in Arizona.

We also traded Phil Nevin. And Fransisco Cordero. And David Wells. And God knows who else that I am forgetting right now.

Oh yes...the John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander trade. That sure was a good one!

Of course, now that Dave Dombrowski is GM, we are starting to see trades go in our favor. Ramon Santiago for Carlos Guillen? I'll take that!!

Jeff Weaver for Bonderman, Carlos Pena and Franklyn German? You bet!

Dombrowski is turning this franchise around.

[KitchenWitch]

6. Man, Detroit needs a new GM, STAT

wow, that track record for trades is BAD.

[JohnnyCougar]

7. We got one.

Dave Dombrowski built the first Marlins world championship team. And before that, he was with the Expos, leading them to win the NL East in a strike shortened season...the only team since 1990 to win a division title in the NL East except for the Braves. And of course, they had the smallest payroll, too.

Dombrowski is a genius. He took over at the beginning of 2003. It will take him 4-6 years to turn the Tigers into a force in the AL Central. Owner Mike Illich has an open checkbook and "will keep spending until the Tigers win." So far, it has been less than 3 years. The Tigers may easily finish over .500 this year for th efirst time in 12 years. In 2006, all bets are on them winning the Central.

[KitchenWitch]

8. That is great!

I am so sick of all the sports writers dissing on the AL Central, saying it is a "weak division"

GRRRRR

[JohnnyCougar]

9. If you notice...

4 of the top 5 ERAs in the AL are in the Central.

Everyone but the Royals has good pitching this year.

Bad division, my ass!