Five of the 30 Major League Baseball teams have never won a World Series: the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies. The Mariners are the only franchise that has never even played in one. Four of the five reached the World Series at least once and lost, and three of them, the Brewers, Padres and Rays, are in the 2026 playoffs, which begin Tuesday, September 29.
Teams Without a World Series Title
| Team | First season | World Series appearances | Seasons without a title | In 2026 playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners | 1977 | None | 49 | No |
| San Diego Padres | 1969 | 1984, 1998 | 57 | Yes, NL No. 4 seed |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 1969 | 1982 | 57 | Yes, NL No. 1 seed |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 1998 | 2008, 2020 | 28 | Yes, AL No. 1 seed |
| Colorado Rockies | 1993 | 2007 | 33 | No |
Seasons counted through 2025. The Brewers began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and played in the American League until 1998.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners joined the American League in 1977 and are the only MLB team that has never won a pennant. They came closest in 2025, when they led Toronto 3 to 1 in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the ALCS before George Springer’s three run homer sent the Blue Jays to the World Series. Seattle also lost ALCS appearances in 1995, 2000 and 2001, the last after a record 116 win regular season.
San Diego Padres
The Padres have reached the World Series twice and lost both times, to Detroit in 1984 and to the Yankees in a four game sweep in 1998. They clinched their third straight postseason berth this season, a club record, and are the NL’s No. 4 seed, hosting the Cubs in the Wild Card Series.
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee’s only World Series came in 1982, when the Brewers were still in the American League and lost to St. Louis in seven games. They are the National League’s No. 1 seed this year with a bye into the Division Series.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays lost the World Series to Philadelphia in 2008 and to the Dodgers in 2020. They are the American League’s No. 1 seed in 2026.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies won 21 of 22 games late in 2007 to reach their only World Series, then were swept by Boston.
Teams That Won Their Only Appearance
Two franchises have a perfect World Series record from a single trip: the Angels, who beat the Giants in 2002, and the Nationals, who beat Houston in 2019. The Marlins are two for two, winning in 1997 and 2003.
More World Series History
World Series winners by year · Longest World Series droughts · World Series appearances by team · MLB playoff bracket