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Where the Mariners postseason drought ranks all-time in sports

By Christopher O'Day

SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattle Mariners' Mike Cameron (C) is congratulated by his teammate Bret Boone (L) after his two-run home run scored himself and Ichiro Suzuki (R) in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during the second game of the American League Divisional Series in Seattle, WA, 11 October 2001. AFP PHOTO/Dan LEVINE (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattle Mariners' Mike Cameron (C) is congratulated by his teammate Bret Boone (L) after his two-run home run scored himself and Ichiro Suzuki (R) in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during the second game of the American League Divisional Series in Seattle, WA, 11 October 2001. AFP PHOTO/Dan LEVINE (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Mariners last made the playoffs in 2001
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 21: Infielder Bret Boone #29 of the Seattle Mariners at bat against the New York Yankees during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on October 21, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. The Yankees won 3-1. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

We all know that the Mariners haven’t gone to the playoffs in a long time. It’s been since that magical 2001 season, meaning that this is the start of the 21st season since the Mariners have made the playoffs, and the drought currently sits at 20 seasons.

As I sit here thinking of better times, like actually getting to go to the two home Mariners playoff games back in 1997, I wondered. Where does the Mariners streak hold up, historically? I’m not necessarily only talking about baseball, either. Where does it rank when you compare it to the NBA, NFL, and NHL? I’m limiting myself to those four sports, or the “Core Four North American Sports” which is usually what people talk about when they talk about the big ones.

There is one caveat that I am going to throw in right off the bat. I’m only including the modern era for baseball. Back when you had a single AL team and a single NL team that made it, and that was it, it doesn’t make sense to use those years for this exercise. If I did, then you would have one streak in the 40s, eight in the 30s, and 11 in the 20s.

I’m pretty much setting the cutoff at 1969. If you were in the midst of a streak once the playoff format changed, sorry, that’s where your streak starts for me. Sorry Cubs and White Sox fans. Going from 1946 and 1960 to 1984 and 1983 stinks, both those are only 15 and 14 years.

So, where does the Mariners postseason drought rank all-time, across all sports? Let’s dive in, starting with the leagues with the shortest droughts.

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