Where the Mariners postseason drought ranks all-time in sports

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.

Florida Panthers: 11 Years: 2001-2012

Edmonton Oilers: 10 Years: 2007-2017

Buffalo Sabres: 10 Years: 2012-Current

Detroit Red Wings: 5 Years: 2017 – Current

No, that’s not inappropriate. He’s asking for a hockey puck. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Anyway, there’s a lot of turnover in hockey. A goalie who has a career year can lead his team to the playoffs nearly on his own. Shoot, if they get hot at the right time, they can lead them to an appearance in the Stanley Cup. Another part of it, and you’ll see it in the NBA as well, is the percentage of teams that make the playoffs every year. 50% get in each year in the NHL.

The longest playoff drought in history in just 11 years for hockey. It was done by the Panthers just after the turn of the millennia. Long gone are the days of Scott Mellanby and Rob Niedermeyer, and the Rubber rats are a thing of the past. One of the most exciting expansion teams in any sport, they started hot by making it to the finals in 1996… and haven’t been good since.

As for the Oilers, they were saved by Connor McDavid. He’s been one of the best players in the NHL and is still only 25. He averages 1.416 points per game, one of the best rates… ever. The Oilers will be dangerous as long as they have him, and he’s got a real shot to approach Jagr for 2nd most points all-time.

It’s the Buffalo Sabres that hold the longest current streak, and with just 35 points (20 points back of the Wild Card) through 45 games, they are likely going to tie the Panthers for the longest streak ever. I mentioned the Red Wings as well since they have the second-longest current streak. Gone are the glory days of the Red Wings with Scotty Bowman at the head. They are one spot out of the Wild Card, and a nice post-Olympics push would give them a shot at the playoffs.

With only a handful of teams in hockey history going a decade without making the playoffs, let’s move on to the NBA. At the top is a team that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Los Angeles Clippers: 15 Years: 1997-2012

Sacramento Kings: 15 Years: 2007-Current

Charlotte Hornets: 5 Years: 2017-Current

This is a bad one, for multiple reasons.

The Clippers and the Kings are tied at 15 seasons. The Clippers were a joke in the NBA for a long time. They had an awful owner, and it’s one of the few times that I know of where the team was taken away from an owner in a professional sport. If not for a vetoed trade by the league itself to keep Chris Paul out of a Lakers uniform, the Clippers streak would likely be longer.

So, it makes sense that they have the longest streak. The ineptitude of the Kings, however, shows just how bad they truly have been.

They even had Demarcus Cousins, pictured above, for a long time. He was supposed to be their saving grace, and get them to the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were never able to find a single good player to put alongside him. Even after he was traded away, the team still hasn’t been very good.

It’s unlikely they make it this year, as they are 3.5 games back of the 10th seed, which would get them a spot in the play-in games. I’m not sure if you’d call that a playoff appearance (I wouldn’t), but it looks like they are going to break the all-time NBA Playoff drought record and make it 16 straight seasons.

Like hockey, the second-longest active streak is only five seasons. IN the NBA, an astonishing 16 of 30 teams make the playoffs every year (20 of 30 if you count the play-in, which you shouldn’t), so it’s hard to go a long time without making the playoffs.

Then we get to a team in the NFL that missed out on the playoffs in just as many straight seasons as the Mariners have in baseball.

Seattle Mariners: 20 Years: 2002-Current

Pittsburgh Pirates: 20 Years: 1993-2013

Philadelphia Phillies: 10 Years: 2012-Current

For now, we are just looking at current streaks. You’ll see why once we get to the next slide.

You gotta feel a bit for Phillies fans. They were pretty darn good for quite a while. The pitching trio of Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Halladay was insane and makes an argument for being one of the best of all time (even if it came after the World Series). Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins. It was a ton of talent, and they even managed to get a World Series out of it back in 2008.

Since then though, things haven’t been great for the Phillies. 2021 was actually their first season with a winning record since their incredible 102 win 2011 season, and they barely managed it by going 82-20. They’ve had a lot of talent in Realmuto, Wheeler, Nola, and Bryce Harper, but just haven’t been able to figure it out.

Finally, there’s the Mariners. So far in these lists, this ties them with the Saints as the longest playoff drought. It’s easily the longest active one, besting the Kings by five seasons. They’ve had their close calls, with 3 of their 5 winningest seasons in franchise history happening, yet making the playoffs in 0 of those 3 years.

So, where does this Mariners drought compare when you put it up against the all-time droughts in baseball? Let’s find out

Washington Nationals: 30 Years: 1982-2011

Kansas City Royals: 28 Years: 1986-2013

Texas Rangers: 35 Years: 1961-1995 (27 seasons)

Cleveland Indians: 40 Years: 1955-1994 (25 seasons)

Milwaukee Brewers: 25 Years: 1983-2007

Toronto Blue Jays: 21 Years: 1994-2014

Seattle Mariners: 20 Years: 2002-Current

Pittsburgh Pirates: 20 Years: 1993-2013

New Orleans Saints: 20 Years: 1967-1986

Yeah, baseball is definitely the one that has the longest streaks. Even when you take into account that the ones that take place before 1969 shouldn’t count, baseball still holds all five of the longest droughts. I said it earlier, and I’ll say it again. For those who had streaks before 1969, or through that season and beyond, it definitely stinks to miss out. However, there were no playoffs back then. Just a pennant and a trip to the World Series.

It’s what makes the Nationals streak, as well as the Royals streak, so insane. There’s also a bit of irony in the fact that the Nationals missed for so long, and the year they made it is when their divisional for, the Phillies, started missing the playoffs.

Through all of these streaks, there is one thing that stands out on most of the teams. Incredible prospects. The Royals were ranked number one and made the World Series a few years later. The Indians were loaded, as were the Brewers. Having Manny Ramirez, Ryan Braun, or Prince Fielder will do that for you.

So, the Mariners have the 7th longest streak of all-time, tied with the Saints and Pirates. We aren’t out of the woods yet, as the Mariners likely still need another piece or two to be considered a true contender. Things are looking up for Seattle though, and they should halt their drought soon… I hope.