Brewers' World Series win leaves Mariners on increasingly lonely list of seekers

Ever since the Washington Nationals made it to the World Series in 2019, the Mariners have stood alone as the only current franchise to never appear in the Fall Classic. Now though, with the Brewers breaking their championship drought on Wednesday night, the M's are edging closer to another embarrassing achievement, as the only Major League team to never win it all.

With the Brewers' victory, the Mariners are now one of just four teams left who have never claimed a World Series. They're also the second-oldest franchise to never clinch a championship behind the Padres, but at least San Diego has experienced two World Series appearances. The other two teams without a championship are the Rays and Rockies, but they've also both made it to the Fall Classic, with this October representing the third appearance for a Tampa fanbase which arguably doesn't deserve it.

On that point, the Mariners own fanbase definitely deserves better, with good attendances even during the darker periods in 50 years of supporting the team. And certainly there's been a lot of those dark periods. Although perhaps in some kind of twisted way it's almost fitting the M's find themselves in their current predicament, following a 2026 campaign which promised so much, but ended up being the most disappointing in franchise history.

It doesn't look great for the Mariners being the next team to end their World Series drought

Still, it boggles the mind that this is a team which has never played in the World Series. A team which at one point had Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez on the same roster. A team which is tied with the 1906 Cubs for the most regular season wins in Major League history, with 116 victories in 2001.

What really worries us, is that we can't even make the best case that the Mariners will be the next team to end their championship drought. The Padres have been good for most of the 2020s and have excitable new owners in husband-and-wife duo José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, who recently reaffirmed their commitment to winning a World Series. As for the Rays, they're the best-run team in the AL and will soon have the advantage of a new stadium.

Meanwhile, the Mariners are trying to 54 percent their way to glory. While that quote was misunderstood, it still doesn't offer the utmost of confidence. Sure, the M's were one of just four teams with 85+ wins each season between 2021-25, but with how this year played out, you do wonder if their best shot has already come and gone.

More specifically with this particular core of players, with us wondering if the 2025 campaign was that golden opportunity which they failed to grab after being up 3-2 in the ALCS versus the Blue Jays.

Whether the Mariners do help themselves more of not, the jinx seems very real

It also doesn't help that Mariners ownership has reiterated their desire to be cautious when it comes to payroll. During a recent sit down with Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, John Stanton said the focus is on developing and paying young talent rather than splashing out big bucks on stars who are now in their 30s. And before anyone points out the Brewers and Rays as examples of successful franchises with smaller payrolls, the harsh reality is that both are run more efficiently than the franchise in Seattle.

We do apologize if this does all sound a bit doom and gloom. Jerry Dipoto has undoubtedly overseen the most successful period in franchise history since coming on board, highlighted by seven winning seasons in 11 years. And despite this season's disappointment, the Mariners are prime candidates to bounce back next year and contend again with a bit more good fortune and health.

However, whether that good fortune specifically extends to becoming the next team to win a World Series, is another matter altogether. We've often proclaimed that the Mariners are the unluckiest franchise in the majors, with things even going wrong when seemingly set up to go right. And with the Brewers' championship win on Wednesday night, only three teams now stand between the M's and the ultimate proof of their standing as being seemingly eternally jinxed.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow