Will the Guardians Ever Win a Championship?

Being a sports fan can be thankless and unforgiving. You have to deal with your favorite players leaving and long losing streaks. Sometimes, however, your team goes all the way, and you remember why you fell in love in the first place. Sadly, this isn't the case for many sports franchises. Here are the 20 longest championship droughts in sports history.

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1. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were last crowned champions in 1947 when they were based in Chicago. They remain without a title, making it the longest active drought among the four major North American sports leagues. 

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2. Cleveland Guardians

The last time the Guardians won the World Series was in 1948, and they currently hold the longest drought in MLB. They've had multiple World Series appearances, including as recently as 2016, but have always come up short, frustrating their fanbase.

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3. Sacramento Kings

The Kings haven't won a championship since 1951. That's over seven decades without hoisting the trophy over their heads. This is the longest drought in NBA history, and they haven't even reached the conference finals since 2002. It's a sad state of affairs in Sacramento. 

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4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Long-suffering Leafs fans haven't enjoyed a Stanley Cup parade since 1967. A team with deep roots has frustrated fans with its inability to win it all despite a lot of regular-season success. 

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5. Detroit Lions

The Lions last won a Super Bowl in 1957. Some seasons, even the notion of making the playoffs has felt fantastical. A half-century without a championship is a tough pill for fans to swallow. 

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6. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have never won a World Series. They came fairly close a few times, but the lack of a championship is the focal point of the franchise. At least, the future is bright as they finished as the best team in MLB in 2025.

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7. San Diego Padres

Another club on the list of teams that have never won a championship. They've had some mild playoff success and strong rosters, but they are often the "so-close" team, which leaves fans wondering what is preventing them from going all the way.

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8. Seattle Mariners

Get this, the Mariners have never even played in the World Series. While they came close in 2025 before losing in game 7 to the Blue Jays, they have no choice but to accept their World Series and championship drought. They are an example of long-term underachievement in professional sports.

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9. Atlanta Hawks

The last championship the Hawks won was in 1958, and they have since gone decades without sniffing another one. They've had a few seasons of relevance, but another championship has proven to be elusive. 

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10. Phoenix Suns

The Suns have never won an NBA title over their decades in the league. They have reached the Finals on several occasions, but can't bring it home despite the hopes of their fans. 

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11. Buffalo Sabres

Despite entering the league during the 1970-71 season, the Sabres are still championship-less. Along with the Canucks, they are the only team in the NHL to have never won the Stanley Cup. 

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12. St. Louis Blues

Before winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, they suffered a championship drought that started in 1968. The eventual win should give other losing franchises some hope. 

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13. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are also an expansion team from 1970-1971 that has yet to win a championship. This drought has stretched over 50 years, and despite a run of winning seasons in the early 2000s, they are mostly associated with their drought.

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14. New York Knicks

The Knicks last won a championship in 1973, and it has nearly broken Spike Lee's heart. This franchise has a large market that is thirsting for a championship, but management and the players have been unable to deliver. 

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15. Texas Rangers

The Rangers had a decades-long championship drought before finally winning in 2023. They are proof that long droughts can end if you find the right mix of players. Hopefully, the next drought won't last as long. 

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16. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are a major market, high-profile NBA team, which makes their championship drought all the more noticeable. They have never won a championship and haven't even made the Finals in some time. Every year without a championship brings more scrutiny to the team. 

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17. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates last won a World Series in 1979, and have since spent decades in relative obscurity. Despite having some big talent like Barry Bonds, Gerrit Cole, and now Paul Skenes, they don't even seem close to making the playoffs. Being in a perennial rebuild doesn't help matters.

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18. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles last won a World Series in 1983. They've had several dominant seasons since, but were always bested by the powerhouse Yankees or other teams that just seemed to be a bit better. After a long rebuild, the Orioles are hoping that a return to the World Series is right around the corner. Time will tell. 

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19. Colorado Rockies

Since coming into the league in 1993, the Rockies have only had one World Series appearance, which came in 2007. They were swept by the Red Sox and haven't come close since. 

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20. Minnesota Twins

The Twins last won the World Series in 1991, and have since suffered through a long stretch of seasons without a title. They often operate as a small-market team, which makes building a championship roster more challenging. The fans are eager for a return to glory.

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