List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason streaks
This is a list of Major League Baseball franchise postseason and World Series streaks. The list includes only the modern World Series between the American League and the National League, not the various 19th-century championship series.
The most successful postseason team in MLB history is the New York Yankees, who have achieved three of the four instances of a franchise winning more than two World Series championships in a row and five of the six instances of a franchise winning the league pennant more than three times in a row. The only other franchises to achieve these milestones are the Oakland Athletics, who won three consecutive championships from 1972 to 1974, and the New York Giants, who won four consecutive pennants from 1921 to 1924. The Yankees also achieved a remarkable run of appearing in 15 of the 18 World Series from 1947 to 1964.
Beginning in 1969, MLB split into four divisions, and the winners of each competed in the League Championship Series, with the winners advancing to the World Series. When a multi-tier playoff system was implemented in 1995, the LCS remained the series that determined the pennant-winner. The longest streak of consecutive LCS appearances belongs to the Atlanta Braves with 8 in a row from 1991 to 1999, while the second-longest belongs to the Oakland Athletics with 5 in a row from 1971 to 1975.
Further expansion of the postseason began in 1995, with eight teams entering the playoffs each year. In this era, the Braves entered the postseason 14 consecutive years from 1991 to 2005, while the Yankees had a streak of 13 appearances from 1995 to 2007. However, all other postseason appearance streaks of 5 years or more predate the expanded-postseason era and are mentioned above, except for 5-year runs by the Cleveland Indians, the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, and an ongoing 7-year run by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
World Series championship streaks
The Yankees have achieved one streak each of 3, 4, and 5 championships in a row, and the Athletics have achieved a streak of 3 in a row. Back-to-back championships have been achieved an additional ten times.Length | Team | Seasons |
5 | New York Yankees | 1949–1953 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1936–1939 |
3 | Oakland Athletics | 1972–1974 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1998–2000 |
2 | Chicago Cubs | 1907–1908 |
2 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910–1911 |
2 | Boston Red Sox | 1915–1916 |
2 | New York Giants | 1921–1922 |
2 | New York Yankees | 1927–1928 |
2 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1929–1930 |
2 | New York Yankees | 1961–1962 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1975–1976 |
2 | New York Yankees | 1977–1978 |
2 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1992–1993 |
Near streaks: Runs during which a franchise won World Series championships at least 70% of the time, with gaps of no more than one year:
Length | Team | Seasons |
6 of 7 | New York Yankees | 1947, 1949–1953 |
6 of 8 | New York Yankees | 1936–1939, 1941, 1943 |
4 of 5 | New York Yankees | 1996, 1998–2000 |
3 of 4 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910–1911, 1913 |
3 of 4 | Boston Red Sox | 1915–1916, 1918 |
World Series appearance (pennant) streaks
The Yankees have achieved five separate streaks of 4 or 5 pennants in a row, and the Giants achieved one streak of 4 in a row. Three pennants in a row have been achieved an additional twelve times, and back-to-back pennants an additional twenty-one times.The Yankees also achieved a remarkable run in which they appeared in 15 of the 18 World Series from 1947 to 1964.
Bold indicates a current streak.
Length | Team | Seasons |
5 | New York Yankees | 1949–1953 |
5 | New York Yankees | 1960–1964 |
4 | New York Giants | 1921–1924 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1936–1939 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1955–1958 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1998–2001 |
3 | Chicago Cubs | 1906–1908 |
3 | Detroit Tigers | 1907–1909 |
3 | New York Giants | 1911–1913 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1921–1923 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1926–1928 |
3 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1929–1931 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1941–1943 |
3 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1942–1944 |
3 | Baltimore Orioles | 1969–1971 |
3 | Oakland Athletics | 1972–1974 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1976–1978 |
3 | Oakland Athletics | 1988–1990 |
2 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910–1911 |
2 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1913–1914 |
2 | Boston Red Sox | 1915–1916 |
2 | Washington Senators | 1924–1925 |
2 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1930–1931 |
2 | Detroit Tigers | 1934–1935 |
2 | New York Giants | 1936–1937 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1939–1940 |
2 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1952–1953 |
2 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1955–1956 |
2 | Milwaukee Braves | 1957–1958 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1965–1966 |
2 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1967–1968 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1975–1976 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1977–1978 |
2 | Atlanta Braves | 1991–1992 |
2 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1992–1993 |
2 | Atlanta Braves | 1995–1996 |
2 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2008–2009 |
2 | Texas Rangers | 2010–2011 |
2 | Kansas City Royals | 2014–2015 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2017–2018 |
Near streaks: Runs during which a franchise won its league pennant at least 70% of the time, with gaps of no more than one year:
Length | Team | Seasons |
15 of 18 | New York Yankees | 1947, 1949–1953, 1955–1958, 1960–1964 |
7 of 8 | New York Yankees | 1936–1939, 1941–1943 |
6 of 8 | New York Yankees | 1996, 1998–2001, 2003 |
4 of 5 | Chicago Cubs | 1906–1908, 1910 |
4 of 5 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910–1911, 1913–1914 |
4 of 5 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1942–1944, 1946 |
4 of 5 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1952–1953, 1955–1956 |
4 of 5 | Atlanta Braves | 1991–1992*, 1995–1996 |
3 of 4 | Boston Red Sox | 1915–1916, 1918 |
3 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1928, 1930–1931 |
3 of 4 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1963, 1965–1966 |
League Championship Series appearance streaks
The Braves appeared in every LCS held during the 1990s, which is 8 in a row, but won only 1 championship during that time. The Athletics achieved an LCS appearance streak of 5 in a row, centered on their 3 championships in a row. The Yankees and Cardinals have each achieved an LCS appearance streak of 4 in a row. Three LCS appearances in a row have been achieved an additional thirteen times, and back-to-back LCS appearances an additional twenty-two times.Three teams achieved multiple LCS appearance streaks in and around the 1970s, each adding up to 5 appearances in 6 years.
The LCS began in 1969. Before that, the two regular season champions were awarded the pennants and went directly to the World Series.
Bold indicates a current streak.
Length | Team | Seasons |
8 | Atlanta Braves | 1991–1993*, 1995–1999 |
5 | Oakland Athletics | 1971–1975 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1998–2001 |
4 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2011–2014 |
3 | Baltimore Orioles | 1969–1971 |
3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1970–1972 |
3 | Kansas City Royals | 1976–1978 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1976–1978 |
3 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1976–1978 |
3 | Oakland Athletics | 1988–1990 |
3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1990–1992 |
3 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1991–1993 |
3 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2004–2006 |
3 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2008–2010 |
3 | Detroit Tigers | 2011–2013 |
3 | Chicago Cubs | 2015–2017 |
3 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2016–2018 |
3 | Houston Astros | 2017–2019 |
2 | Minnesota Twins | 1969–1970 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1972–1973 |
2 | Baltimore Orioles | 1973–1974 |
2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1974–1975 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1975–1976 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1977–1978 |
2 | New York Yankees | 1980–1981 |
2 | Kansas City Royals | 1984–1985 |
2 | Baltimore Orioles | 1996–1997 |
2 | Cleveland Indians | 1997–1998 |
2 | New York Mets | 1999–2000 |
2 | Seattle Mariners | 2000–2001 |
2 | Boston Red Sox | 2003–2004 |
2 | New York Yankees | 2003–2004 |
2 | Houston Astros | 2004–2005 |
2 | Boston Red Sox | 2007–2008 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2008–2009 |
2 | New York Yankees | 2009–2010 |
2 | Texas Rangers | 2010–2011 |
2 | Kansas City Royals | 2014–2015 |
2 | Toronto Blue Jays | 2015–2016 |
Near streaks: Runs during which a franchise appeared in its league championship series at least 70% of the time, with gaps of no more than one year:
Length | Team | Seasons |
9 of 10 | Atlanta Braves | 1991–1993*, 1995–1999, 2001 |
7 of 9 | New York Yankees | 1996, 1998–2001, 2003–2004 |
5 of 6 | Baltimore Orioles | 1969–1971, 1973–1974 |
5 of 6 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1970–1972, 1974–1975 |
5 of 6 | New York Yankees | 1976–1978, 1980–1981 |
5 of 7 | Cincinnati Reds | 1970, 1972–1973, 1975–1976 |
5 of 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2000, 2002, 2004–2006 |
4 of 5 | Kansas City Royals | 1976–1978, 1980 |
4 of 5 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1976–1978, 1980 |
4 of 5 | Oakland Athletics | 1988–1990, 1992 |
4 of 5 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1989, 1991–1993 |
3 of 4 | Cleveland Indians | 1995, 1997–1998 |
3 of 4 | New York Yankees | 2009–2010, 2012 |
Postseason appearance streaks
The Braves and the Yankees have achieved respective streaks of 14 and 13 consecutive appearances in the postseason, centered on the 1990s and 2000s. The Dodgers have an ongoing streak of 7 consecutive appearances. Five postseason appearances in a row have been achieved an additional six times, four in a row an additional seven times, three in a row an additional twenty-eight times, and back-to-back postseason appearances an additional fifty times.The Yankees appeared in 17 of the 18 postseasons from 1995 to 2012, and 15 of the 18 postseasons from 1947 to 1964. Five teams achieved multiple postseason appearance streaks in and around the 1990s and 2000s, each adding up to 6 appearances in 7 or 8 years. The Phillies appeared in 6 of the 8 postseasons from 1976 to 1983.
Postseason appearance streaks have become more common in recent years, as the postseason has been progressively restructured to include more teams.
Bold indicates a current streak.
Length | Team | Seasons |
14 | Atlanta Braves | 1991–1993*, 1995–2005 |
13 | New York Yankees | 1995–2007 |
7 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2013–2019 |
5 | New York Yankees | 1949–1953 |
5 | New York Yankees | 1960–1964 |
5 | Oakland Athletics | 1971–1975 |
5 | Cleveland Indians | 1995–1999 |
5 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2007–2011 |
5 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2011–2015 |
4 | New York Giants | 1921–1924 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1936–1939 |
4 | New York Yankees | 1955–1958 |
4 | Oakland Athletics | 2000–2003 |
4 | New York Yankees | 2009–2012 |
4 | Detroit Tigers | 2011–2014 |
4 | Chicago Cubs | 2015–2018 |
3 | Chicago Cubs | 1906–1908 |
3 | Detroit Tigers | 1907–1909 |
3 | New York Giants | 1911–1913 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1921–1923 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1926–1928 |
3 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1929–1931 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1941–1943 |
3 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1942–1944 |
3 | Baltimore Orioles | 1969–1971 |
3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1970–1972 |
3 | Kansas City Royals | 1976–1978 |
3 | New York Yankees | 1976–1978 |
3 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1976–1978 |
3 | Oakland Athletics | 1988–1990 |
3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1990–1992 |
3 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1991–1993 |
3 | Houston Astros | 1997–1999 |
3 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2000–2002 |
3 | Minnesota Twins | 2002–2004 |
3 | Boston Red Sox | 2003–2005 |
3 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2004–2006 |
3 | Boston Red Sox | 2007–2009 |
3 | Los Angeles Angels | 2007–2009 |
3 | Texas Rangers | 2010–2012 |
3 | Oakland Athletics | 2012–2014 |
3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 2013–2015 |
3 | Boston Red Sox | 2016–2018 |
3 | Cleveland Indians | 2016–2018 |
3 | Houston Astros | 2017–2019 |
3 | New York Yankees | 2017–2019 |
2 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910–1911 |
2 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1913–1914 |
2 | Boston Red Sox | 1915–1916 |
2 | Washington Senators | 1924–1925 |
2 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1930–1931 |
2 | Detroit Tigers | 1934–1935 |
2 | New York Giants | 1936–1937 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1939–1940 |
2 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1952–1953 |
2 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1955–1956 |
2 | Milwaukee Braves | 1957–1958 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1965–1966 |
2 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1967–1968 |
2 | Minnesota Twins | 1969–1970 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1972–1973 |
2 | Baltimore Orioles | 1973–1974 |
2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1974–1975 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 1975–1976 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1977–1978 |
2 | Houston Astros | 1980–1981 |
2 | Kansas City Royals | 1980–1981 |
2 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1980–1981 |
2 | New York Yankees | 1980–1981 |
2 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1981–1982 |
2 | Kansas City Royals | 1984–1985 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1995–1996 |
2 | Baltimore Orioles | 1996–1997 |
2 | Boston Red Sox | 1998–1999 |
2 | Texas Rangers | 1998–1999 |
2 | New York Mets | 1999–2000 |
2 | Seattle Mariners | 2000–2001 |
2 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2001–2002 |
2 | San Francisco Giants | 2002–2003 |
2 | Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels | 2004–2005 |
2 | Houston Astros | 2004–2005 |
2 | San Diego Padres | 2005–2006 |
2 | Chicago Cubs | 2007–2008 |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2008–2009 |
2 | Minnesota Twins | 2009–2010 |
2 | Tampa Bay Rays | 2010–2011 |
2 | Atlanta Braves | 2012–2013 |
2 | Cincinnati Reds | 2012–2013 |
2 | Kansas City Royals | 2014–2015 |
2 | New York Mets | 2015–2016 |
2 | Texas Rangers | 2015–2016 |
2 | Toronto Blue Jays | 2015–2016 |
2 | Washington Nationals | 2016–2017 |
2 | Colorado Rockies | 2017–2018 |
2 | Atlanta Braves | 2018–2019 |
2 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2018–2019 |
2 | Oakland Athletics | 2018–2019 |
Near streaks: Runs during which a franchise appeared in the postseason at least 70% of the time, with gaps of no more than one year:
Length | Team | Seasons |
17 of 18 | New York Yankees | 1995–2007, 2009–2012 |
15 of 18 | New York Yankees | 1947, 1949–1953, 1955–1958, 1960–1964 |
7 of 8 | New York Yankees | 1936–1939, 1941–1943 |
6 of 7 | Cleveland Indians | 1995–1999, 2001 |
6 of 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2000–2002, 2004–2006 |
6 of 7 | Boston Red Sox | 2003–2005, 2007–2009 |
6 of 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2009, 2011–2015 |
6 of 8 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1976–1978, 1980–1981, 1983 |
6 of 8 | Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels | 2002, 2004–2005, 2007–2009 |
5 of 6 | Baltimore Orioles | 1969–1971, 1973–1974 |
5 of 6 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1970–1972, 1974–1975 |
5 of 6 | Kansas City Royals | 1976–1978, 1980–1981 |
5 of 6 | New York Yankees | 1976–1978, 1980–1981 |
5 of 7 | Cincinnati Reds | 1970, 1972–1973, 1975–1976 |
4 of 5 | Chicago Cubs | 1906–1908, 1910 |
4 of 5 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910–1911, 1913–1914 |
4 of 5 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1942–1944, 1946 |
4 of 5 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1952–1953, 1955–1956 |
4 of 5 | Oakland Athletics | 1988–1990, 1992 |
4 of 5 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1989, 1991–1993 |
4 of 5 | Houston Astros | 1997–1999, 2001 |
4 of 5 | Minnesota Twins | 2002–2004, 2006 |
4 of 5 | Houston Astros | 2015, 2017–2019 |
4 of 5 | New York Yankees | 2015, 2017–2019 |
3 of 4 | Boston Red Sox | 1915–1916, 1918 |
3 of 4 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1928, 1930–1931 |
3 of 4 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1963, 1965–1966 |
3 of 4 | Texas Rangers | 1996, 1998–1999 |
3 of 4 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 1999, 2001–2002 |
3 of 4 | San Francisco Giants | 2000, 2002–2003 |
3 of 4 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2006, 2008–2009 |
3 of 4 | Tampa Bay Rays | 2008, 2010–2011 |
3 of 4 | Tampa Bay Rays | 2010–2011, 2013 |
3 of 4 | Washington Nationals | 2014, 2016–2017 |
3 of 4 | Washington Nationals | 2016–2017, 2019 |