Fans of the Cleveland Guardians do not need to be reminded how long it’s been since the franchise won the World Series. They know full well that their team hasn’t celebrated the championship since 1948, when it defeated the Boston Braves in six games.
It is even more painful when they see the Milwaukee Brewers or Tampa Bay Rays about to win their first World Series title in their respective histories. Tampa Bay, which advanced by eliminating Cleveland in the ALCS, has only been around since 1998, when it began play as an expansion team.
The Guardians’ World Series drought can be put into perspective by one wild detail, with the price of gas at the time of their last title a glaring reminder of those 78 years gone by.
“Price of gas the last time each one of these teams won a World Series title. Guardians: $0.26,” Novig posted.
Price of gas the last time each one of these teams won a World Series title. pic.twitter.com/DdVXKP7fVx
— Novig (@Novig) October 26, 2026
Among teams that have won the World Series at least once, the next-closest team to Cleveland is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who last won it in 1979, a span of 47 years. That is followed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1983 and 43 years, the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and 42 years, and the New York Mets in 1986 and 40 years.
Among teams that have never won the World Series, the San Diego Padres and Brewers have been around the longest, with both debuting in 1969. The Seattle Mariners have gone 50 seasons without even making the World Series since their first year in 1977.
At least Cleveland has two championships to fall back on, with its first title coming in 1920, when it defeated the Brooklyn Robins in seven games of a best-of-9. It has made it to the World Series four times since 1948, getting swept in 1954 by the New York Giants in a series that featured Willie Mays’ famous over-the-shoulder catch; losing in six games in 1995 to the Atlanta Braves, which was the only title of the NL team’s dynasty years; losing in seven games in 1997 to the Florida Marlins, who won their first championship in just their fifth season; and in seven games in 2016 to the Chicago Cubs, who ended the previous longest title drought at 108 years.
Both of Cleveland’s Game 7 losses came in extra innings, which is much more hurtful than knowing what the price of gas was almost 80 years ago.
NEXT: Guardians Part Ways With A Young Pitching Prospect
