Losing 100 games once is a disastrous Major League Baseball season. Doing it in consecutive years puts a franchise into a much smaller and more infamous group.
The Colorado Rockies became the newest member of that group on September 22, 2026 — and reached an even rarer level of futility. Colorado’s 7-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks was its 100th defeat of 2026, giving the Rockies four consecutive seasons with at least 100 losses. [AP]
Colorado is the first MLB team since the 1962-65 New York Mets to lose at least 100 games in four consecutive seasons.
Here is the history of MLB teams that have suffered back-to-back — or longer — 100-loss seasons during the Modern Era.
Which MLB Teams Have Lost 100 Games In Consecutive Seasons?
Since the beginning of MLB’s Modern Era in 1901, there have been 25 separate streaks in which a franchise lost at least 100 games in two or more consecutive seasons.
| Team | Seasons | Length | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Doves/Rustlers/Braves | 1909-1912 | 4 | 45-108, 53-100, 44-107, 52-101 |
| St. Louis Browns | 1910-1912 | 3 | 47-107, 45-107, 53-101 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1915-1916 | 2 | 43-109, 36-117 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1919-1921 | 3 | 36-104, 48-106, 53-100 |
| Boston Braves | 1922-1924 | 3 | 53-100, 54-100, 53-100 |
| Boston Red Sox | 1925-1927 | 3 | 47-105, 46-107, 51-103 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1938-1942 | 5 | 45-105, 45-106, 50-103, 43-111, 42-109 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1952-1954 | 3 | 42-112, 50-104, 53-101 |
| Washington Senators | 1961-1964 | 4 | 61-100, 60-101-1, 56-106, 62-100 |
| New York Mets | 1962-1965 | 4 | 40-120, 51-111, 53-109, 50-112 |
| Kansas City Athletics | 1964-1965 | 2 | 57-105, 59-103 |
| Texas Rangers | 1972-1973 | 2 | 54-100, 57-105 |
| San Diego Padres | 1973-1974 | 2 | 60-102, 60-102 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 1977-1979 | 3 | 54-107, 59-102, 53-109 |
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 2001-2002 | 2 | 62-100, 55-106 |
| Detroit Tigers | 2002-2003 | 2 | 55-106, 43-119 |
| Kansas City Royals | 2004-2006 | 3 | 58-104, 56-106, 62-100 |
| Washington Nationals | 2008-2009 | 2 | 59-102, 59-103 |
| Houston Astros | 2011-2013 | 3 | 56-106, 55-107, 51-111 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 2018-2019 | 2 | 47-115, 54-108 |
| Kansas City Royals | 2018-2019 | 2 | 58-104, 59-103 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 2021-2022 | 2 | 61-101, 62-100 |
| Oakland Athletics | 2022-2023 | 2 | 60-102, 50-112 |
| Chicago White Sox | 2023-2025 | 3 | 61-101, 41-121, 60-102 |
| Colorado Rockies | 2023-2026 | 4 | 59-103, 61-101, 43-119, 57-100 and counting |
Historical season records are reflected in MLB and franchise record books. The Athletics, for example, have had consecutive 100-loss seasons in 1915-16, 1919-21, 1964-65 and 2022-23. [Baseball Almanac] Contemporary reporting also documented the major multi-year streaks involving the Mets, Senators, Blue Jays, Royals and Astros. [Associated Press]
What Is The MLB Record For Most Consecutive 100-Loss Seasons?
The Philadelphia Phillies hold the Modern Era record with five consecutive 100-loss seasons from 1938 through 1942.
The run began when Philadelphia finished 45-105 in 1938 and continued through 1942. The Phillies lost:
- 105 games in 1938
- 106 games in 1939
- 103 games in 1940
- 111 games in 1941
- 109 games in 1942
The Society for American Baseball Research identifies the 1938 season as the beginning of Philadelphia’s five-year run of 100-loss seasons. [SABR]
No team since has matched five straight.
Which Teams Have Had Four Straight 100-Loss Seasons?
Five teams in the Modern Era have now reached four consecutive 100-loss seasons:
- Boston Doves/Rustlers/Braves: 1909-1912
- Philadelphia Phillies: 1938-1942 — ultimately reached five
- Washington Senators: 1961-1964
- New York Mets: 1962-1965
- Colorado Rockies: 2023-2026
Colorado officially joined that group when Arizona handed the Rockies their 100th loss on September 22, 2026. [AP]
The Rockies are the first team to do it since the Mets’ expansion-era nightmare ended in 1965.
How Bad Have The Rockies Been From 2023 Through 2026?
Colorado’s current streak began with the first 100-loss season in franchise history.
The Rockies finished:
- 2023: 59-103
- 2024: 61-101
- 2025: 43-119
- 2026: 57-100 through September 22
The 2025 season was particularly severe. Colorado’s 43-119 record tied the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the third-most losses by a team in the Modern Era at the time, behind the 1962 Mets and 2024 White Sox. [MLB]
The Rockies then entered 2026 under a restructured baseball operation but ultimately reached triple-digit losses again. [MLB]
When Was The Last Team Before Colorado To Lose 100 Games Four Years In A Row?
The 1962-65 New York Mets.
The expansion Mets began their existence with four consecutive 100-loss seasons:
- 1962: 40-120
- 1963: 51-111
- 1964: 53-109
- 1965: 50-112
The inaugural 1962 club remains one of the most famous bad teams in baseball history. Its 120 losses stood as the Modern Era record until the 2024 White Sox finished 41-121. [MLB]
Colorado’s 2026 season therefore ended a 61-year stretch in which no MLB team had suffered four consecutive 100-loss seasons.
How Bad Were The Expansion Washington Senators?
The second Washington Senators franchise also began with four straight 100-loss seasons.
Washington went:
- 61-100 in 1961
- 60-101-1 in 1962
- 56-106 in 1963
- 62-100 in 1964
The franchise eventually moved to Arlington and became the Texas Rangers in 1972. [Baseball Almanac]
Remarkably, the franchise immediately produced another back-to-back 100-loss run after moving: the Rangers lost 100 games in 1972 and 105 in 1973.
Which Teams Have Had Three Consecutive 100-Loss Seasons?
Three straight 100-loss seasons are also exceptionally rare.
Teams that have reached at least three consecutive seasons include:
- Boston Doves/Rustlers/Braves, 1909-1912
- St. Louis Browns, 1910-1912
- Philadelphia Athletics, 1919-1921
- Boston Braves, 1922-1924
- Boston Red Sox, 1925-1927
- Philadelphia Phillies, 1938-1942
- Pittsburgh Pirates, 1952-1954
- Washington Senators, 1961-1964
- New York Mets, 1962-1965
- Toronto Blue Jays, 1977-1979
- Kansas City Royals, 2004-2006
- Houston Astros, 2011-2013
- Chicago White Sox, 2023-2025
- Colorado Rockies, 2023-2026
The Astros’ 2011-13 rebuilding period is one of the best-known modern examples. Houston lost 106, 107 and 111 games before beginning its climb back toward contention. [MLB]
Did The White Sox Have Three Straight 100-Loss Seasons?
Yes.
Chicago finished:
- 2023: 61-101
- 2024: 41-121
- 2025: 60-102
The 2024 White Sox set the Modern Era record with 121 losses. [MLB]
The team then lost 102 more games in 2025, completing its third consecutive 100-loss season. [MLB]
Chicago finally ended the streak dramatically in 2026. Instead of approaching another 100 losses, the White Sox entered the final week of September above .500 and fighting for a playoff spot. [MLB]
Have Two Teams Ever Had Three Straight 100-Loss Seasons At The Same Time?
Yes. The White Sox and Rockies simultaneously recorded 100-loss seasons in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
That produced an unusual period in which two franchises were enduring three-year triple-digit losing streaks at the same time.
Their paths finally split in 2026. Chicago improved dramatically while Colorado lost 100 games for a fourth consecutive year.
Which Expansion Teams Started With Consecutive 100-Loss Seasons?
Several expansion franchises struggled badly during their earliest seasons.
The most extreme examples are the 1961 Washington Senators and 1962 New York Mets, both of whom began their histories with four consecutive 100-loss seasons.
The Toronto Blue Jays began play in 1977 and lost 107, 102 and 109 games in their first three seasons. [Baseball Almanac]
The San Diego Padres, who entered MLB in 1969, suffered consecutive 102-loss seasons in 1973 and 1974. [Baseball Almanac]
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays later lost 100 games in 2001 and 106 in 2002. [Baseball Almanac]
Which Recent MLB Teams Have Had Back-To-Back 100-Loss Seasons?
Since 2000, the list is:
| Team | Streak |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 2001-2002 |
| Detroit Tigers | 2002-2003 |
| Kansas City Royals | 2004-2006 |
| Washington Nationals | 2008-2009 |
| Houston Astros | 2011-2013 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 2018-2019 |
| Kansas City Royals | 2018-2019 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 2021-2022 |
| Oakland Athletics | 2022-2023 |
| Chicago White Sox | 2023-2025 |
| Colorado Rockies | 2023-2026 |
Oakland’s 2022-23 seasons were the Athletics’ first consecutive 100-loss years since the franchise was located in Kansas City in 1964-65. [MLB]
Have The Royals Had Multiple Consecutive 100-Loss Streaks?
Yes.
Kansas City has done it twice.
The Royals lost at least 100 games for three straight seasons from 2004 through 2006:
- 2004: 58-104
- 2005: 56-106
- 2006: 62-100
They later endured another run in 2018 and 2019, losing 104 and 103 games.
The franchise eventually demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change. Kansas City went from 106 losses in 2023 to an 86-76 playoff season in 2024, a 30-win improvement. [MLB]
Can A Team Recover Quickly After Consecutive 100-Loss Seasons?
It can happen, although history shows that climbing out of a multi-year collapse is difficult.
Houston is one of the clearest examples. The Astros went from three consecutive 100-loss seasons in 2011-13 to 70-92 in 2014 and 86-76 with a playoff berth in 2015. They eventually developed into a perennial contender. [MLB]
The 1965 Washington Senators and 1925 Boston Braves also reached 70 victories immediately after stretches of at least three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
MLB noted in 2026 that no team had ever reached the postseason immediately after having lost at least 100 games in each of the previous two seasons. The White Sox entered the closing weeks of 2026 with an opportunity to become the first. [MLB]
What Are The Longest 100-Loss Streaks In MLB History?
| Rank | Team | Seasons | Consecutive 100-Loss Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1938-1942 | 5 |
| 2 (tie) | Boston Doves/Rustlers/Braves | 1909-1912 | 4 |
| 2 (tie) | Washington Senators | 1961-1964 | 4 |
| 2 (tie) | New York Mets | 1962-1965 | 4 |
| 2 (tie) | Colorado Rockies | 2023-2026 | 4 |
That puts the 2026 Rockies one season away from tying Philadelphia’s longstanding Modern Era record.
Colorado would have to lose at least 100 games again in 2027 to match the Phillies’ five-year streak.
Consecutive 100-Loss Seasons FAQ
What MLB team has the most consecutive 100-loss seasons?
The Philadelphia Phillies hold the Modern Era record with five straight 100-loss seasons from 1938 through 1942.
How many consecutive 100-loss seasons do the Rockies have?
Four. Colorado lost 103 games in 2023, 101 in 2024, 119 in 2025 and reached 100 losses again on September 22, 2026.
When was the last team to have four straight 100-loss seasons?
Before Colorado, it was the New York Mets from 1962 through 1965.
Did the White Sox lose 100 games three years in a row?
Yes. Chicago lost 101 games in 2023, a Modern Era-record 121 in 2024 and 102 in 2025.
How many straight 100-loss seasons did the Astros have?
Three, from 2011 through 2013.
Did the Mets lose 100 games in their first four seasons?
Yes. The expansion Mets lost 120, 111, 109 and 112 games from 1962 through 1965.
Has any MLB team lost 100 games six seasons in a row?
No. The Modern Era record is five consecutive seasons, held by the 1938-42 Phillies.
Are 100-loss seasons possible in shortened seasons?
Not when the schedule contains fewer than 100 games. That is one reason shortened seasons such as 1981, 1994, 1995 and 2020 complicate historical comparisons. The list above counts actual season loss totals rather than projecting shortened seasons to a 162-game pace.
