The Houston Astros and Three Straight 100-Loss Seasons

Earlier today, Jim Baker of SBNation wondered if the Astros could set the record for most losses in a two-year span in 2013.

Considering that Houston dropped 106 in 2011 and 107 in 2012, another question is: Can they pull off the triple-digit L three-peat?

Below are the teams that lost the most over a three-year span.

Team	From	To	Losses
New York Mets	1962	1964	340
New York Mets	1963	1965	332
Philadelphia Phillies	1940	1942	323
Philadelphia Phillies	1939	1941	320
Toronto Blue Jays	1977	1979	318
Pittsburgh Pirates	1952	1954	317
Boston Braves	1909	1911	315
St. Louis Browns	1910	1912	315
Boston Red Sox	1925	1927	315
Philadelphia Phillies	1938	1940	314
Kansas City Royals	2004	2006	310
Philadelphia A's	1919	1921	310
Boston Braves	1910	1912	308
Washington Senators	1961	1963	307
Washington Senators	1962	1964	307
Boston Braves	1922	1924	300

It should be noted that Boston's dismal 1909-12 stretch included two name changes. They were the Doves in 1909 and 1910 before becoming the Rustlers for the 1911 campaign then settling on the Braves for 1912 and beyond.

Those Braves are one of four teams to hit the century mark in four straight years. The Mets did it for their first four seasons (1962-1965), lost "only" 95 in '66, then dropped 101 in 1967. Amazingly, the Metropolitans won the World Series two years later. That mirrors the Miracle Braves, who won the 1914 title just two years removed from their streak.

The longest run of 100-loss seasons is five years, set by the Phillies from 1938-42. The other squad that did it for four seasons is the second incarnation of the Washington Senators, who began their existence by hitting triple digits from 1961-64. 


If the Astros lose 100 again they would have at least 313 losses, ranking 11th among the other 16 teams on this list. PECOTA has the Astros pegged at 99 losses for their inaugural American League season, meaning they would just barely miss joining these historically terrible squads.

Here is that chart of 100-100-100 teams again, this time listed alphabetically:

Team	From	To	Losses
Boston Braves	1909	1911	315
Boston Braves	1910	1912	308
Boston Braves	1922	1924	300
Boston Red Sox	1925	1927	315
Kansas City Royals	2004	2006	310
New York Mets	1962	1964	340
New York Mets	1963	1965	332
Philadelphia A's	1919	1921	310
Philadelphia Phillies	1938	1940	314
Philadelphia Phillies	1939	1941	320
Philadelphia Phillies	1940	1942	323
Pittsburgh Pirates	1952	1954	317
St. Louis Browns	1910	1912	315
Washington Senators	1961	1963	307
Washington Senators	1962	1964	307
Toronto Blue Jays	1977	1979	318

So let's keep an eye on this as the season unfolds. I wish Houston the best in their bid to bounce back and avoid an ignominious finish, but on the other hand, if you're gonna' be a bad team you might as well be uniquely bad.

Here's one last version of the chart with individual loss totals.

Team	Year	Losses
Boston Doves/Rustlers/Braves	1909	108
	1910	100
	1911	107
	1912	101
Boston Braves	1922	100
	1923	100
	1924	100
Boston Red Sox	1925	105
	1926	107
	1927	103
Kansas City Royals	2004	104
	2005	106
	2006	100
New York Mets	1962	120
	1963	111
	1964	109
	1965	112
Philadelphia A's	1919	104
	1920	106
	1921	100
Philadelphia Phillies	1938	105
	1939	106
	1940	103
	1941	111
	1942	109
Pittsburgh Pirates	1952	112
	1953	104
	1954	101
St. Louis Browns	1910	107
	1911	107
	1912	101
Washington Senators	1961	100
	1962	101
	1963	106
	1964	100
Toronto Blue Jays	1977	107
	1978	102
	1979	109