Philadelphia Phillies: PHI now owns baseball’s longest playoff drought

October 6th, 2011 — that was the last time the Philadelphia Phillies played a game in the postseason. The entire organization has spent the past decade-plus floundering about through a rebuild and flirting with the postseason until their eventual September collapse.

Now, the Phillies aren’t the only team who have spent some time away from the playoffs. The Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers have both labored seven seasons without a postseason appearance, while the Seattle Mariners have not made the playoffs in 20 years, or rather they had not, until last night.

With a walk-off home run by — of all heroes — Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh, the Mariners have closed that dark chapter of their history by clinching a Wild Card spot in the 2022 playoffs. As one streak dies, however, another must take its place.

The Philadelphia Phillies now own baseball’s longest active playoff drought.

Just like that, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves the owners of another unwelcomed record in baseball. The team already holds the dishonor of losing more games than any other team in MLB history. Now, alongside that, they also have the longest active playoff drought with the aforementioned ten seasons.

This is just one more reason why clinching a playoff seed this season is so crucial. It’s not just about making the playoffs — a worthy enough cause by itself, of course —but potentially changing the entire culture of this team.

Very few players on this team have experience with a winning ball club. Only Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos have playoff experience among everyday starters. Even a taste of the postseason would go a long way for the Phillies as they continue to attempt to build a winning culture.

Fans have seen the tantrums, the slumps, and the general lifelessness this entire team can, at times, exhibit. What has yet to be shown is the resolve to change their situation, not just complacently sit in it.

Not just for this season but for those beyond, making the playoffs is a must at this point for the Philadelphia Phillies.