# "Loser" Sports Records **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569 "2005-10-17T06:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/61 "2005-10-19T14:18:43Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > On October 7, 1916, Georgia Tech played Cumberland University in Atlanta. (Football) > > Cumberland lost 222 - 0. > > I don’t imagine that will be beat anytime soon. > > E3 Yikes! How is that even possible? [Warner Wolf] If you had Cumberland and 221 points, you lost! [/Warner Wolf] ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/62 "2005-10-19T15:07:13Z")
> [@Ichbin Dubist](#): > > I got the stats from [mlb.com](http://mlb.com) (it shows them at 8769-10038), but it’s not clear when they start counting, and my guess is you’re right – I’m sure I would have read something about it when they got the 10,000th loss. I hope the team celebrates this landmark in a suitable way – maybe a throw-D-batteries-at-Santa contest or something like that. > > Oddly enough, the next-worst record for a long-standing franchise might be that of the Oakland A’s, who were Philadelphia’s AL team once upon a time. It has to be an NL team. I will check and post shortly. A’s are too new. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/63 "2005-10-19T15:10:13Z")
> [@Ichbin Dubist](#): > > I got the stats from [mlb.com](http://mlb.com) (it shows them at 8769-10038), but it’s not clear when they start counting, and my guess is you’re right – I’m sure I would have read something about it when they got the 10,000th loss. I hope the team celebrates this landmark in a suitable way – maybe a throw-D-batteries-at-Santa contest or something like that. > > Oddly enough, the next-worst record for a long-standing franchise might be that of the Oakland A’s, who were Philadelphia’s AL team once upon a time. I checked, but I should have known: \*\*Atlanta Braves \*\* who were the Milwaukee Braves, Boston Braves, Boston Bees, Boston Rustlers, Boston Doves, Boston Beaneaters, and Boston Red Caps (1876-2005) \*\*9533-9556 \*\* 0.499 pct Every other original NL Team is over .500, so they all owe a thanks to the hapless Phillies. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/64 "2005-10-19T15:24:34Z")
> [@Jackknifed Juggernaut](#): > > Yikes! How is that even possible? Georgia Tech was really good and Cumberland really sucked, but besides that there was a rules difference. The team that scored a TD didn’t kick off, they _received_. GT had the ball the entire game. You can score a helluva lot if you have twice as many downs on offense as normal, and the defense gets tired and gives up. The baseball equivalent to a cricket bowler’s allowing 6 sixes in a single over might be a pitcher giving up home runs on 6 consecutive pitches. Don’t bring up the All Star Game contest where that’s the _point_; it would have to be in a game. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/65 "2005-10-19T16:00:47Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > Seattle would be somewhere on that list, wouldn’t it. If you aren’t counting the WNBA, It’s been about 30 years each in basketball, football and baseball. Since you asked nicely, here’s the list. All compilation errors are my own and no one else’s fault. I considered male professional major sports teams in the US and Canada, and I don’t consider soccer or lacrosse major sports. The leagues included are MLB, CFL, (including US teams), NFL, All-American Football Conference, AFL (1960-69), NHL, WHA (1970s version), NBA and ABA (1970s). Here goes, updated through the 2005 ALCS and 2005 NLDS: AS OF 10/19/2005 CUR DR Since LNG DR Long Drought ATLANTA 35 Oct 95 93 Oct 66-Oct 95 BALTIMORE 9 Jan 2001 28 Jan 71-Oct 83 BOSTON 2 Feb 2005 61 Jun 86-Feb 2002 BUFFALO 80 Dec 65 80 Dec 65-Pres CALGARY 6 Nov 2001 27 Nov 71-May 89 CHARLOTTE 26 April 88 26 April 88-Pres CHICAGO 27 Jun 98 84 Dec 63-Jan 86 CINCINNATI 28 Oct 90 56 Oct 40-Oct 75 CLEVELAND 119 Dec 64 119 Dec 64-Pres COLUMBUS, OH 3 May 2001 3 May 2001 -Pres DALLAS-FT. WORTH 25 Jun 99 42 Jan 78-Jan 92 DENVER 17 June 2001 71 Dec 60-Jan 98 DETROIT 4 June 2004 63 Oct 68-Oct 84 EDMONTON 2 Nov 2003 21 Nov 56-Nov 75 HAMILTON 5 Nov 99 18 Nov 67-Nov 86 HARTFORD 24 Apr 74-Apr 97 24 Apr 74-Apr 97 HOUSTON 25 Jun 95 60 Apr 75-Jun 94 INDIANAPOLIS 58 April 73 58 April 73-Pres JACKSONVILLE 10 Jan 96 10 Jan 96-pres KANSAS CITY 40 Oct 85 45 Jan 69-Oct 85 LOS ANGELES -ANAHEIM 8 October 2002 41 Oct 88-June 00 LOUISVILLE 1 Apr 75-Apr 76 5 Apr 69-Apr 75 MEMPHIS 7 Apr 71 7 Apr 71-present MIAMI-FT LAUDERDALE 7 Oct.2003 40 Jan 74-Oct 97 MILWAUKEE-GREEN BAY 25 Jan 97 76 April 71-Jan 97 MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL 48 Oct 91 79 April 54-Oct 87 MONTREAL 6 November 2002 25 6/93- Nov 2002 NASHVILLE 12 Jan 99 12 Jan 99 - pres NEW ORLEANS 53 Dec 66 53 Dec 66-Pres NORFOLK, VA 6 Apr 71-Apr 76 6 Apr 71-Apr 76 NYC/ Meadowlands / Nassau Cnty LONG ISLAND 9 June 2003 24 Oct 62-Jan 69 OKLAHOMA CITY 1 June 84 1 June 84 ORLANDO 18 April 88 18 April 88-Pres OTTAWA 33 Nov 76 33 Nov 76-Pres PHILADELPHIA 88 May 83 88 May 83-Pres PHOENIX 15 Nov. 2001 57 April 69-Nov.01 PITTSBURGH 39 May 92 68 Oct 25-Oct 60 PORTLAND, OR 28 May 77 28 May 77-Pres QUEBEC CITY 18 Apr 77-Apr 95 18 Apr 77- Apr 95 RALEIGH-DURHAM 7 Apr 98 7 Apr 98-Pres REGINA 11 Nov 89 22 Nov 66-Nov 89 SACRAMENTO 24 April 84 24 April 84-Pres SALT LAKE CITY 31 April 71 31 April 71-Pres SAN ANTONIO 0 June 2003 29 April 73-June 99 SAN DIEGO 94 Dec 63 94 Dec 63-Pres SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-SAN JOSE 46 Jan 94 55 Dec 46-Oct 72 SEATTLE 78 May 79 78 May 79-Pres ST.LOUIS 15 Jan 2000 46 Oct 67-Oct 82 TAMPA-ST.PETERSBURG 3 June 2004 40 Dec 77-Jan 03 TORONTO 2 Nov. 2004 63 April 67-Nov 91 VANCOUVER, BC 9 Nov 2000 35 Nov. 64-Nov 85 WASHINGTON, DC 41 Jan 92 76 Dec 42-May 78 WINNIPEG 24 Nov 90 24 Nov 90-Pres ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/66 "2005-10-19T16:02:15Z")
My apologies for the illegibility. I will repost and ask the mods to strike my illegible post above. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/67 "2005-10-19T16:03:00Z")
> [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > I had no idea he was a broadcaster now. Where is he on? Colorado Rockies TV. I usually mute the TV and put the radio on. > [@jrfranchi](#): > > It has to be an NL team. I will check and post shortly. A’s are too new. Also, if you leave out the period when the Kansas City A’s were basically a Yankees farm team, they had spells of being very good both in Philadelphia and Oakland. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/68 "2005-10-19T16:06:17Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Also, if you leave out the period when the Kansas City A’s were basically a Yankees farm team, they had spells of being very good both in Philadelphia and Oakland. Ah, the good old days, George Weiss and his magical Major League Farm Team. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/69 "2005-10-19T16:19:23Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > The “bull” counts as a double, although most players would sooner finish on a double 20 or even a double 16. The reader can do the math himself for the minimum number of darts needed to finish from 301, 501 or 1001. You left out the most important part; you have to get exactly 0. That’s why the double-16 is a popular finish. (Getting your score down to exactly 32, or any number, is a bit of a trick in itself.) If you miss the double-16, you’ll likely hit the single-16, and then on your next dart you can aim for the double-8, etc. Not only is the bull smaller than any other double, but if you miss you probably won’t have another one-dart finish. (That’s for duffers like me. I’ve seen some of the pros, and they probably don’t have to give much thought to what happens if they miss.) I used to work at a small company run by a guy from England. In fact, his father had been a publican. We had a dart board in the break room, and if I was running some process that would take a few minutes I’d practice. And we’d play each other during downtimes. I got to be decent at it. My boss would win most games, but I beat him on occasion. Once, just once, on a bull. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/70 "2005-10-19T16:27:40Z")
Since you asked nicely, here’s the list. All compilation errors are my own and no one else’s fault. I considered male professional major sports teams in the US and Canada, and I don’t consider soccer or lacrosse major sports. The leagues included are MLB, CFL, (including US teams), NFL, All-American Football Conference, AFL (1960-69), NHL, WHA (1970s version), NBA and ABA (1970s). Here goes, updated through the 2005 ALCS and 2005 NLDS: City Current losing streak Last Champ Longst Losing Streak ATLANTA 35 Oct 95 93 Oct 66-Oct 95 BALTIMORE 9 Jan 2001 28 Jan 71-Oct 83 BOSTON 2 Feb 2005 61 Jun 86-Feb 2002 BUFFALO 80 Dec 65 80 Dec 65-Pres CALGARY 6 Nov 2001 27 Nov 71-May 89 CHARLOTTE 26 n/a 26 April 88-Pres CHICAGO 27 Jun 98 84 Dec 63-Jan 86 CINCINNATI 28 Oct 90 56 Oct 40-Oct 75 CLEVELAND 119 Dec 64 119 Dec 64-Pres COLUMBUS, OH 3 n/a 3 May 2001 -Pres DALLAS-FT. WORTH 25 Jun 99 42 Jan 78-Jan 92 DENVER 17 June 2001 71 Dec 60-Jan 98 DETROIT 4 June 2004 63 Oct 68-Oct 84 EDMONTON 2 Nov 2003 21 Nov 56-Nov 75 HAMILTON 5 Nov 99 18 Nov 67-Nov 86 HARTFORD 24 n/a 24 Apr 74-Apr 97 HOUSTON 25 Jun 95 60 Apr 75-Jun 94 INDIANAPOLIS 58 April 73 58 April 73-Pres JACKSONVILLE 10 Jan 96 10 Jan 96-pres KANSAS CITY 40 Oct 85 45 Jan 69-Oct 85 LOS ANGELES -ANAHEIM 8 October 2002 41 Oct 88-June 00 LOUISVILLE 1 Apr 75-Apr 76 5 Apr 69-Apr 75 MEMPHIS 7 n/a 7 Apr 71-present MIAMI-FT LAUDERDALE 7 Oct.2003 40 Jan 74-Oct 97 MILWAUKEE-GREEN BAY 25 Jan 97 76 April 71-Jan 97 MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL 48 Oct 91 79 April 54-Oct 87 MONTREAL 6 November 2002 25 6/93- Nov 2002 NASHVILLE 12 n/a 12 Jan 99 - pres NEW ORLEANS 53 n/a 53 Dec 66-Pres NORFOLK, VA 6 n/a 6 Apr 71-Apr 76 NYC/ NJ /LONG ISLAND 9 June 2003 24 Oct 62-Jan 69 ORLANDO 18 n/a 18 April 88-Pres OTTAWA 33 Nov 76 33 Nov 76-Pres PHILADELPHIA 88 May 83 88 May 83-Pres PHOENIX 15 Nov. 2001 57 April 69-Nov.01 PITTSBURGH 39 May 92 68 Oct 25-Oct 60 PORTLAND, OR 28 May 77 28 May 77-Pres QUEBEC CITY 18 Apr 77 18 Apr 77- Apr 95 RALEIGH-DURHAM 7 n/a 7 Apr 98-Pres REGINA 11 Nov 89 22 Nov 66-Nov 89 SACRAMENTO 24 n/a 24 April 84-Pres SALT LAKE CITY 31 April 71 31 April 71-Pres SAN ANTONIO 0 June 2005 29 April 73-June 99 SAN DIEGO 94 Dec 63 94 Dec 63-Pres SF-OAK-SAN JOSE 46 Jan 94 55 Dec 46-Oct 72 SEATTLE 78 May 79 78 May 79-Pres ST.LOUIS 15 Jan 2000 46 Oct 67-Oct 82 TAMPA-ST.PETERSBURG 3 June 2004 40 Dec 77-Jan 03 TORONTO 2 Nov. 2004 63 April 67-Nov 91 VANCOUVER, BC 9 Nov 2000 35 Nov. 64-Nov 85 WASHINGTON, DC 41 Jan 92 76 Dec 42-May 78 WINNIPEG 24 Nov 90 24 Nov 90-Pres [/QUOTE] Sorry about the columns not lining up. I tried. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/71 "2005-10-19T17:49:28Z")
```auto City Current Longest Losing Streak Last Champ Losing Streak ATLANTA 35 Oct 95 93 Oct 66-Oct 95 BALTIMORE 9 Jan 2001 28 Jan 71-Oct 83 BOSTON 2 Feb 2005 61 Jun 86-Feb 2002 BUFFALO 80 Dec 65 80 Dec 65-Pres CALGARY 6 Nov 2001 27 Nov 71-May 89 CHARLOTTE 26 n/a 26 Apr 88-Pres CHICAGO 27 Jun 98 84 Dec 63-Jan 86 CINCINNATI 28 Oct 90 56 Oct 40-Oct 75 CLEVELAND 119 Dec 64 119 Dec 64-Pres COLUMBUS, OH 3 n/a 3 May 2001 -Pres DALLAS-FT. WORTH 25 Jun 99 42 Jan 78-Jan 92 DENVER 17 Jun 2001 64 Dec 60-Jun 96 DETROIT 4 Jun 2004 63 Oct 68-Oct 84 EDMONTON 2 Nov 2003 21 Nov 56-Nov 75 HAMILTON 5 Nov 99 18 Nov 67-Nov 86 HARTFORD 24 n/a 24 Apr 74-Apr 97 HOUSTON 25 Jun 95 60 Apr 75-Jun 94 INDIANAPOLIS 58 Apr 73 58 Apr 73-Pres JACKSONVILLE 10 Jan 96 10 Jan 96-pres KANSAS CITY 40 Oct 85 45 Jan 69-Oct 85 LOS ANGELES -ANAHEIM 8 Oct 2002 41 Oct 88-June 00 LOUISVILLE 1 n/a 5 Apr 69-Apr 75 MEMPHIS 7 n/a 7 Apr 71-present MIAMI-FT LAUDERDALE 7 Oct 2003 40 Jan 74-Oct 97 MILWAUKEE-GREEN BAY 25 Jan 97 76 Apr 71-Jan 97 MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL 48 Oct 91 79 Apr 54-Oct 87 MONTREAL 6 Nov 2002 25 Jun 93-Nov 2002 NASHVILLE 12 n/a 12 Jan 99-Pres NEW ORLEANS 53 n/a 53 Dec 66-Pres NORFOLK, VA 6 n/a 6 Apr 71-Apr 76 NYC/ NJ /LONG ISLAND 9 Jun 2003 24 Oct 62-Jan 69 ORLANDO 18 n/a 18 Apr 88-Pres OTTAWA 33 Nov 76 33 Nov 76-Pres PHILADELPHIA 88 May 83 88 May 83-Pres PHOENIX 15 Nov 2001 57 Apr 69-Nov.01 PITTSBURGH 39 May 92 68 Oct 25-Oct 60 PORTLAND, OR 28 May 77 28 May 77-Pres QUEBEC CITY 18 Apr 77 18 Apr 77-Apr 95 RALEIGH-DURHAM 7 n/a 7 Apr 98-Pres REGINA 11 Nov 89 22 Nov 66-Nov 89 SACRAMENTO 24 n/a 24 Apr 84-Pres SALT LAKE CITY 31 Apr 71 31 Apr 71-Pres SAN ANTONIO 0 Jun 2005 29 Apr 73-June 99 SAN DIEGO 94 Dec 63 94 Dec 63-Pres SF-OAK-SAN JOSE 46 Jan 94 55 Dec 46-Oct 72 SEATTLE 78 May 79 78 May 79-Pres ST.LOUIS 15 Jan 2000 46 Oct 67-Oct 82 TAMPA-ST.PETERSBURG 3 Jun 2004 40 Dec 77-Jan 03 TORONTO 2 Nov 2004 63 Apr 67-Nov 91 VANCOUVER, BC 9 Nov 2000 35 Nov 64-Nov 85 WASHINGTON, DC 41 Jan 92 76 Dec 42-May 78 WINNIPEG 24 Nov 90 24 Nov 90-Pres ``` I corrected Colorado, the Av’s won the Stanley Cup in '96. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/72 "2005-10-19T18:45:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 26 consecutive games in the row, probably the longest losing streak in calendar duration ever. When Coach John Mckay was asked “What do think about your team’s execution?” He replied, “I’m in favor of it.” ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/73 "2005-10-19T19:22:31Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > ```auto > > City Current Longest > Losing Streak Last Champ Losing Streak > > ATLANTA 35 Oct 95 93 Oct 66-Oct 95 > > > WINNIPEG 24 Nov 90 24 Nov 90-Pres > > ``` > > I corrected Colorado, the Av’s won the Stanley Cup in '96. Beautiful!!. Thanks so much for that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/74 "2005-10-19T19:59:36Z")
> [@Ichbin Dubist](#): > > Oddly enough, the next-worst record for a long-standing franchise might be that of the Oakland A’s, who were Philadelphia’s AL team once upon a time. The Twins and Orioles (both original American League teams) have records worse than the A’s. It’s interesting that seven of the eight National League teams from 1900 have winning records. One contributing factor is that, before 1900, the NL had a lot of weak teams like the Cleveland Spiders. For example, there were twelve teams in the NL from 1892 through 1899, and the league allowed investors to own stock in more than one team. The weakest teams became farm clubs for stronger teams. When the league contracted in 1900 it was the strong teams that survived, after having fattened up their win-loss records against the now-defunct weak teams. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/75 "2005-10-20T10:02:28Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > You left out the most important part; you have to get exactly 0. That’s why the double-16 is a popular finish. (Getting your score down to exactly 32, or any number, is a bit of a trick in itself.) If you miss the double-16, you’ll likely hit the single-16, and then on your next dart you can aim for the double-8, etc. Not only is the bull smaller than any other double, but if you miss you probably won’t have another one-dart finish. (That’s for duffers like me. I’ve seen some of the pros, and they probably don’t have to give much thought to what happens if they miss.) > > I used to work at a small company run by a guy from England. In fact, his father had been a publican. We had a dart board in the break room, and if I was running some process that would take a few minutes I’d practice. And we’d play each other during downtimes. I got to be decent at it. My boss would win most games, but I beat him on occasion. Once, just once, on a bull. All of the above is quite true, of course, and we rank amateurs who struggle to get down to 32 in the first place are well acquainted with - if we’re doing reasonably well - doing the whole single-16, single-8, single-4 single-2, dammit, dammit routine. Assuming we hit the single 16, of course; landing in an adjacent sector is extremely common. :smack: One reason why double 20 is a reasonably popular finish is that class players are used to hitting the 20 sector almost at will, and the adjustment to hit the double ring is small enough that the odds are good that they will do it. The “bull” finish is rare, but turns up sometimes when earlier play has made it the only or best chance of winning the game at the current visit, and when the opponent has left himself 32 to get on his next turn (when you’d bet on him to do it, for reasons deducible from the above). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/76 "2005-10-20T13:31:48Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > …doing the whole single-16, single-8, single-4 single-2, dammit, dammit routine. We had a house rule for this. If you were shooting for double-one to finish and you got the single instead, you could do something called “splitting the ones”. Being an unofficial rule, you had to get your opponents permission to try the shot, and you had to get it in one dart. You had to hit the outside ring, with the numbers, and get in between the two ones that make the number 11. That was considered a double-one-half so you could finish on a double and get just one point. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/77 "2005-10-20T15:09:19Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > We had a house rule for this. If you were shooting for double-one to finish and you got the single instead, you could do something called “splitting the ones”. Being an unofficial rule, you had to get your opponents permission to try the shot, and you had to get it in one dart. You had to hit the outside ring, with the numbers, and get in between the two ones that make the number 11. That was considered a double-one-half so you could finish on a double and get just one point. Yes, I’ve seen that. Not too bad with wire numerals, a real challenge with painted ones. Ah, of all the hijacks. It’s not like I even like darts as much as that, still less to be any good at it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/78 "2005-10-20T15:51:42Z")
> [@marque elf](#): > > The 1962 N.Y. Mets had 4 20 game losers. I’m not sure this is a record but it proved conclusively that you didn’t have to be a pretty good pitcher to get a chance to lose 20 games. IIRC Roger Craig lost 24. The 62 Mets had a great lineup … if it was 1952. They filled the team with ex NY Giants and Brooklyn Dogers to try and bring in the fans that were left heartbroken in 1958. Unfortunately the roster was filled with players who should have retired like Gil Hodges and Don Zimmer. Casey Stengal was pretty much going through the motions. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/79 "2005-10-20T16:07:47Z")
Decided to look a little further. The 62 Mets starting lineup: First Mets’ Lineup 1. Richie Ashburn, CF 2. Felix Mantilla, SS 3. Charlie Neal, 2B 4. Frank Thomas, LF 5. Gus Bell, RF 6. Gil Hodges, 1B 7. Don Zimmer, 3B 8. Hobie Landrith, C 9. Roger Craig, SP Roger Craig lost 24 games for a record that still stands… and he was their best pitcher. [Good article on the team.](http://www.thebaseballpage.com/features/2002/mets_debut.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569/80 "2005-10-20T18:07:38Z")
Last night they kept showing that the Texas Rangers have gone the longest without appearing in a World Series (Probably just AL, I am sure the Cubs have gone longer). But I pretty sure the Rangers futility is even worse than that. The Rangers have won exactly one playoff game since the franchises inception in 1961 as the Washington Senators. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loser-sports-records/326569.md?page=5)