Every fanbase has that game.
The one that still hurts.
The one that gets brought up whenever things go wrong.
Some losses ended dynasties. Others erased championships. A few are simply scars that never healed.
Here is the most painful loss each MLB team still thinks about — the game that still lives rent-free in the collective memory.
Arizona Diamondbacks
2001 World Series, Game 7 (Almost flipped)
Yes, they won — but many fans still fixate on how close they came to losing one of the greatest World Series ever before Luis Gonzalez saved them.
Atlanta Braves
1996 World Series vs. Yankees
Up 2–0 in the series, including two wins in New York, only to lose four straight. A dynasty could’ve been even bigger.
Baltimore Orioles
2014 ALCS vs. Royals
Swept after dominating the AL East. A golden opportunity vanished fast.
Boston Red Sox
1986 World Series, Game 6
Bill Buckner. Enough said. Even four championships later, this one still echoes.
Chicago Cubs
2003 NLCS, Game 6
The Bartman game. Eight outs from the World Series. Chaos followed.
Chicago White Sox
1919 World Series
The Black Sox scandal tainted the franchise for generations — even a 2005 title didn’t erase it completely.
Cincinnati Reds
2012 NLDS vs. Giants
Up 2–0, hosting three straight games — lost all three. One of the biggest collapses ever.
Cleveland Guardians
2016 World Series, Game 7
A rain delay, blown lead, extra innings, and the Cubs’ curse ended at Cleveland’s expense.
Colorado Rockies
2007 World Series
Rocktober ended abruptly with a sweep. The franchise has never been closer since.
Detroit Tigers
2012 World Series
A loaded roster. A dominant rotation. Swept by the Giants without a fight.
Houston Astros
2019 World Series, Game 7
Didn’t lose a single road game. Lost all four at home. Unthinkable.
Kansas City Royals
2014 World Series, Game 7
One run away from a title before Madison Bumgarner ended it. (2015 helped — but still.)
Los Angeles Angels
2009 ALCS vs. Yankees
The best Angels team of the era ran into destiny — and lost.
Los Angeles Dodgers
2017 World Series
The trash can scandal changed everything. Many Dodgers fans believe that title was stolen.
Miami Marlins
2003 NLCS, Game 6
Steve Bartman gets the blame, but Miami crushed Chicago’s soul that night.
Milwaukee Brewers
2018 NLCS vs. Dodgers
One win away from the World Series — couldn’t finish it.
Minnesota Twins
Every Yankees playoff series
But especially 2009 ALDS, Game 2 — a blown lead that felt inevitable.
New York Mets
2015 World Series
Defensive miscues and bullpen meltdowns turned hope into heartbreak.
New York Yankees
2004 ALCS vs. Red Sox
Up 3–0. Lost four straight. The worst collapse in sports history.
Oakland Athletics
2002 ALDS vs. Twins
Moneyball’s magical run ended abruptly — and painfully.
Philadelphia Phillies
2011 NLDS vs. Cardinals
102 wins. Halladay, Lee, Hamels. Lost in five.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2015 Wild Card Game
Jake Arrieta. Total domination. Hope crushed in nine innings.
San Diego Padres
1998 World Series
Ran into the Yankees dynasty at full power.
San Francisco Giants
2002 World Series
Game 6 collapse against the Angels still stings.
Seattle Mariners
2001 ALCS
116 wins. No World Series appearance. Baseball cruelty at its finest.
St. Louis Cardinals
1985 World Series, Game 6
The Don Denkinger call. Still debated decades later.
Tampa Bay Rays
2020 World Series, Game 6
Kevin Cash pulling Blake Snell will never be forgotten.
Texas Rangers
2011 World Series, Game 6
One strike away. Twice. Pure agony.
Toronto Blue Jays
1987 Final Weekend Collapse
Seven-game lead gone. No playoffs.
Washington Nationals
2012 NLDS, Game 5
A franchise-defining collapse before their eventual redemption in 2019.
Final Thought
Championships fade.
Highlights age.
But heartbreak?
That lasts forever.
Every fanbase carries at least one loss that still hurts — the reminder that in baseball, pain is part of the price of loving the game.
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