Infamous Beginnings

The Rockies opened the season 5-25, becoming one of seven teams since 1901 to post five or fewer wins in their first 30 games. Here’s how the other teams finished their seasons:

Year

Team

Start

Final

Comment

1904

Philadelphia Phillies

5-25

52-100

Played in the Baker Bowl and had an announced attendance of 140,771 for the season.

1932

Boston Red Sox

5-25

43-111

Had the distinction of having the worst run differential of any team in the modern era at minus-349.

1952

Pittsburgh Pirates

5-25

42-112

Nicknamed the “Rickey Dinks,” after GM Branch Rickey. In one game, they fielded an entire starting lineup of players under 6 feet tall.

1981

Chicago Cubs

5-25

38-65*

First baseman Bill Buckner was the Cubs’ lone All-Star. He led the team with 35 doubles and 10 homers in a strike-shortened season.

1988

Baltimore Orioles

4-26

54-107

The O’s lost 21 consecutive games to open the season. Frank Robinson replaced Cal Ripken Jr. as manager after just six games.

2003

Detroit Tigers

5-25

43-119

When the Tigers avoided matching the 1962 Mets’ record number of losses, a Detroit Free Press headline read: “Mets 120, Tigers 119.”

2025

Colorado Rockies

5-25

TBD

After its first 30 games, Colorado’s offense ranked last in the majors with a .211 batting average while leading with 312 strikeouts.

* Season interrupted by 50-day strike