The Kansas City Royals. Where to start? Well, they did win a world series (their only one) in 1985. Unfortunately, the last time they made the playoffs was 1985. In case you're bad at math, that's a 25 year drought. In case you were wondering, since 1985, the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Cardinals, Braves have made it to the playoffs a combined 65 times. We all know the Cubs haven't won a world series since 1908, but did you know that between 1945 and 1984 they didn't even reach the postseason? Similarily, the Indians have not won a world series since 1948, but did you also know that between 1954 and 1995 Indians fans (whatever few remaining) did not witness their team play past the regular season? The Pirates are a story all unto themselves. They just set a record last year with their 17th consecutive losing season, and things still do not look bright in Pittsburgh. Brand new ball parks (beautiful, I might add) just aren't as appealing when the fans go to games dressed as seats. Oh, and the Milwaukee Brewers. Considering they've been in the league since 1970 (1969 as the Seattle Pilots), it's kind of embarrassing to think that they have only reached the playoffs 3 times. The storied Cincinatti Reds, the oldest team in baseball history, starting play in 1869, haven't reached the playoffs since 1995. But they too had their struggles during Baseball's "boom period," going from 1940 to 1970 with exactly 1 playoff appearance. Another team that deserves mention is the Philadelphia Phillies. Their recent success may have fooled some young baseball fans about their team history, but the fact is it was not so bright. The Phillies, to this day, are the oldest team in baseball to have the same name, going back to 1882 (The Reds were originally the Red Stockings). They also became the first team in professional sports to lose 10,000 games. Between 1915 and 1976, the Phillies went to the playoffs once, which consisted of a 4 game world series sweep at the hands of the Yankees. When they won their first world series in 1980, it was the first time in 98 years as a franchise that they were able to do so. But while all these teams were doing so bad during baseball's golden era, who was doing well? The Yankees. As everyone knows, because Yankee fans let everyone know all the time, their team has 27 world championships. Which, if you do the math, is one championship every 4 years. They have also been to the world series 40 times, meaning that the Yankees have played in almost half of every world series game ever played. But why is it that one team could have so much success and most everyone else could be so bad? Why does no one seem to care? Well, people used to care, but any sense of caring was beaten out of them by sheer time and failure. Just look around the league at teams with no money, and look at the empty seats. With no salary cap, there's no parody, and when nothing ever changes, there's no more room for hope, and hope is the reason people follow sports. Baseball may be America's pastime, but only politically. Baseball is representative of America's Guilded Age, when so many people suffered while handfuls of men smoked cigars made of 20 dollar bills. And no, baseball fans, Bud Selig cannot hear you.