Long road back
Since the American League adopted a 162-game schedule in 1961 (the same season the Twins debuted in Minnesota), AL teams have suffered 100 or more losses 40 times. Only six of those teams bounced back to post a winning record the following season, and none qualified for the postseason; 11 times, they lost 100 again the next year. The average bounce-back season finished with a 70-92 record, and none was better than the Orioles' 87-75 finish in 1989.
Franchise100 lossesNext yearNext time in playoffs
Boston1965: 62-10072-901967: Won AL title in 1967
Baltimore1988: 54-10787-751996: Reached ALCS
Cleveland1971: 60-10272-84
Cleveland1985: 60-10284-78
Cleveland1987: 61-10178-84
Cleveland1991: 57-10576-861995: Won AL title
Chicago1970: 56-10679-831983: Reached ALCS
Detroit1975: 57-10274-871984: Won World Series
Detroit1989: 59-10379-83
Detroit1996: 53-10979-83
Detroit2002: 55-10643-119
Detroit2003: 43-11972-902006: Won AL title
Houston+2013: 51-11170-922015: Reached AL Division Series
Kansas City2002: 62-10083-79
Kansas City2004: 58-10456-106
Kansas City2005: 56-10662-100
Kansas City2006: 62-10069-932014: Won AL title
Twins1982: 60-10270-921987: Won World Series
Twins2016: 57-103??-??
Oakland*1961: 61-10072-90
Oakland*1964: 57-10559-103
Franchise100 lossesNext yearNext time in playoffs
Oakland*1965: 59-10374-861971: Reached ALCS
Oakland1979: 54-10883-791981: Reached ALCS
Seattle1978: 56-10467-95
Seattle1980: 59-10344-65 (x)
Seattle1983: 60-10274-881995: Reached ALCS
Seattle2008: 61-10185-77
Seattle2010: 61-10167-95
Tampa Bay2001: 62-10055-106
Tampa Bay2002: 55-10663-99
Tampa Bay2006: 61-10166-962008: Won AL title
Texas**1961: 61-10060-101-1
Texas**1962: 60-101-156-106
Texas**1963: 56-10662-100
Texas**1964: 62-10070-92
Texas1972: 54-10057-105
Texas1973: 57-10584-761996: Reached AL Division Series
Toronto1977: 54-10759-102
Toronto1978: 59-10253-109
Toronto1979: 53-10967-951985: Reached ALCS
* As Kansas City Athletics ** As expansion Washington Senators
+ Astros joined AL in 2013 but also went 56-106 in 2011 and 55-107 in 2012 as a member of the NL • x 1981 season was shortened by players' strike
