The MLB playoffs are here! And with them inevitably comes talk of how long it's been since Team X last won it all.
Two teams this year are actually on the hunt for their first World Series title -- hi, Rangers and Astros! -- but for the other eight, there was a moment in time when they were king. To really convey how long it's been since each team claimed a championship of its own, we decided to set the clocks back and list the songs that were No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 list the week your playoff team last won the World Series. Sorry, Cubs fans. (Note: For the Rangers and Astros, we'll just go with the the top song when they last appeared in the World Series.)
St. Louis Cardinals & Texas Rangers (2011) - Adele's "Someone Like You"
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers in seven games in the 2011 World Series. At the time, Adele's "Someone Like You" was No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
New York Yankees (2009) - Jay Sean's "Down" featuring Lil' Wayne
The Yankees last won the World Series in 2009 when they beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
Jay Sean's "Down" was No. 1 the week of Oct. 17 before it was overtaken the next by Britney Spears' "3" for a week. "Down" then rose back up to the top spot the week of Oct. 31, in time for the Yankees' clinching win on Nov. 4.
Jay Sean's "Down" was No. 1 the week of Oct. 17 before it was overtaken the next by Britney Spears' "3" for a week. "Down" then rose back up to the top spot the week of Oct. 31, in time for the Yankees' clinching win on Nov. 4.
Houston Astros (2005) - Kanye West's "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx
The Houston Astros have never won a title, but they made their first and only World Series appearance in 2005, when they were swept by the Chicago White Sox.
During that time, "Gold Digger" was making a 10-week run at No. 1 that went from mid-September to mid-November.
During that time, "Gold Digger" was making a 10-week run at No. 1 that went from mid-September to mid-November.
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Toronto Blue Jays (1993) - Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover"
The last time the Blue Jays won the World Series was also the last time the franchise went to the playoffs before this season.
The Jays ended up winning in memorable fashion with Joe Carter's Game 6 home run, but what was just as memorable was Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover." Carey's single spent eight weeks at No. 1 from mid-September through the end of October.
The Jays ended up winning in memorable fashion with Joe Carter's Game 6 home run, but what was just as memorable was Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover." Carey's single spent eight weeks at No. 1 from mid-September through the end of October.
Los Angeles Dodgers (1988) - UB40's "Red Red Wine"
1988 was the last year the Dodgers won it all. The '88 World Series' most iconic moment was Kirk Gibson's Game 1 pinch-hit home run and set the tone for LA to finish the job.
UB40's "Red Red Wine" is a reggae fusion remake of a 1960s Neil Diamond's song that goes by the same title. The remake ended up topping the list on Oct. 15 that year, the week the Dodgers sealed their World Series win.
UB40's "Red Red Wine" is a reggae fusion remake of a 1960s Neil Diamond's song that goes by the same title. The remake ended up topping the list on Oct. 15 that year, the week the Dodgers sealed their World Series win.
New York Mets (1986) - Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors
It was October 1986 and the Mets were on their way to beating the Red Sox in an exciting, seven-game series when Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" was on top of the Billboard charts for the weeks of Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.
1986 was the last time the Mets won the World Series and also the last time one of Lauper's singles was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. On a side note, the music video for "True Colors" was very '80s.
1986 was the last time the Mets won the World Series and also the last time one of Lauper's singles was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. On a side note, the music video for "True Colors" was very '80s.
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Kansas City Royals (1985) - Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You"
The last time the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 1985, they outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game series.
The week that they sealed their World Series victory, one of Whitney Houston's best songs, "Saving All My Love For You" reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
The week that they sealed their World Series victory, one of Whitney Houston's best songs, "Saving All My Love For You" reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Pittsburgh Pirates (1979) - Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
The Pirates' last World Series was in 1979 when Willie Stargell helped lead Pittsburgh past the Baltimore Orioles.
The song most associated with the 1979 Pirates was Sister Sledge's "We Are Family," but Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was the most popular song in the country the week Pittsburgh won the World Series.
The song most associated with the 1979 Pirates was Sister Sledge's "We Are Family," but Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was the most popular song in the country the week Pittsburgh won the World Series.
Chicago Cubs (1908) - Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer's "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"
It has been a long and torturous 107 years for Cubs fans. That is how long it has been since the team's last World Series. 1908 actually predates Billboard's top songs list by several decades.
It just so happens that 1908 was also the year that the famous baseball song "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" was written and composed, according to Baseball Almanac. This original version is longer than the song that is now played during the seventh-inning stretches of games.
It just so happens that 1908 was also the year that the famous baseball song "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" was written and composed, according to Baseball Almanac. This original version is longer than the song that is now played during the seventh-inning stretches of games.
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