Yankees' longest losing streaks: Where 2023 Bombers' futility stacks up in New York history

Pinstripe pride will only take you so far.

If you haven't heard, the 2023 Yankees are in the midst of one of the franchise's worst seasons in nearly three decades. At 60-65 entering Aug. 23, the Bombers have effectively bombed in 2023 while hopes of a playoff spot continue to dwindle.

While that record doesn't necessarily sound alarm bells (well, only if you're a fan or player), New York's reputation precedes it: The 27-time world champs have seldom finished below .500 and have even less stretches of seeming ineptitude on their docket as they've put forth in 2023.

MORE: History of Yankee losing seasons — Where 2023 may rank in Yankee lows

As Aaron Judge and the Yanks careen towards a potential last-place finish in the AL East, each loss is an L closer to earning a spot in Yankee infamy. Finishing fifth in the AL East would be their first bottom-rung standing since 1990, and it would be the first time they would miss out on the playoffs since 2016.

While the "turnaround" that Aaron Boone promised seems to be further and further with every loss, what's nearing is a place among WFAN callers' ire — and Yankee history books. Here's what to know about the Yankees' longest losing streaks, and where it stacks up in MLB history:

Yankees longest losing streak

The Yankees' current losing streak (nine games entering Aug. 23) is inching perilously close to their all-time marks. In 1913, the Yankees lost a franchise-record 13 games in a row in a season in which they finished 57-94-2. The streak ended when they downed the White Sox 3-2 on June 7.

Prior to that, the Yankees' next highest low-points came when they were the Highlanders. In 1908, the Highlanders lost 12 games in row, finishing the 1908 season at 51-103-1 (so, yes, Yankee fans, it can be a lot worse).

The Yankees' current futility is the team's longest losing streak in over 40 years: In 1982, the Yankees put forth an nine-game losing streak, finishing the season 79-83.

MORE: Gerrit Cole is none-too-pleased with the Yankees' failures

Longest losing streaks in MLB history

However grim the Yankees' season looks, it doesn't quite match the utter ineptitude of some other squads over MLB history.

The MLB record is held by the 1961 Phillies, who lost 23 games in a row, a mark that seems unbreakable (and very likely won't be broken by the 2023 Yankees). 

The closest other teams have gotten: The 1988 Orioles lost 21 games, and four other times have teams reached losing streaks of 20 games: The 1943 Philadelphia Athletics, the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics and the 1906 Boston Americans.

In MLB history, 32 teams have reached losing streaks of 15 games or more. Here's the list: