Cleveland Indians Fans 2016 World Series
 

When the Cubs rallied from a 3-1 World Series deficit and then broke a 6-6 tie in the 10th inning Wednesday, they broke, as we all know, the longest championship drought in the history of North American pro sports. The 108-year-old curse will be remembered alongside the Red Sox's 86-year drought, broken in 2004. Of course, Boston then went on to win two more World Series (2007 and 2013).

But while the Cubs were celebrating, the Cleveland Indians looked on in sadness – not just at losing, but at now being owners of the longest World Series drought at 68 years. A tiny consolation prize for the Indians is that they do not own the longest drought in pro sports: That belongs to the NFL's Cardinals, who have gone 69 years without a title.

Here's a look at 14 teams who are enduring championship droughts of 45 years or longer. For the purpose of this list, a drought is defined as the number of years between championships. Teams that have never won a title are exempt from this list, so franchises like the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Astros, St. Louis Blues and Phoenix Suns get a break here. But we are counting titles in the old AFL, which is why you'll see teams like the San Diego Chargers.

Arizona Cardinals, 69 years

eBay 1947 Chicago Cardinals

The Cardinals last won the an NFL title in 1947 – two decades before the advent of the Super Bowl – when the franchise called Chicago home and it beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-21. The Cardinals had a chance to repeat as champions the following year, but the Eagles took revenge, winning, 7-0. It wasn't until 61 years later, following the 2008 season that the Cardinals returned to the championship game, which eluded them while they called St. Louis home from 1960-87. Arizona lost a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23, in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009.

Cleveland Indians, 68

eBay 1948 Cleveland Indians

The Indians now have the distinction of having the longest drought in Major League Baseball, having not won a title since 1948, when they beat the Boston Braves in the first televised World Series. The Tribe have had four shots to end the drought, getting to the World Series in 1954, 1995, 1997 and 2016. Besides this season, when they opened a 3-1 series lead on the Cubs, the Indians' best shot at winning was in 1997, when they blew a ninth-inning lead and lost in extras in Game 7, that time to the Florida Marlins.

Sacramento Kings, 65

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As the Rochester Royals, the Kings last won an NBA championship in 1951. Since then, the team has been known as the Cincinnati Royals (1957-72), Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1972-75), Kansas City Kings (1975-85) and Sacramento Kings (1985-present). In the 1951 championship, the only one the franchise has ever won, the Royals jumped out to a 3-0 series lead against the Knicks and finally won the title in Game 7.

Detroit Lions, 59

Pinterest 1957 Detroit Lions

Owners of the second-longest drought in the NFL, the Lions haven't had a chance to break their losing streak since winning the NFL championship in 1957. In fact, Detroit has never been to the Super Bowl and has only won an NFL division title four times (the last was 1993). Even worse, the team has won only one playoff game since 1957.

Atlanta Hawks, 58

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Winners of the 1958 NBA championship as the St. Louis Hawks, this franchise hasn't even won a conference title since 1961. The Hawks, who have maintained the same nickname (mostly) in four moves since their inception as the Tri-City Blackhawks in 1946, played in the NBA Finals in 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1961 – facing the Boston Celtics all four times, losing three. Since then, the team has been a study in futility, losing in the conference championship series five times.

Philadelphia Eagles, 56

Getty Images Chuck Bednarik

The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl, but did win back-to-back NFL championships in 1948-49. They won again in 1960, but since then have gotten to the playoffs 20 times, but only advanced to the Super Bowl twice, losing to the Raiders (XV) and the Patriots (XXXIX).

Tennessee Titans, 55

Getty Images Super Bowl XXXIV

The original Houston Oilers, the Titans moved to Tennessee in 1997 and haven't had much luck at claiming a title. After winning two AFL Championships in 1960 and 1961, the Titans didn't even get back to a title game until 1999 – the same season they christened a new stadium in Nashville and changed their name. The Titans came within a yard of sending Super Bowl XXXIV to overtime against the Rams, but Kevin Dyson was tackled at the just short of the goal line as time expired.

San Diego Chargers, 53

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Originally a member of the AFL, the Chargers reached the championship game four times, but won only once, beating the Boston Patriots, 51-10, in 1963. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Chargers have made the playoffs 13 times and gotten to the AFC Championship three times. They did get to Super Bowl XXIX, but lost to the 49ers.

Cleveland Browns, 52

Pinterest Browns Win 1964 NFL Title

The Cavaliers ended the city of Cleveland's championship drought by beating the Warriors this year in the NBA Finals, but the Browns -- the only team in the NFL to have a break in its history -- are still waiting to end their own streak. The original Browns moved to Baltimore before the 1996 season and became the Ravens, but Cleveland retained the history and Browns name and after a three-year break resumed operations under new ownership. The original Browns won four AAFC titles and four NFL championships, the last in 1964. In the post-merger era, the Browns have gotten to the playoffs 11 times, but those experiences were all exercises in futility and they never got to the Super Bowl. The Browns haven't reached the postseason since 2002 and that won't change this year, with an 0-8 start.

Buffalo Bills, 51 years

Getty Images Buffalo Bills

Another team that has its roots in the AFL, the Bills were champions in 1964-65. They haven't had nearly as much success since the AFL-NFL merger and are known more for their four consecutive Super Bowl losses (1990-93). Buffalo lost to the Giants and Washington, and twice to Dallas.

Toronto Maple Leafs, 49

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Winners of the second-most Stanley Cups in NHL history at 13, the venerable Maple Leafs haven't won a championship since 1967. A member of the NHL's Original Six, Toronto has a drought that is the longest in the NHL and the Leafs haven't even made it to the Stanley Cup Final since '67 – the final year before the league expanded. They have made five appearances in the conference finals since, most recently in 2002.

New York Jets, 48

Getty Images Joe Namath

Ever since "Broadway" Joe Namath guaranteed – and delivered – his famous victory in Super Bowl III, New York's other football franchise have been in a prolonged drought. In fact, the Jets have not even returned to the Super Bowl since the 1968 season while stadium-mate Giants have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy four times in the past 30 years.

Kansas City Chiefs, 47

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The Chiefs played in the very first Super Bowl after the 1966 season but lost to the Green Bay Packers. They returned for Super Bowl IV and defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the final season before the AFL and NFL officially merged. But Kansas City has not even returned to the Super Bowl ever since, advancing to the conference championship game just once (1993) in that span.

Milwaukee Bucks, 45

Getty Images Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson

A dominant team in the early 1970s, the Bucks have not had much success since winning their lone championship in 1971. That victory, however, came just three seasons after the expansion Bucks were founded and remains an NBA record as the fastest expansion team to win a title. Since 1971, the Bucks have won 12 division championships but returned to the NBA Finals just once, in 1974.