Some of the best Major League Baseball teams in history didn’t win the World Series. We’ve ranked the top 50 MLB that came up short of a World Championship.
There are many different reasons why a great Major League Baseball team doesn’t win the World Series. Over the course of a 154- or 162-game season, injuries can take their toll and players can suffer through cold streaks. Also, thanks to an ever-expanding MLB playoff system, it’s tougher than ever to even earn the opportunity to play in the Fall Classic.
For many decades, all a team had to do was post a better record than the other seven teams in their league, and they earned an express trip to the World Series. Now, there are 15 teams in both the American and National Leagues, and even if one ball club wins 98 games in the regular season, like the Los Angeles Angels did last year in posting the best record in all of baseball, they are susceptible to losing in the League Division Series before they even have an opportunity to play in the League Championship Series or World Series.
Because of the differences in eras, the expansion of Major League Baseball, and the changes in the postseason format, ranking the 50 best MLB teams that didn’t win the World Series is an inexact science. Regular season wins and losses are important, as is the timing in which an otherwise great team was eliminated from championship contention.
However, those facts do not necessarily separate one team from another. Some of our highest ranked teams posted incredible records in the regular season, but came up short in the Division Series. Others didn’t make the postseason at all since a second place finish in the standings prior to 1995 (the first year of the Wild Card) doomed them.
Whether a team came up one strike short of a World Championship, or missed the playoffs completely, we’ve ranked the 50 greatest Major League Baseball teams that didn’t win it all.
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The most recent team on our list, the 2012 Washington Nationals were the best team in the National League with a record of 98-64 – which gave them the first NL East title (and first winning record) since the franchise moved from Montreal prior to the 2005 season. Unfortunately, the season ended in very disappointing fashion.
Washington faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS, and the two teams split the first four games of the series, making Game 5 at Nationals Park a winner-take-all event. The Nationals built a 6-0 lead with three runs in the first inning and three more in the third, and took a 7-5 lead into the ninth inning with a chance to win the first playoff series for a Washington Major League team since the Senators won the 1924 World Series. However, closer Drew Storen blew the save opportunity, the Cardinals scored four runs, and held on for the victory.
The loss was certainly disappointing, but with a young roster that included 19-year old NL Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper (22 HR, 59 RBI) and 23-year old Stephen Strasburg (15-6, 3.16) in addition to blossoming stars like Gio Gonzalez (21-8, 2.89) and Jordan Zimmerman (12-8, 2.94), there were still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of Major League Baseball in the nation’s capital.
Nevertheless, the Nationals still haven’t gotten over the hump. The club missed the postseason in 2013, lost again in the NLDS in 2014, and despite being heavy favorites to win the World Series in 2015, have spent the majority of the season hovering around .500 and have been looking up at the New York Mets in the NL East standings since August 3.
Next: 2011 Texas Rangers
The 2011 Texas Rangers came as close as any team in history from winning the World Series, only to fall short.
After failing to win the first World Championship in franchise history in the Fall Classic in 2010, the Rangers entered the 2011 season with a purpose. With a record of 96-66, Texas won the AL West by a comfortable ten games, then beat the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one in the ALDS and knocked out the Detroit Tigers 4-2 in the ALCS. Following a 4-2 victory in Game 5 of the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Rangers had a chance to win it all in Game 6 at Busch Stadium.
In a back-and-forth contest, the Rangers scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-4 lead. After the Cardinals scored one run in the eighth, the Rangers turned to closer Neftali Feliz with a two-run lead in the ninth inning. Feliz allowed two baserunners but also recorded two outs before David Freese came to the plate. With two strikes on him – putting the Rangers just one strike away from winning the game and the series – Freese connected on a long fly ball that Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz couldn’t track down, which resulted in a game-tying triple.
The Rangers scored two runs in the top of the tenth on a Josh Hamilton home run, and once again were one strike away from celebrating a World Series victory, but Lance Berkman’s RBI single tied the game again. In the 11th inning, Freese won the game with a walk home run, and the next day, the Cardinals won Game 7 by a score of 6-2 to capture the series.
Next: 1915 Detroit Tigers
Ty Cobb was one of the greatest players in baseball history. Cobb is still the career leader in batting average, having hit .366 over the course of a 24-year career that included a whopping 13,084 plate appearances. However, Cobb never won a World Series. He helped the Detroit Tigers win three straight American League pennants in 1907, 1908, and 1909, but each time his teams fell short. Arguably the best team he ever played on, however, the 1915 Tigers, finished one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL standings and missed the opportunity to play for a title as a result.
The Tigers finished 100-54 in 1915, and Cobb (.369/.486/.487, 208 H, 144 R, 99 RBI, 96 SB) was once again the star of the ball club that also included Hall of Fame outfielder Sam Crawford (.299/.367/.431, 19 3B, 112 RBI) and star Bobby Veach (.313/.390/.434, 112 RBI). The Tigers led the American League in ten major offensive categories, including runs (778), hits (1,372), batting average (.268), OBP (.357) and slugging percentage (.358).
The pitching staff was also solid, especially Harry Coveleski (22-13, 2.45) and Hooks Dauss (24-13, 2.50). But the team struggled against the Red Sox and lost 14 of the 22 meetings between the clubs that season. Had they won just two more games, Detroit might have been able to give Ty Cobb that elusive World Series championship (after all, the Red Sox disposed of the Philadelphia Phillies in five quick games in the Series). Alas, the Tigers missed the Fall Classic and Cobb would never have a better opportunity.
Next: 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates
The 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates made quick work of the National League East, winning the division for the third consecutive (and by a margin of nine games over second place Montreal). The division title meant a rematch with the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series, and hopefully for Pirates fans, revenge that would lead Pittsburgh to the NL pennant for the first time since 1979.
The series didn’t get off to a good start. Playing the first two games in Atlanta, Pittsburgh ace Doug Drabek and second starter Danny Jackson were beaten 5-1 and 13-5, respectively. Young knuckleballer Tim Wakefield won Game 3, but Drabek lost again in Game 4 to give the Braves a 3-1 lead in the series. Finally, the series took a turn for the better and the Pirates won the next two games easily: 7-1 and 13-4, respectively. In the deciding Game 7 in Pittsburgh, the Pirates took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, and once again had Doug Drabek on the mound.
In what has become one of the most iconic endings in Atlanta sports history, the Braves stormed back for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, which was capped off when former Pirate Sid Bream scored on an RBI single by Francisco Cabrera (who had just 12 plate appearances in the regular season). It was the last playoff appearance – and the last winning season – for the Pirates for two decades.
But it wasn’t the last frustrating end to a season for NL MVP Barry Bonds, who left the Pirates shortly thereafter. In fact, the very next year, the MVP played for an even better team that didn’t even make the playoffs.
Next: 1993 San Francisco Giants
Some of the greatest teams to fall short of a World Series title never even had an opportunity to prove their worth in a playoff series. The 1993 season was the last in Major League Baseball to feature two divisions in each league, with the champions of each division meeting directly in the League Championship Series. Because the playoff platform did not include a Wild Card team, if a team finished in second place – even if they won 103 games during the regular season – they would be left out completely.
This was the exact scenario that the San Francisco Giants suffered through in 1993. The Giants played in the NL West, which also included the Atlanta Braves, who were included in the division when the franchise resided in Milwaukee and were never shifted following a relocation to the Eastern Time Zone in 1966. Therefore, the star-studded lineup that included recently acquired free agent and ’93 NL MVP Barry Bonds (.336/.458/.677, 46 HR, 123 RBI, 29 SB) and fellow sluggers Matt Williams (38 HR, 110 RBI), Will Clark (14 HR, 73 RBI) and Robby Thompson (19 HR, 65 RBI) were forced to regularly face off with Atlanta’s Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
The Giants’ pitching staff, which included 20-game winners Bill Swift (21-8, 2.82) and John Burkett (22-7, 3.65) and menacing closer Rod Beck (2.16, 48 saves) were called on to neutralize Atlanta’s potent lineup that featured David Justice, Ron Gant, Fred McGriff, and more – in addition to the rest of the league.
For the most part, the Giants excelled. After all, they won 103 games, which was more than anyone in baseball – aside from the Atlanta Braves. And when the Giants squandered a 9-game lead in the standings to lose the division by a single game, they were forced to watch the Braves play (and lose) in the NLCS.
Next: 2008 Chicago Cubs
After 100 years and many, many losing seasons, finally the Chicago Cubs had a team worthy of winning the World Series. The lovable losers were no longer losers at all – having raced to an impressive 97-64 record, which won the NL Central by an impressive 7.5 games over the Milwaukee Brewers and was the best record in the National League.
Following the disappointment of not winning a World Championship since 1908, having not even made it to the World Series since 1945, five years after the 2003 Cubs had the pennant ripped from Moises Alou’s glove and one season after the team was swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS, finally, 2008 was the year.
That is, until the Cubs broke their fans hearts once again. For the second straight season, the Central champs were swept in the NLDS, this time by a Los Angeles Dodgers squad that had won just 84 games in the regular season. A lineup that featured stars Derek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Mark DeRosa was no match for the Dodgers and scored just six total runs in the series. A pitching staff that posted a solid 3.87 ERA with starters Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano, as well as closer Kerry Wood, couldn’t hold LA in check and allowed 20 runs.
After 100 years of disappointment, Chicago was once again forced to suffer through yet another season without a World Championship, or even an appearance in the Fall Classic. And it would be seven long years until the Cubs would make it back to the postseason for another opportunity to put an end to the streak.
Next: 1933 Washington Senators
“First in war, first in peace, last in the American League.” While the famous saying adequately describes the majority of the first 60 seasons of professional baseball in Washington DC, the 1933 Washington Senators were one three clubs that actually finished first in the American League, with a record of 99-63 that was a full seven games better than the New York Yankees. The strong showing in the regular season sent the Senators to the World Series for the first time since 1925, and offered an opportunity to bring the World Championship to the nation’s capital for just the second time in history.
Washington was led by Hall of Fame player manager Joe Cronin, who hit .309/.398/.455 with 118 RBI and an AL-best 45 doubles, and Hall of Fame outfielders Heinie Manush (.336/.372/.459, 115 R, 95 RBI) and Goose Goslin (.297/.348/.452), as well as first baseman Joe Kuhel, who slugged a team-high 11 home runs and rove in 107 runs. The pitching staff included a pair of 20-game winners in General Crowder (24-15, 3.97) and Earl Whitehill (22-8, 3.33).
However, in a hard-fought Fall Classic that included two one-run games, Washington fell to the New York Giants. When the Senators lost Game 5 of the World Series, it marked the final time a Major League Baseball postseason game would be played in the nation’s capital until 2012. Over the course of nearly three decades, the Senators finished higher than fourth in the American League only three times, then moved to Minnesota in 1961 and became the Twins.
Next: 1939 Cincinnati Reds
The 1939 Cincinnati Reds were the class of the National League, winning 97 games and the NL pennant with a 4.5-game margin in the standings over the St. Louis Cardinals. However, like many teams on our list, the Reds proved to be a mere footnote in history by falling victim to the New York Yankees in the World Series. In 1939, the Reds lost in a sweep.
But just because they came up short doesn’t mean the Reds weren’t a terrific team. The pitching staff featured a pair of 25-game winners in Bucky Walters (27-11, 2.29) and Paul Derringer (25-7, 2.93), in addition to a youngster named Johnny Vander Meer (5-9, 4.67), who tossed back-to-back no-hitters one year earlier. Overall, the Reds pitchers posted the best ERA in the National League (3.27), allowed the fewest hits (1,340), struck out the most batters (670) and completed a workman-like 86 games, which also led the league.
The lineup was potent as well, led by Hall of Fame catcher Ernie Lombardi. Lombardi hit .287/.342/.487 with 20 home runs and 85 RBI, and struck out just 19 times all season in 494 plate appearances. First baseman Frank McCormick hit .332/.374/.495 and led the NL with 209 hits and 128 RBI and also collected 18 home runs and 41 doubles. Interestingly enough, Lombardi had been named NL MVP in 1938 and McCormick won the award in 1940, but both – like the Reds as a whole – came up short in 1939.
Next: 1987 Toronto Blue Jays
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Toronto Blue Jays were one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball. The Jays won the AL East for the first time in 1985, and fell one win shy of the World Series that season. Toronto made it back to the ALCS in 1989 and 1991, and then got over the hump by winning the World Series in both 1992 and 1993. However, one of the best teams in franchise history was the 1987 Toronto Blue Jays, which finished two games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL East.
In 1987, Toronto had the best pitching staff in the American League, and posted an AL low 3.74 team ERA. The Blue Jays allowed fewer runs (655) and hits (1,353) than anyone else in the league, surrendered the second fewest home runs (158) and posted the second most strikeouts (1,064). The ace of the staff was lefty Jimmy Key, who posted a 17-8 record, won the ERA title with a 2.76 mark and also led the league with a 1.057 WHIP, which helped him to a second place finish in the Cy Young voting. The team’s closer, Tom Henke, led the AL with 34 saves and posted a 2.49 ERA out of the bullpen.
Nearly as good as the pitching staff was a potent lineup that featured AL MVP George Bell. The 27-year old outfielder hit .308/.352/.605 with 47 home runs and a league-leading 134 RBI. In addition to Bell, the Blue Jays had All-Star shortstop Tony Fernandez (.322/.379/.426), Lloyd Moseby (26 HR, 96 RBI), Jesse Barfield (28 HR, 84 RBI) and rising stars Fred McGriff (20 HR, 43 RBI) and Cecil Fielder (14 HR, 32 RBI).
Next: 1985 New York Yankees
Oddly enough, the 1987 Toronto Blue Jays actually had a slightly worse record than the team that finished two games ahead of the New York Yankees in 1985. Despite a 97-64 record, which was six games better than AL West champ – and eventual World Champion – Kansas City, yet in the days before the Wild Card the Yankees were shut out of the postseason for the fifth year in a row, and wouldn’t make it back until 1996.
Nevertheless, New York was a seller team with a star-studded roster that included AL MVP Don Mattingly, who led the league in doubles (48), RBI (145), and total bases (270) while hitting .324/.371/.567 with a career-high 35 home runs. Donnie Baseball may have been the best player on the team in 1985, but he shared the lineup card with future Hall of Famers Rickey Henderson (.314/.419/.516, 24 HR, 72 RBI, 80 SB) and Dave Winfield (26 HR, 114 RBI) as well as other stars like Don Baylor (23 HR, 91 RBI) and Ken Griffey (10 HR, 69 RBI).
The Yankees featured a pitching staff that also included a future Hall of Famer, Phil Niekro, who posted a 16-12 record and 4.09 ERA across 33 starts as a 46-year old. Ron Guidry was the ace of the staff and led the AL with 22 wins. Guidry’s record and his 3.27 ERA made him the runner-up for the Cy Young Award. Also, Dave Righetti (2.78, 29 saves) was one of the best closers in the business.
Next: 1984 Chicago Cubs
The Cubs may not have won a World Series in more than 100 years, but they have had some very good teams since – including a few on this list. The 1984 Chicago Cubs were one of the best chances fans had of seeing the end of the title drought, and of seeing their beloved Cubs in the World Series for the first time since 1945. However, after posting a 96-65 record and winning the National League East by 6.5 games over the second place New York Mets, and then taking a 2-0 lead in the NLCS over the San Diego Padres, the Cubs lost three in a row in the best-of-five and series were denied in their quest for the Fall Classic.
Still, the 1984 campaign was a special one. The pitching staff included Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe, who didn’t even join the team until June 13. After posting a 4-5 record and a 5.15 ERA through 15 starts with the Cleveland Indians, Sutcliffe was traded to Chicago. Sutcliffe then put together an incredible 16-1 record in just 20 starts with the Cubs, including seven complete games and three shutouts, and an ERA of 2.69 with 155 strikeouts in 150 innings. Sutcliffe joined a pitching staff that included Steve Trout (10-8, 3.41), Dennis Eckersley (10-8, 3.03) and Lee Smith (3.65, 33 saves).
Offensively, second baseman Ryne Sandberg was voted the NL MVP after a season in which he hit .314/.367/.520, led the league with 19 triples and 114 runs, hit 19 home runs and drove in 84 runs. In addition to Sandberg, the NL’s highest scoring lineup included Ron Cey (25 HR, 97 RBI), Jody Davis (19 HR, 94 RBI), Leon Durham (23 HR, 96 RBI), Gary Matthews (14 HR, 82 RBI) and Keith Moreland (16 HR, 80 RBI).
Next: 1978 Boston Red Sox
Stuck in the history books between the 1975 and 1986 American League pennant winners, who each nearly became the first to end the infamous “Curse of the Bambino” was the 1978 Boston Red Sox club that finished the season 99-64 and in second place in the AL East after they lost a ten-game lead over the New York Yankees in the standings. As they had so many times before, the Yankees went on to win the World Series (their second in a row following a mere 15-year drought), while the Sox watched at home on television.
Led by AL MVP Jim Rice, who hit .315/.370/.600 with a league-leading 15 triples, 46 home runs and 139 RBI, as well as a team-high 121 runs scored, the Sox had one of the most star-studded lineups in the game. Catcher Carlton Fisk (20 HR, 88 RBI), outfielder Fred Lynn (22 HR, 82 RBI), shortstop Rick Burleson (5 HR, 49RBI), outfielder Dwight Evans (24 HR, 63 RBI), second baseman Jerry Remy ( 2 HR, 44 RBI, 30 SB) and outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter Carl Yastrzemski (17 HR, 81 RBI) all joined Rice on the AL All-Star squad that season.
Dennis Eckersley won 20 games and posted a 2.99 ERA across 35 games as a 23-year old starter, and Luis Tiant (13-8, 3.31) and Bill Lee (10-10, 3.64) were dependable veterans for a solid starting rotation, though Mike Torrez (16-13, 3.96) couldn’t hold a 2-0 seventh-inning lead in the one-game playoff at Fenway Park. Torrez allowed a three-run home run to Bucky Dent, and the Sox lost 5-4, ending their quest to end the curse.
Next: 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers
When Bobby Thompson connected on his “shot heard round the world” to complete a dramatic ninth-inning comeback in Game 3 of a three-game tie-breaker playoff between the San Francisco Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951, it marked the end of the season for the boys in blue.
A late-season Brooklyn collapse allowed the Giants to make up 13 games in the standings over the final six weeks of the season and forced the playoff between the teams after they tied atop the National League standings with identical 96-58 records. And, though the Giants won the playoff and went on to lose to the New York Yankees in the Subway Series, the Dodgers were the more impressive team, and earned this spot on our list.
The Dodgers listed four Hall of Fame position in their everyday lineup: catcher Roy Campanella (33 HR, 108 RBI), second baseman Jackie Robinson (.338/.429/.527, 19 HR, 88 RBI, 25 SB), shortstop Pee Wee Reese (10 HR, 84 RBI), and outfielder Duke Snider (29 HR, 101 RBI), though first baseman Gil Hodges actually led the Dodgers with 40 home runs and 118 runs scored. Hodges also drove in 103 runs.
All-Stars Don Newcombe (20-9, 3.28) and Preacher Roe (22-3, 3.04) did most of the heavy lifting in what was generally a three-man rotation with Ralph Branca (13-12, 3.26). Had Branca been able to hold that ninth-inning lead in Game 3 at the Polo Grounds, the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers might have been known as one of the best teams in baseball history. Though, as it worked out, they are simply one of the best not to win the World Series.
Next: 1963 New York Yankees
The 1963 New York Yankees won 104 games in the regular season – capturing the American League pennant by a whopping 10.5 games over the Chicago White Sox – and appeared to be a sure bet to capture the franchise’s 21st World Championship since 1923, and its third in a row. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers had other ideas and swept the Yankees in four games. It was the first time New York had ever been swept in the Fall Classic.
New York was led by a strong pitching staff featuring Hall of Fame ace Whitey Ford, who posted a 24-7 record and 2.74 ERA. The Chairman of the Board led the AL in wins, games started (37) and innings pitched (269.1), and finished third in the voting for the AL MVP. Youngster Jim Bouton had the best season of his career as a 24-year old, earning a spot on the All-Star team and winning 21 games with a 2.53 ERA.
Offensively, Roger Maris (23 HR, 53 RBI), Mickey Mantle (15 HR, 35 RBI) and Yogi Berra (8 HR, 28 RBI) were all limited to 90 games or fewer. All-Stars Elton Howard (28 HR, 85 RBI), Tom Tresh (25 HR, 71 RBI), Bobby Richardson (3 HR, 48 RBI) and 22-year old Joe Pepitone (27, HR, 89 RBI) picked up the slack in their absence. But the aging and injured Yankees roster fell short of a three-peat in the Series, and it would be 15 years until the Yankees would win that 21st championship.
Next: 2004 New York Yankees
The 2004 Major League Baseball season featured the first Boston Red Sox World Series Championship in 86 years, and it was the New York Yankees that squandered a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series to let it happen.
The Yankees won 101 games during the regular season, which was three games better than Boston in the AL East. After disposing of Minnesota in four games in the NLDS, and winning the first three games of the ALCS 10-7, 3-1 and 19-8, the Yankees were prepared to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the Fall Classic, which would have marked the seventh World Series appearance for the franchise in an nine-year period.
But, the Red Sox won Game 4. And they won again in Game 5 (in a dramatic 14-inning affair). And Curt Schilling and his bloody sock took Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. That set up a winner-take-all Game 7, which Boston won in a rout, 10-3.
Despite the October collapse, the 2004 Yankees were a great team. The lineup featured three players that each hit more than 30 home runs and drove in more than 100 runs (Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield), as well as Yankee legends like Derek Jeter (23 HR, 78 RBI) and Bernie Williams (22 HR, 70 RBI). The starting rotation was shaky (Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez was the most effective starter of the season with an 8-2 record and 3.30 ERA in 15 starts), but Mariano Rivera (1.94, 53 saves) was as important of a late-inning weapon as there was in baseball.
Well, other than the blown save Rivera had in Game 4, which kept the door open for Boston’s historic comeback.
Next: 1955 New York Yankees
The 1950s belonged to the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. From 1950 to 1959, the Yankees won six World Series titles (1950-53, 1956, and 1958) while the Dodgers claimed two (1955, 1959). Naturally, baseball’s best franchises met in the Fall Classic four times in the decade, and the series required the full seven games on three occasions. The 1955 World Series was one of them.
The 1955 New York Yankees finished the regular season 96-58, which gave them a three-game cushion in the American League over the Cleveland Indians. Led by Mickey Mantle – who led the American League with 37 home runs, 11 triples, a .431 OBP, a .611 slugging percentage, and 113 walks as a 23-year old – and Yogi Berra – who won his third and final AL MVP Award with a .272/.349/.470 slash, 27 home runs and 108 RBI, the Yankees had one of the most potent lineups in baseball.
The pitching staff was even better. The Yankees led the American League with a 3.23 staff ERA on the strength of a starting rotation that featured Whitey Ford (18-7, 2.63), Bob Turley (17-13, 3.06), Tommy Byrne (16-5, 3.15) and Don Larsen (9-2, 3.06).
However, the Yankees suffered through the only two-year World Championship drought of the decade when they squandered a 2-0 lead in the World Series, and fell 2-0 in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium – the only game in which the home team lost.
Next: 1998 Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are one of eight Major League Baseball franchises that have never won a World Series, and the franchise didn’t make it to the Fall Classic until 2005. However, the 1998 Astros may have been the best team Houston has ever put together.
With a regular season record of 102-60, the Astros dominated the National League Central, winning by 12.5 games over the Chicago Cubs and finishing 19 games ahead of third place St. Louis. We point out the standings because Houston was overshadowed much of the year due to the historic race to break Roger Maris’ home run record, which featured Mark McGwire of the Cardinals and Cubs’ slugger Sammy Sosa.
Of course, the Houston lineup had plenty of power also. Jeff Bagwell (.304/.424/.557, 34 HR, 111 RBI), Moises Alou (.312/.399/.582, 38 HR, 124 RBI) and Derek Bell (22 HR, 108 RBI) paired with future Hall of Fame second baseman Craig Biggio (.325/.403/.503, 20 HR, 88 RBI, 50 SB) to lead the National League highest-scoring offense (872 runs).
The pitching staff was also solid with Shane Reynolds (19-8, 3.51), Jose Lima (16-8, 3.70), Mike Hampton (11-7, 3.36) and trade deadline pickup Randy Johnson (10-1, 1.28) in the rotation and fireballing left-handed closer Billy Wagner (2.70, 30 saves) in the bullpen.
Alas, the Astros weren’t able to sustain their strong regular season performance in the postseason, and fell to the eventual NL pennant-winning San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.
Next: 1993 Atlanta Braves
After winning the National League pennant in 1991 and 1992 without him, the Atlanta Braves made a major free agent signing prior to the 1993 campaign with plans that it would help them get over the hump and the the first World Series title since the franchise moved to Atlanta: Greg Maddux. Just 27 years old, Maddux was fresh off his first NL Cy Young Award with the Chicago Cubs and entering the prime of his career.
The right-hander wasted no time and picked up his second Cy Young in his first season with his new team after posting a 20-11 record and a 2.36 ERA, which led all of baseball. Maddux was also the most dependable pitcher in baseball in 1993, tossing eight complete games in 36 starts, in which he pitched 267 innings – all of which were the most in baseball.
Of course, the Braves still had Tom Glavine (22-6, 3.20) and John Smoltz (15-11, 3.62) as well as 23-year old lefty Steve Avery (18-6, 2.94) in what was the best starting rotation in baseball. That strong rotation helped Atlanta win 104 games – just enough to win the NL West and earn a spot in the NLCS ahead of 103-win San Francisco.
The Atlanta offense also benefitted from an addition when the team added first baseman Fred McGriff just before the trade deadline. McGriff hit 19 home runs and drove in 55 runs in 68 games with the Braves, adding protection to a lineup that included David Justice (40 HR, 120 RBI) and Ron Gant (36 HR, 117 RBI).
Unfortunately, neither Maddux nor McGriff were the missing link in 1993 and Atlanta fell 4-2 to Philadelphia in the NLCS. The Braves would have to wait two more seasons to claim their first World Championship in Atlanta.
Next: 1904 New York Giants
The oldest team on our list, the 1904 New York Giants were the class of the National League with a record of 106-47 – a full 13 games ahead of the second place Chicago Cubs. So, what makes them No. 32 on the list of the greatest teams to never win the World Series? One year after the decision was made for the champion of the AL to meet the NL champion, the second World Series was postponed because Giants manager John McGraw refused to play the Boston Americans because of a feud with AL President Ban Johnson.
This was obviously a very different time in Major League Baseball – which of course, had yet to be known as Major League Baseball. The Giants foes in the National League included the Brooklyn Superbas, the Boston Beaneaters and the Pittsburg (no H) Pirates.
The group was no competition as the Giants led the league in nearly every offensive category aside from at bats (5,150, which ranked fourth) and triples (65, also fourth). Twelve position players and one pitcher combined to give the Giants an NL-leading 31 home runs, and New York also led the NL with a .262/.328/.344 slash.
New York was nearly just as dominant on the mound, posting an NL best 2.17 ERA, including 21 shutouts, and 707 strikeouts the staff recorded in nearly 1,400 innings also were the best in the National League. A different time, indeed.
Next: 1934 Detroit Tigers
In terms of winning percentage (.656), the 1934 Detroit Tigers were the best team in franchise history – just ahead of the 1915 (.649) and 1909 (.645) teams, which interestingly enough all failed to win the World Series.
The Tigers took advantage of a transition period by the New York Yankees to claim their first American League pennant in 25 years with a regular season record of 101-53 – a full seven games better than second place New York, and also five games ahead of the NL champion St. Louis Cardinals. However, it was the Cardinals that were victorious in Game 7 of the World Series – an anticlimactic 11-0 affair.
Heading into the series, Detroit was confident because of their powerful lineup that led the American League in runs (959), hits (1,643), doubles (349), stolen bases (125), batting average (.300), on-base percentage (.376), and OPS (.800). Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg led the way for the Tigers in an AL MVP season that included a Major League leading 36 home runs and 168 RBI. Greenberg hit .328/.411/.628 and connected on a career-high 203 hits – 46 of them doubles in addition to 16 triples.
Second baseman Charlie Gehringer – another future member of the Hall of Fame – hit .356/.450/.517 with 11 home runs and 127 RBI, while outfielder (and Hall of Famer) Goose Goslin hit .353/.373/.453 with 13 home runs and 100 RBI. Bill Rogell and Marv Owen narrowly missed the century mark in RBI with 99 and 98, respectively.
The Tigers would use the momentum of a successful AL pennant-winning 1934 campaign, and perhaps be motivated by the loss in the World Series, to claim the franchise’s first world title in 1935.
Next: 1919 Chicago White Sox
In one of the darkest periods in Major League Baseball history, the 1919 Chicago White Sox lost the World Series in eight games to the Cincinnati Reds. The five games to three decision itself wasn’t the issue, of course, it was the accusation that the White Sox had taken money from gamblers to throw the Series. The well-known Black Sox Scandal resulted in the banishment of eight White Sox players, including the great “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.
Despite having a worse record than the Reds – the White Sox were 88-52 in the stronger American League compared with Cincinnati’s 96-44 mark in the National League – the White Sox were heavy favorites. With Jackson (.351/.422/.506, 7 HR, 96 RBI), Eddie Collins (.319/.400/.405, 80 RBI), Nemo Leibold (.302/.404/.353) and Happy Felsch (7 HRm 86 RBI) leading the way, the White Sox had the most potent lineup in the AL and led the league with 668 runs scored.
The pitching staff was nearly as dominant. Eddie Cicotte posted a remarkable 29-7 record, which was the best in the American League, and a 1.82 ERA (which ranked .10 behind Pete Alexander for the ERA crown) in 40 appearances, including 35 starts. Lefty Williams (23-11, 2.64) was a great No. 2 during the regular season, although his 0-3 record and 6.63 ERA in the Series was at the center of the scandal that cost he and seven teammates – Felsch, Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Chick Gandil, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg and Buck Weaver – their careers.
Next: 2003 Boston Red Sox
So close, and yet so far. Will the Red Sox ever break the Curse?
In 2003, the Boston Red Sox had their best opportunity since 1986 to finally put an end to the World Championship drought that stretched all the way back to 1918, two years before blossoming superstar Babe Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees. The Yankees wasted little time becoming the most successful franchise in Major League Baseball history and won an incredible 26 World Series titles from 1923 to 2000.
However, after coming in second in the AL East with a record of 95-67 – six games behind the Yankees – following a 3-2 upset over the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS, and taking a 5-2 lead over New York in the top of the eighth inning of Game 7 of the ALCS, the Red Sox were ready to break the Curse and make it back to the World Series.
Boston had three-time Cy Young Award winner and staff ace Pedro Martinez on the mound in the prime of his career. As it turned out, that was a problem. Manager Grady Little kept Martinez in too long, the Yankees scored three runs in the inning, and went on to win the game, and the series, in the 11th inning.
Of course, the drought would soon, finally, come to an end. Thanks to returning stars such as Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, David Ortiz, Jason Varitez, newcomers such as Curt Schilling, and a few valuable role players like Kevin Millar, Mark Bellhorn and Bill Mueller, the Red Sox finally won it all in 2004.
Next: 2002 Oakland Athletics
You’ve got to be a pretty good team for the story of your season – as well as the method used in constructing it – to be the basis of a best-selling book that was later turned into a major motion picture. And, the Moneyball 2002 Oakland Athletics were certainly a very good team. Faced with the incredibly difficult task of replacing stars Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Jason Isringhausen from the ball club that helped Oakland win 102 games (and still came in second in the AL West) in 2001, expectations were modest to say the least for the A’s in 2002.
However, by famously relying on players like Scott Hatteberg, David Justice, Ray Durham, and (at least for a little while) Jeremy Giambi to replace the lost offensive production, and Billy Koch and Chad Bradford in the bullpen, the A’s pulled off a remarkable 103-59 record (fueled by an American League record 20-game winning streak) in the ultra-competitive AL West that featured a 99-win Anaheim Angels club and the 93-win Seattle Mariners.
Of course, one of the things that Moneyball glosses over is the dominant starting pitching the A’s received from Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito (23-5, 2.75), Tim Hudson (15-9, 2.98) and Mark Mulder (19-7, 3.47), which helped Oakland post a league-leading 3.68 team ERA.
The A’s were unquestionably great in 2002, but unfortunately the season didn’t have a storybook ending. In the American League Division Series, the Athletics lost to the Minnesota Twins.
Next: 1929 Chicago Cubs
It had been 11 long years since the franchise had won the National League pennant and 21 even longer years since winning a World Series, but the 1929 Chicago Cubs looked like a team that could end such a misfortunate drought. Spoiler alert: they didn’t.
With a 98-54 record, the Cubs won the National League by an impressive 10.5 games over second place Pittsburgh and fielded a potent lineup that included future Hall of Famers Rogers Hornsby – who posted a .380/.459/.679 slash with 229 hits, 39 home runs, 149 RBI, and 156 runs scored to earn MVP honors- Hack Wilson – who was equally as productive with a .345/.425/.618 slash with 39 homers, 154 RBI and scored 135 runs – and Kiki Cuyler (.360/.438/.532, 15 HR, 102 RBI, 111 R, 102 RBI). Remarkably, the Cubs also got 131 runs from Woody English and 110 RBI from Riggs Stephenson.
However, the Philadelphia Athletics – who won 104 games and strolled to an 18-game victory in the AL standings – were also an explosive offensive ball club, and the Cubs pitching staff failed to adequately keep the A’s off the scoreboard in the World Series. Philadelphia took the first two games of the Series 3-1 and 9-3, respectively, at Wrigley Field before the Cubs struck for a 3-1 victory in Game 3 at Shibe Park. However, the Athletics exploded for a 10-8 win in Game 5 and held on for a 3-2 final score to capture the World Championship.
Next: 1942 New York Yankees
If you look up the word “dynasty” in the dictionary, you’re likely to see team photos of the New York Yankees from 1936 to 1943 – a period of eight years in which the Yankees won the World Series six times. The 1942 New York Yankees, who posted a record of 103-51 and won the American League pennant by nine games, was one of the only teams during that period that came up short of baseball’s ultimate goal.
In his final season until 1946 because of military service, Hall of Fame outfielder Joe DiMaggio posted a solid .305/.376/.498 slash with 21 home runs and 114 RBI in 154 games. Although, Charlie Keller (.292/.417/.513, 26 HR, 108 RBI) and Joe Gordon (.322/.409/.491, 18 HR, 103 RBI, were just as valuable. In fact, it was Gordon that was voted AL MVP by a narrow margin over Boston’s Ted Williams.
In an unusual change of events for the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees were led on the mound by Tiny Bonham (21-5, 2.27), Spud Chandler (16-5, 2.38), Red Ruffing (14-7, 3.21) and Hank Borowy (15-4, 2.52). Overall, the New York pitching staff posted a league-leading 2.91 team ERA.
The Yankees won Game 1 of the 1942 World Series 7-4 over the St. Louis Cardinals, and appeared primed to capture their fifth consecutive World Championship. However, it was the Cardinals that dominated the next four games, including a 4-2 victory in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium to end New York’s dominance in the sport – but only momentarily.
Next: 1982 Milwaukee Brewers
The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers narrowly defeated the Baltimore Orioles by one game in the American League East with a record of 95-67 to make it to the postseason for the second consecutive year. With a 4-3 victory over the California Angels in Game 5 of the ALCS, the Brewers reached the World Series for the first (and to date, the only) time.
When the Brewers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-0 in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, it appeared the young franchise would capture their first World Championship in just 13 seasons (12 in Milwaukee). However, the Cardinals fought back and won the it all after a 6-3 victory in Game 7.
The Brewers posted just a 3.98 team ERA in 1982, but Pete Vuckovich earned Cy Young honors with an 18-6 record and 3.34 ERA in 223 innings across 30 starts (including nine complete games).
Plus, Milwaukee had one of the most explosive lineups ever assembled, and led the American League in runs (891). Hall of Famer Robin Yount won the AL MVP thanks to a performance that included an AL best 210 hits, 46 doubles, .578 slugging percentage and .957 OPS, as well as 29 home runs, 114 RBI, and 129 runs. Paul Molitor, another future Hall of Famer, hit .302/.366/.450, hit 19 homers, and set the table with 201 hits and stole 41 bases. But most of the power belonged to Gorman Thomas (39 HR, 112 RBI), Cecil Cooper (32 HR, 121 RBI), Ben Oglivie (34 HR, 102 RBI) and Ted Simmons (23 HR, 97 RBI).
Next: 1986 Boston Red Sox
It’s impossible to think of the best teams that didn’t win the World Series without thinking of the 1986 Boston Red Sox.
After winning the AL East with a record of 95-66, the Red Sox survived one of the most thrilling American League Championship Series in Major League history. Trailing three games to one after a 4-3, 11-inning loss in Game 4, the Sox beat the Angels 7-6 in 11 innings at Angels Stadium in Game 5 before sweeping the final two games in convincing fashion at Fenway Park.
Then, Boston rolled into Shea Stadium and took the first two games of the World Series from the New York Mets, who had steamrolled through 108 wins in the regular season and beat the Houston Astros in six games in the NLCS. However, the Mets fired back to take Games 3 and 4 in Boston before the Red Sox won Game 5 4-2. Just one win away from the franchise’s first World Series title since 1918, and with a two-run lead in the bottom of the tenth inning, the Red Sox lost Game 6 in stunning fashion thanks ultimately to an untimely error on a dribbler to first baseman Bill Buckner.
Buckner (18 HR, 102 RBI) was one of many offensive stars in ’86 for the Red Sox. Hall of Famers Wade Boggs (.357/.453/.486) and Jim Rice (.324/.380/.490, 20 HR, 110 RBI) did a lot of damage, as did Dwight Evans (26 HR, 97 RBI) and Don Baylor (31 HR, 94 RBI). And, of course, the pitching staff was led by Roger Clemens (24-4, 2.48) who not only won the first of seven Cy Young Awards, he was also named AL MVP.
Next: 1990 Oakland Athletics
Coming off the franchise’s first World Series title in 15 years, the 1990 Oakland Athletics were a star-studded group that many expected to be even better than the ’89 World Champs.
Hall of Fame outfielder and leadoff man Rickey Henderson won the AL MVP Award by hitting .325/.439/.577 with 28 home runs, 61 RBI, 119 runs scored and 65 stolen bases. first baseman Mark McGwire (39 HR, 108) and outfielder Jose Canseco (37 HR, 101 RBI) were at their Bash Brother best, who along with outfielder Dave Henderson (20 HR, 63 RBI), gave the A’s one of the most feared lineups in baseball.
The A’s pitching staff included Cy Young Award winner Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95), who is the last pitcher in Major League Baseball to win more than 25 games in a season. Although, Welch was arguably just the third best pitcher on the staff that season behind Dave Stewart (22-11, 2.56), who pitched 11 complete games, including four shutouts (one a no-hitter) across 36 starts, and Dennis Eckersley (0.61, 48 saves), who posted one of the most impressive seasons ever for a reliever.
With a record of 103-59, Oakland won the AL West by nine games, and swept the Boston Red Sox in four games in the ALCS. The victory sent the Athletics to the Fall Classic for the third consecutive season. But as good as the A’s were in 1990, they couldn’t overcome the Cincinnati Reds, who swept Oakland 4-0 in the World Series. And the A’s have yet to make it back.
Next: 1977 Philadelphia Phillies
One of the oldest franchises in the National League – dating back all the way to 1883 – the Philadelphia Phillies had never won a World Series. The franchise had only been to two World Series in 95 years of professional baseball – in 1915 and 1950. But, the 1977 Philadelphia Phillies had the makings of a team that would put an end to that drought.
Hall of Fame starting pitcher Steve Carlton posted a 23-10 record, giving the Major League lead in wins, and a 2.64 ERA in 283 innings spread across 36 starts. Lefty struck out 198 hitters and earned the second of his four Cy Young Awards.
Fellow future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt posted All-Star numbers that included 38 home runs and 101 RBI, but the offensive star of the season was outfielder Greg Luzinski, who hit .309/.394/.594 with a career-high 39 home runs and 130 RBI to finish as the runner-up in the MVP voting. Philadelphia’s heavy-hitting lineup also features stars Bob Boone, Larry Bowa and Garry Maddox, as well as Tim McCarver and Davey Johnson coming off the bench.
The Phillies won the National League East for the second consecutive season. With a record of 101-61, the Phils were the second best team in baseball, behind only the 102-win Kansas City Royals. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers dashed Philadelphia’s hopes (as well as the hopes of nearly 65,000 fans at Veterans Stadium) of an elusive World Series title with a victory in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Next: 1975 Boston Red Sox
The 1975 Boston Red Sox were casualties of one of the greatest World Series of all-time, as well as one of the greatest dynasties in Major League Baseball history. Following a 95-65 season, which gave the Red Sox the AL East title by a 4.5-game margin over the Baltimore Orioles, Boston swept Oakland 3-0 in the American League Championship Series to make it to the Fall Classic for only the third time since 1918. With hopes of ending a World Championship drought that was nearing 60 seasons, the Red Sox faced one of the greatest teams of all-time: the 108-win Big Red Machine.
However, the Sox struck first with a 6-0 win in Game 1 at Fenway Park. The Reds then took three of the next four games before the series returned to Boston. Rain forced a five-day break between Game 5 and Game 6, which proved to be one of the best World Series games ever, and arguably the greatest finish to a baseball game in history, with Carlton Fisk urging his walk-off home run to stay inside the left field foul pole in the 7-6, 12-innning victory. But, the next day, Cincinnati won 4-3 in Game 7 to capture the Series.
The 1975 Red Sox featured some of the most beloved players in franchise history, including Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, and Luis Tiant (who made three starts in the Series, including Game 6, and won the other two in complete games). It would be 11 years before the Red Sox made it back to the World Series.
Next: 1979 Baltimore Orioles
The 1979 Baltimore Orioles were one of the greatest teams in franchise history, placed in the think of the glory years that included six AL pennants from 1966-1983, with World Series titles in 1966, 1970 and 1983. With a record of 102-57, the O’s dominated a tough NL East that included five teams with winning records, and won the division by an impressive eight games over second place Milwaukee.
In the ALCS, Baltimore disposed of the California Angels by winning three of four games, then won three of the first four games of the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the “We Are Family” Pirates stormed back to win the final three games – including Game 7 in Baltimore, marking the last time a team won Game 7 on the road until 2014.
Like most of manager Earl Weaver’s best Orioles clubs, the ’79 squad featured great pitching. Overall, Baltimore led the American League with a 3.26 ERA and also recorded a combined ten shutouts. Mike Flanagan (23-9, 3.08) led the Major Leagues in wins and with five shutouts to earn the Cy Young Award as the ace of the staff that also included Dennis Martinez (15-16, 3.66), Steve Stone (11-7, 3.77), Scott McGregor (13-6, 3.35) and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer (10-6, 3.30).
Outfielder Ken Singleton led the offense, and finished second in the MVP voting as a result of his .295/.405/.533 slash with 35 home runs, 111 RBI. Eddie Murray (25 HR, 99 RBI) Gary Roenicke (25 HR, 64 RBI), Lee May (19 HR, 69 RBI) and Doug DeCinces (16 HR, 61 RBI) also provided offensive firepower.
Next: 1921 New York Yankees
The New York Yankees weren’t yet the greatest franchise in Major League Baseball in 1921. In fact, the Yankees wouldn’t capture their first World Series Championship for another two years. The 1921 Yankees played their home games at the Polo Grounds, and Wally Pipp had yet to take his infamous day off, but the club had an exciting young outfielder named Babe Ruth, who had set the world on fire with an amazing 54 home runs in his first season with the team in 1920.
Ruth improved upon his own Major League record with 59 home runs in 1921, and also led all of baseball with 158 runs scored, 168 RBI, 457 total bases, a .512 on-base percentage and a .846 slugging percentage. The 26-year old also collected 204 hits, 44 doubles, 16 triples, and posted a .378 batting average. He even posted a 2-0 record in two games on the mound.
Behind Ruth, Pipp (8 HR, 103 RBI), Home Run Baker (9 HR, 74 RBI), and Bob Meusel (24 HR, 138 RBI), the explosive Yankees offense led the American League in runs (948), home runs (134), slugging (.464), OPS (.838) and total bases (2,436)
However, all that firepower couldn’t overcome the New York Giants in the World Series. Despite taking a 2-0 lead, the Yankees were defeated 5-3 in the eight-game series. However, the stage was set for the Yankees to embark on one of the must successful stretches in professional sports history. In 1923, New York won the first of 20 World Championships over a 39-year period.
Next: 1965 Minnesota Twins
Just five years after the franchise formerly known as the Washington Senators moved to the Twin Cities, the 1965 Minnesota Twins won more than 100 games for the first (and to date, only) time in club history, and earned a spot in the World Series for the first time since 1933. With a record of 102-60, the Twins won the American League pennant by an impressive seven games over the Chicago White Sox.
Though he was limited to just 113 games, slugger Harmon Killebrew still led the Twins with 25 home runs and also collected 75 RBI while hitting .269/.384/.501. Outfielder Tony Oliva picked up the slack by posing a .321/.378/.491 slash, which earned him the AL batting title, with 16 home runs and a team-high 98 RBI, while Bob Allison (23 HR, 78 RBI), Don Mincher (22 HR, 65 RBI) and Jimmie Hall (20 HR, 86 RBI) all pitched in with more than 20 homers and 65 RBI.
Mudcat Grant (21-7, 3.30 ERA) and Jim Kaat (18-11, 2.83) were the workhorses of the pitching staff. Grant started 39 games in 41 appearances, threw 14 complete games, including six shutouts, and worked a total of 270.1 innings. Kaat started 42 games, pitched seven complete games and two shutouts and even earned two saves in three relief appearances. He worked a total of 264.1 innings.
In the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Grant and Kaat earned victories in Game 1 and Game 2, respectively, but the Dodgers stormed back to win three in a row to send the series back to Minnesota. Grant won again in Game 6, but Sandy Koufax outdueled Kaat in a 2-0 Dodgers victory in Game 7.
Next: 1935 Chicago Cubs
The 1935 Chicago Cubs were one of the best teams in franchise history. The Cubs finished 100-54, thanks in large part to a 21-game September winning streak that tied the Major League record. It was first time the team had reached the century mark in wins in a quarter century – something they haven’t done since. Chicago captured the National League pennant with a four-game edge over the St. Louis Cardinals to earn a spot in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. But, in a hard-fought series that included three one-run games, the Cubs fell to Detroit in six games.
Offensively, Chicago was led by Hall of Famers Chuck Klein, who hit .293/.355/.488 with 21 home runs and 73 RBI, Billy Herman who led all of baseball with 227 hits and 57 doubles while posting a .341/.383/.476 slash, and Gabby Hartnett, who was named MVP with a .344/.404/.545, 13 home runs and 91 RBI. The Cubs also got great production from Augie Galan, who hit .314/.399/.467 and led the Majors with 133 runs scored and paced the National League with 22 stolen bases, and Phil Cavarretta, who drove in 82 runs in 146 games despite being just 18 years old.
The pitching staff included 20-game winners Lon Warneke and Bill Lee, and Larry French, who posted a 17-10 record and a 2.96 ERA. As a staff, the Chicago hurlers led the National League with a 3.26 ERA.
Next: 2001 New York Yankees
After not winning a World Series from 1978-1995, the New York Yankees returned to the promised land in 1996 and then won four of the next five World Championships, including three in a row from 1998-2000. After winning the AL East by an impressive 13.5 games over the hated Boston Red Sox, beating the 102-win Wild Card Oakland A’s in the ALDS, and then knocking off the 116-win Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series, the New York Yankees took aim at a dynastic fourth consecutive World Series title, and the fourth in five seasons – made even sweeter by the emotions flowing following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center.
Unfortunately for Yankees fans, New York couldn’t hold a 3-2 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. After losing 15-2 in Game 6, the Yankees had a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7. With the great Mariano Rivera (2.34 ERA, 50 saves) on the mound, the Diamondbacks orchestrated a dramatic rally to walk off as World Champions.
The 2001 Yankees, like the great teams that preceded them, featured many New York legends such as Derek Jeter (.311/.477/.480, 21 HR, 73 RBI), Bernie Williams (26 HR, 94 RBI), Paul O’Neill (21 HR, 70 RBI), Jorge Posada (22 HR, 95 RBI) and Andy Pettite (15-11, 3.99). The Yankees got a career year from Tino Martinez (34 HR, 113 RBI) and Roger Clemens (20-3, 3.51) won his sixth Cy Young Award.
Next: 1996 Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves, who lost in the World Series in 1991 and 1992, finally broke through and captured the franchise’s first World Championship since moving to Atlanta in 1995. With the legendary Hall of Fame trio of John Smoltz (who won the Cy Young Award with a record of 24-8 and a 2.94 ERA and 276 strikeouts in 253 innings), Greg Maddux (15-11, 2.72), Tom Glavine (15-10, 2.98), there were many that thought the Braves could be even better in 1996.
As good as the pitching staff was for Atlanta, the Braves had one of the most potent lineups in franchise history with Chipper Jones (.309/.393/.530, 30 HR, 110 RBI), Fred McGriff (28 HR, 107 RBI), Ryan Klesko (34 HR, 93 RBI), Javy Lopez (23 HR, 69 RBI) and Marquis Grissom (23 HR, 74 RBI, 28 SB).
With a record of 96-66, the Braves won the NL East for the fifth consecutive time, beating the Montreal Expos by eight games in the standings. The Braves swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in three games in the National League Division Series, then outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in the NLCS to earn a spot in the World Series against the New York Yankees.
In the Series itself, Atlanta jumped out to a 2-0 lead with with surprising victories in New York, including a 12-1 thumping in Game 1. However, the Yankees fought back to win the next four games and win their first World Championship in 18 years.
Next: 2005 St. Louis Cardinals
One year after losing in the World Series to the Boston Red Sox, the 2005 St. Louis Cardinals won 100 games, which gave them an 11-game cushion in the National League Central over the second place Houston Astros. However, after sweeping San Diego in three games in the Division Series, the Cardinals watched the Astros celebrate the NL pennant at Busch Stadium after beating St. Louis 5-1 in Game 6 of the NLCS.
The Cardinals were led by Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter, who went 21-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 33 starts, including a Major League-leading seven complete games, four of which were shutouts. The 30-year old right-hander struck out 213 hitters in 241.2 innings. Newcomer Mark Mulder, whom the team acquired in the off-season from the Oakland A’s, was 16-8 with a 3.64 ERA, and All-Star closer Jason Isringhausen posted a 2.14 ERA with 39 saves.
Albert Pujols won his first MVP Award, posting a .330/.430/.609 slash with 41 home runs and 117 RBI. He also scored 129 runs, marking the third consecutive season in which he led the NL in that category. The club’s other offensive stars included veteran outfielders Jim Edmonds (29 HR, 89 RBI), Reggie Sanders (21 HR, 54 RBI), and Larry Walker (15 HR, 52 RBI), as well as spark plug infielder David Eckstein and 22-year old catcher Yadier Molina.
However, as well-balanced as the St. Louis roster was, and as much individual success as the Cardinals’ players had in 2005, a loss to the Astros in the NLCS meant they wouldn’t have a chance for revenge in the Fall Classic.
Next: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies
Interestingly enough, the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies are one of the 50 best MLB teams to fall short of a Wolrd Series title, and after the Phils lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, they might have knocked the 2010 Phillies off the list. That team went 97-65, but was beaten by the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.
The 2011 squad was an even more impressive 102-60 and beat the Braves by 13 games in the NL East standings. Philadelphia clinched the franchise’s fifth consecutive division title for the franchise on September 14 – with more than two weeks left to play.
With Cy Young runner-up Roy Halladay (19-6, 2.35), Cliff Lee (17-8, 2.40), Cole Hamels (14-9, 2.79), Roy Oswalt (9-10, 3.69) and surprising youngster Vance Worley (11-3, 3.01), the Phillies had one of the best starting rotations of our generation. They also had a lights-out closer in Ryan Madson (2.37 ERA, 32 saves).
Offensively, Ryan Howard hit 33 home runs and 116 RBI to lead the club, though there wasn’t an easy out in a lineup that included Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Placid Polanco, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, and Hunter Pence. Had Philadelphia not run into the buzzsaw Cardinals in the division series – who overcame a huge deficit just to make the playoffs and rolled to the World Series title – the 2011 Phillies might have gone down in history as one of the best teams of the 21st Century.
Next: 1988 New York Mets
Two years after posting one of the best seasons ever and winning the World Series, the 1988 New York Mets raced to a 100-60 record and won their second NL Eastern Division title in three seasons by a huge margin of 15 games.
With a pitching staff that posted an incredible 2.91 ERA over the course of the season, led by a young starting rotation of Dwight Gooden (18-9, 3.19), Ron Darling (17-9, 3.25), David Cone (20-3, 2.22), Bob Ojeda (10-13, 2.88) and Sid Fernandez (12-10, 3.03) – not to mention relievers Randy Myers (1.72 ERA, 26 saves) and Roger McDowell (2.63 ERA, 16 saves) – the Mets were nearly unhittable.
Of course, the New York lineup had plenty of pop. Darryl Strawberry led the NL with 39 home runs, a .545 slugging percentage and a .911 OPS, and finished second in the MVP voting. Strawberry drove in 101 runs and scored 101, and even stole 29 bases. Kevin McReynolds (27 HR, 99 RBI) and Howard Johnson (24, 68 RBI) gave the Mets a deep and powerful combination to provide protection for stars Strawberry, Gary Carter (11 HR, 46 RBI) and Keith Hernandez (11 HR, 55 RBI in only 95 games).
But, in one of the most highly anticipated playoff series of all-time, the Mets fell to Orel Hershiser and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the NLCS. The Dodgers would go on to beat the heavily favored Oakland A’s in the World Series.
Next: 1946 Boston Red Sox
For the first time in more than a quarter of a century, the 1946 Boston Red Sox won the American League pennant and made it to the World Series. Unfortunately for Boston, the Sox would come up short in what would prove to be the first of many disappointing postseason failures.
After waiting through a three-game playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers, and then leading three games to two before the World Series shifted to St. Louis, the Red Sox lost to the Cardinals 4-1 and 4-3 in Game 6 and Game 7, respectively, at Sportsman’s Park. Just one win away from the franchise’s first World Championship since 1918, it would be another 21 years before the Red Sox had a chance to play for a World Championship, and another 58 years before they would win one.
The 1946 season was a great one for Ted Williams, who won the first of his two AL MVP Awards with a .342/.497/.667 slash (he led the Majors in OBP and slugging) with 38 home runs, 123 RBI and a Major League-leading 142 runs scored. The 27-year old Williams hadn’t missed a beat despite not playing since 1942 because of his military service in World War II.
Other than Williams, the Red Sox were led offensively by Johnny Pesky (.335/.401/.427), Dom DiMaggio (.316/.393/.427), Bobby Doerr (18 HR, 116 RBI) and Rudy York (17 HR, 119 RBI). Tex Hughson (20-11, 2.75) and Dave Ferriss (25-6, 3.25) led a pitching staff that won a total of 104 games – good for a 12-game cushion in the AL standings over the Detroit Tigers.
Next: 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers
In one of the greatest overall seasons in Major League Baseball history, the 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers came up just short of a spot in the World Series.
The season was historic for several Dodgers, including Don Drysdale, who won his only Cy Young Award with a 25-9 record and 2.83 ERA in a Major League leading 314.1 innings and 41 starts. The legendary Sandy Koufax was 14-7 with a 2.54 ERA. Offensively, 23-year old Tommy Davis won the NL Batting title with a .346 batting average and also led the Majors with 230 hits and 153 RBI. Frank Howard hit 31 home runs and drove in 119 runs, and Maury Wills recorded an eye-popping 104 bases and won the NL MVP.
After 162 games, the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants were tied atop the National League standings with identical 101-61 records. In the days before division play and the NLCS, the Giants and Dodgers squared off in a winner-take-all three-game playoff for the NL pennant.
The first game of the series was held at Candlestick Park, and the Giants won easily, 8-0. Los Angeles hosted Game 2 at brand-new Dodger Stadium, which was in its first year of existence. The Dodgers won 8-7 to force Game 3 at home the next day. Leading 4-2 heading into the ninth inning, the Dodgers allowed four runs in the top of the frame, and the Giants won the right to face the New York Yankees in the World Series.
However, the team that won the 1962 NL pennant is also one of the best to fall short of a World Series title.
Next: 1962 San Francisco Giants
After the 1962 San Francisco Giants defeated the Dodgers in the three-game playoff series, they faced the New York Yankees in one of the greatest World Series of all-time, but fell in seven games.
Led by the great Willie Mays, who won his first NL MVP award that season as a 23-year old, the Giants featured a potent lineup. Mays hit .304/.384/.615 with 49 home runs, 141 RBI, and 130 runs scored. First baseman Orlando Cepeda and outfielder Willie McCovey – both 24 years old and like Mays in the early stages of Hall of Fame careers – had 35 and 20 home runs and 114 and 54 RBI, respectively. McCovey hadn’t even cracked the everyday lineup yet because Harvey Kuenn (.304/.365/.433, 10 HR, 68 RBI) and Felipe Alou (.316/.356/.513,25 HR, 98 RBI) were blocking the corner spots in the outfield.
The pitching staff included eventual Hall of Famers Juan Marichal (18-11, 3.36) and Gaylord Perry (5.23 as a 23-year old reliever), as well as World Series hero Don Larsen. However, the ace of the staff in 1962 was Jack Sanford, who compiled a 24-7 record and a 3.43 ERA, which allowed him to finish second in the Cy Young voting behind Don Drysdale. Billy O’Dell had his best season as a starter, and went 19-14 with a 3.53 ERA.
After nearly knocking off the mighty Yankees, the Giants wouldn’t return to the Fall Classic for 27 years. They wouldn’t claim a World Championship for the city of San Francisco until 2010.
Next: 1970 Cincinnati Reds
The 1970 Cincinnati Reds won the NL West in a route, beating the second place Los Angeles Dodgers by 14.5 games in the standings. After the regular season, the Reds disposed of the Pittsburgh Pirates in three games in the NLCS – and held the Bucs to a total of three runs in three games while the Reds never scored more than three in a game themselves.
However, the Reds couldn’t keep that momentum through the World Series, and fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games. It didn’t help that Baltimore had one of the best teams ever assembled, but in three of the Reds’ losses to the Orioles, Cincinnati squandered leads of 3-0, 4-0, and 3-0 in Game 1, Game 2 and Game 5, respectively.
The potent Cincinnati lineup featured several important of what would become the Big Red Machine, including 22-year old MVP and future Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench (.293/.345/.587, 45 HR, 148 RBI), Tony Perez (.317/.401/.589, 40 HR, 129 RBI) and Pete Rose (.316/.385/.470, 15 HR, 52 RBI). First baseman Lee May (34 HR, 94 RBI) and outfielder Bernie Carbo (.310/.454/.551, 21 HR, 63 RBI) had career years as well.
The Reds pitching staff was also solid, led by 22-year old Gary Nolan (18-7, 3.27), Jim Merritt (20-12, 4.08), and Wayne Simpson (14-3, 3.02) and closer Wayne Granger (2.66 ERA, 35 saves). Unfortunately, the young starters weren’t quite ready to face a strong Baltimore lineup in the Series, and came up short of a World Championship.
Next: 1994 Montreal Expos
How different would Major League Baseball history be had the 1994 player’s strike not ended the season on August 12 – resulting in the loss of nearly 50 games per team, and canceling the World Series? Would the Montreal Expos have made it to the Fall Classic? Would they have won, and possibly saved the franchise from an eventual move to Washington?
We’ll obviously never know, but it’s safe to say that the 1994 Expos are one of the best teams in Major League history that didn’t win a World Series – and unfortunately, they never had a chance.
When the season ended, Montreal had a 74-40 record, and held a six-game lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves. The Expos had one of baseball’s best starting rotations, which included newcomer and eventual Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (11-5, 3.42 ERA) and staff ace Ken Hill (16-5, 3.32). Lefties Jeff Fassaro and Butch Henry each posted ERAs under 3.00, as did closer John Wetteland, who saved 25 games.
Offensively, the Montreal lineup featured stars like outfielders Moises Alou (.339/.397/.592, 22 HR, 78 RBI), Marquis Grissom (.288/.344/.427, 11 HR, 96 R,) and Larry Walker (.322/.394/.587, 19 HR, 86 RBI), as well as up-and-comers like Cliff Floyd and Will Cordero.
The next season, Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies and the Expos traded Hill and Grissom. The Expos dropped to 66-78, last place in the NL East.
Next: 1995 Cleveland Indians
The 1995 Cleveland Indians were the first team in franchise history to make it to the World Series since the 1954 squad (which we’ll talk about in greater depth a little later). The Tribe, who won 100 games in a 144-game seasons (shortened by the 1994 strike), became the first Major League team to ever reach the century mark in victories in a season that had less than 154 games.
With a star-studded roster that featured six All-Stars, including three All-Star starters in outfielders Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton and second baseman Carlos Baerga, as well as veteran Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield, the odds were great that Cleveland would win their first World Championship since 1948. Of course, they happened to run into the best of the Atlanta Braves teams of the era, who captured the World Series title in six games.
Belle was the runner-up for the American League MVP Award in his most impressive season. The 28-year old slugger led the big leagues with 50 home runs and 52 doubles to become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in a season. Belle hit .317/.401/.690 and led the AL with 121 runs, 126 RBI and 377 total bases.
Other stars included Manny Ramirez (31 HR, 107 RBI), Jim Thome (25 HR, 73 RBI), Paul Sorrento (25 HR, 79 RBI), Murray (21 HR, 82 RBI) and Omar Vizquel, in addition to starters Dennis Martinez (12-5, 3.08 ERA), Charles Nagy (16-6, 4.55), Orel Hershiser (16-6, 3.87) and closer Jose Mesa (1.13 ERA, 46 saves)
Next: 1954 Cleveland Indians
It’s rare when a 100-win ball club is left out of the postseason, and it’s even rarer for one to finish in second place in their division by eight games. Yet, because the 1954 Celveland Indians posted a 111-43 record, the New York Yankees, who were 103-51, were left out of the postseason completely.
However, another New York club – the Giants – put Cleveland away quickly and quietly with a four-game sweep in the World Series.
Despite the anticlimactic end to the year, the ’54 Indians were one of the most impressive regular season teams in big league history. Centerfielder Larry Doby, who was the AL MVP runner-up to Yogi Berra, hit .272/.364/.484 with a league-leading 32 home runs and 126 RBI. Third baseman Al Rosen posted a remarkable .300/.404/.506 slash, hit 24 homers and drove in 102 runs.
But the most impressive aspect of the club was the pitching staff that featured three Hall of Famers: Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, and Bob Feller. Wynn and Lemon were dual aces, and each collected 23 wins and posted near identical ERAs (2.73 of Wynn, 2.72 for Lemon). Feller was 13-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 19 starts as a 35-year old, and the Indians got a terrific season was Mike Garcia, who was 19-8 with a 2.64 ERA.
Six years after the last World Series title, it appeared that Cleveland wouldn’t have to wait too long to break that drought. Of course, it would be more than 40 years until they made it back to the Fall Classic, and they still haven’t ended the World Championship drought.
Next: 1906 Chicago Cubs
The 1906 Chicago Cubs won 116 games, which set a Major League Baseball record for wins in a season that has never been broken (only tied by the 2001 Seattle Mariners). The Cubs’ .763 winning percentage in the regular season is one record that is likely to never be broken, because a modern big league club would need to go 123-39 to do it.
Chicago dominated the National League, beating the second place New York Giants by 20 games in the standings. The Cubs roster featured three eventual Hall of Famers, infielders Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers (one of the most famous double play combinations in the game, along with first baseman Frank Chance), as well as pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.
Brown led an absolutely masterful pitching staff that recorded a team ERA of 1.75 for the season. The right-hander posted a 26-6 record with a 1.04 ERA in 277.1 innings across 36 games, including 32 starts (27 complete games). He tossed nine shutouts and struck out 144 hitters. Jack Pfiester, Ed Reulbach, Jack Taylor and Orvall Overall all posted ERAs below 2.00 in at least 14 starts, and Carl Lundgren had a 2.21 ERA in 24 starts.
In an obviously very different era, the offensive star of the club was third baseman Harry Steinfeldt, who led the club with a .327 average and 83 RBI. Frank Schulte had a team-high seven home runs, and Frank Chance added 71 RBI.
The 1906 season was the year that Chicago ruled the baseball world, and the Cubs lost to the Chicago White Sox in the World Series four games to two. The Cubs did win their first World Series in 1907, and repeated in 1908, but haven’t won since.
Next: 1931 Philadelphia Athletics
The New York Yankees ruled the baseball world following the decade of the 1920s, but the Philadelphia Athletics proved to be a worthy opponent as the page turned towards the ’30s. The 1931 Philadelphia Athletics were actually the third straight AL pennant-winner for manager Connie Mack, who had led the franchise to four consecutive seasons of 98 wins or more.
Mack’s potent lineup featured three Hall of Famers in the prime of their careers: first baseman Jimmie Foxx, outfielder Al Simmons, and catcher Mickey Cochrane. Foxx was the team leader with 30 home runs in 1931 and also drove in 120 runs while hitting .291/.380/.567 in 139 games. However, it was Al Simmons that had the best overall season. Simmons won the AL batting title with a .390 batting average, posted a .444 OBP and slugged .641. He collected 200 hits, hit 22 homers and drove in 128 runs. Cochrane hit .349/.423/.553 with 17 long balls and 89 RBI.
That Hall of Fame trio also had a strong supporting cast. Second baseman Max Bishop set the table with a league leading 128 walks, which helped him post a .426 OBP and score 115 runs.
Mack’s pitching staff was also solid. Hall of Famers Lefty Grove (31-4, 2.06) and Waite Hoyt (10-5, 4.22) were joined by Rube Walberg (20-12, 3.74) and George Earnshaw (21-7, 3.67) in one of the stronger rotations in history. Grove actually won the AL MVP by winning 31 games in 41 appearances, including 30 starts – of which he completed 27. Grove’s 175 strikeouts led the AL, giving him seven league strikeout crowns in a row.
But, as good as they were in the regular season, the ’31 A’s couldn’t beat the St. Louis Cardinals. In a back-and-fourth World Series, the Cardinals won Game 7 4-2 at Sportsman’s Park.
Next: 1969 Baltimore Orioles
The 1969 Baltimore Orioles were one of the most dominant regular season teams in Major League Baseball history. After finishing the 162-game schedule with a record of 109-53, the O’s won the AL East by 19 games over the Detroit Tigers.
The Orioles lineup was led a pair of Hall of Famers: outfielder Frank Robinson, who hit .308/.415/.540 with 32 home runs and 100 RBI, and third baseman Brooks Robinson, known far and wide as one of the greatest fielders ever, who contributed 23 home runs and drove in 84 runs. Star first baseman Boog Powell actually led the team offensively with 37 homers and 121 RBI while hitting .304/.383/.559.
The starting rotation featured two 20-game winners in Mike Cuellar (23-11, 2.38) and Dave McNally (20-7, 3.22) and a 23-year old hot shot named Jim Palmer (16-4, 2.34), who would go on to a Hall of Fame career himself.
Baltimore swept the Minnesota Twins in three games in the American League Championship Series, and appeared destined to roll to the World Series title. Of course, the Orioles were stopped dead in their tracks in the Fall Classic by the Miracle Mets, four games to one.
Had Baltimore won in 1969, they would have gone down in history as arguably the greatest team in big league history – but instead, they settle for a spot on our list of the best MLB teams that didn’t win the World Series. However, the Orioles did make it back to Series in 1970, and won their second World Championship in the period of four years.
Next: 2001 Seattle Mariners
Do you want to know how good the 2001 Seattle Mariners were? With a record of 116-46, which tied the Major League record for wins in a season, the Mariners beat a 102-win Oakland Athletics team by 14 games in the American League West. And the A’s were the second best team in baseball by a full seven games over the AL East champion New York Yankees.
Of course, Seattle lost to those very Yankees in the American League Championship Series, four games to one. It cost the Mariners the first trip to the World Series in franchise history, and remains the closest that the club has ever come to the Fall Classic. To date, only Seattle and the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos have never appeared in the World Series, and the Mariners are one of eight big league clubs that have never won it all.
In 2001, the Seattle Mariners had a much different identity than they had in previous years. After the superstar trio of Ken Griffey, Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Randy Johnson all left town, the Mariners didn’t seem to have much in terms of star power on their roster. However, that changed quickly when the team signed Ichiro Suzuki out of Japan. Ichiro exploded onto the scene with an MVP season as a rookie in 2001. The 27-year old outfielder led Major League Baseball with 242 hits and 56 stolen bases, and won the AL batting title with a .350 average.
But one player doesn’t win 116 games. The Mariners got career performances from Bret Boone (.331/.372/.578, 37 HR, 141 RBI) and Mike Cameron (25 HR, 110 RBI), as well as a strong season from DH Edgar Martinez (.306/.423/.543, 23 HR, 116 RBI).
Unfortunately for Mariners fans, Seattle’s historic season came to an end because the team’s explosive lineup was neutralized by a New York pitching staff that held the M’s to a total of eight runs in four losses in the ALCS.
Next: The MLB All-Time 25-Man Roster
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