50 best MLB teams that didn’t win the World Series
100-54. 2nd Place, American League. 1915 Detroit Tigers. 48. player. 63.
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.
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