50 best MLB teams that didn’t win the World Series
Lost in the World Series. 1931 Philadelphia Athletics. 3. player. 96. . 107-45
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