Fansided

Ranking every World Series winners in history

By Staff

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton is presented with a New York Yankees team jersey by player Orlando Hernandez (R) 10 June, 1999, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington DC. Clinton honored the New York Yankees as the 1998 World Series champions. AFP PHOTO Joyce NALTCHAYAN (Photo credit should read JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton is presented with a New York Yankees team jersey by player Orlando Hernandez (R) 10 June, 1999, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington DC. Clinton honored the New York Yankees as the 1998 World Series champions. AFP PHOTO Joyce NALTCHAYAN (Photo credit should read JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP/Getty Images) /

2. 1998 New York Yankees

114-48, AL East Champions, Won World Series 4-0 Over San Diego

Few teams in the modern era of Major League Baseball can compare to the 1998 New York Yankees, who posted an incredible 114-48 regular season record and won the American League East by a whopping 22 games before coasting to the 24th World Championship in franchise history. The 114 wins set an American League record that stood for three years, and is still the most regular season victories ever for a World Series-winning team.

Furthermore, when taking into account a 3-0 sweep of the Texas Rangers in the ALDS, a 4-2 series victory over the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS, and a dominant four-game sweep of the San Diego Padres in the Fall Classic, the Yankees finished the 1998 season with a final record of 125-50, which is the most wins ever for a Major League Baseball team in a single season.

With a lineup built with young Yankee legends Derek Jeter (.324/.384/.481, 19 HR, 84 RBI, 127 R, 30 SB), Jorge Posada (.268/.350/.475, 17 HR, 63 RBI) and Bernie Williams (.339/.372/.510, 24 HR, 116 RBI), veteran stars Tino Martinez (28 HR, 123 RBI), Paul O’Neill (.317/.372.,510, 24 HR, 116 RBI) and Darryl Strawberry (24 HR, 57 RBI) and role players like World Series MVP Scott Brosius (.300/.371/.472), New York led the Majors in runs (965) and on-base percentage (.364), ranked second in the AL in batting average (.288) and hits (1,625), and fourth in home runs (207).

A similarly comprised pitching staff featuring Andy Pettitte (16-11, 4.24), David Wells (18-4, 3.49), David Cone (20-7, 3.55) and Mariano Rivera (1.91, 36 saves), led the American League in ERA (3.82), complete games (22), shutouts (8), and allowed the fewest runs (656) and home runs (156) in the league.

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