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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CINCINNATI – OCTOBER 2: Members of the Cincinnati Reds pose for a team portrait prior to game one of the World Series on October 2, 1940 against the Detroit Tigers at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. Those pictured include (L to R) (first row) Lew Riggs, Ival Goodman, Gene Thompson, Mo Arnovich, coach Hank Gowdy, manager Bill Mckechnie, coach Jimmie Wilson, Billy Werber, Billy Myers, Elmer Riddle, trainer Dr. Richard Rhode; (second row) Traveling secretary Gabe Paul, Lloyd Moore, Eddie Joost, Ernie Lombardi, Bucky Walters, Frank McCormick, Paul Derringer, Johnny Hutchings, Bill Baker, general manager Warren Giles; (third row) Jim Turner, Jimmy Ripple, Johnny Vander Meer, Mike McCormick, Milt Shofner, Witt Guise, Harry Craft, Lonnie Frey, Joe Beggs. (Photo by Diamond Images/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI – OCTOBER 2: Members of the Cincinnati Reds pose for a team portrait prior to game one of the World Series on October 2, 1940 against the Detroit Tigers at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. Those pictured include (L to R) (first row) Lew Riggs, Ival Goodman, Gene Thompson, Mo Arnovich, coach Hank Gowdy, manager Bill Mckechnie, coach Jimmie Wilson, Billy Werber, Billy Myers, Elmer Riddle, trainer Dr. Richard Rhode; (second row) Traveling secretary Gabe Paul, Lloyd Moore, Eddie Joost, Ernie Lombardi, Bucky Walters, Frank McCormick, Paul Derringer, Johnny Hutchings, Bill Baker, general manager Warren Giles; (third row) Jim Turner, Jimmy Ripple, Johnny Vander Meer, Mike McCormick, Milt Shofner, Witt Guise, Harry Craft, Lonnie Frey, Joe Beggs. (Photo by Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

39. 1940 Cincinnati Reds

100-53, NL Champions, Won World Series 4-3 Over Detroit

Few teams have dominated the regular season like the 1940 Cincinnati Reds, whose 100-53 record was a full 12 games better than the second place Brooklyn Dodgers. The Reds won the NL pennant for the second year in a row and the third time in franchise history, then won the franchise’s second World Championship in seven games against the Detroit Tigers.

Two 20-game winners, Bucky Walters (22-10, 2.48) and Paul Derringer (20-12, 3.06) led the Cincinnati pitching staff, which posted the lowest ERA in the National League. The pair tossed 29 and 26 complete games, respectively, and the staff as a whole threw an eye-popping 91 complete games. Walters, Derringer and Gene Thompson (16-9, 3.32) all recorded three shutouts for a unit that allowed the fewest hits (1,263) and runs (528) in the league.

Offensively, NL MVP Frank McCormick hit .309/.367/.482 with 19 home runs and 127 RBI. Billy Werber (.277/.361/.416) and Lonny Frey (.266/.361/.371) each scored more than 100 runs, and Hall of Fame catcher Ernie Lombardi (.319/.382/.489) ranked second on the team with 14 home runs and 74 RBI.

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