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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American professional baseball player Frank Howard of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a homerun as spectators look on during the fourth game and final game of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, October 6, 1963. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
American professional baseball player Frank Howard of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a homerun as spectators look on during the fourth game and final game of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, October 6, 1963. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

24. 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers

99-63, NL Champions, Won World Series 4-0 Over New York

Arguably the best team in franchise history, the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 99-63 record in the regular season to win the National League pennant by six games over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Much of the credit for such a strong regular season performance goes to Sandy Koufax, who won both the NL Cy Young and MVP Awards after posting a 25-5 record and a 1.88 ERA with a Major League-leading 306 strikeouts and 11 shutouts in 311.0 innings across 40 starts (including 20 complete games). Koufax was just as unhittable in the postseason and earned World Series MVP honors with a 2-0 record and 1.50 ERA in two complete-game victories over the New York Yankees in a 4-0 sweep.

Don Drysdale (19-17, 2.63), Johnny Podres (14-12, 3.54) and reliever Ron Perranoski (16-3, 1.67, 21 saves) also played key roles for the Dodgers, who allowed the fewest runs in the league (550) and posted the lowest team ERA (2.85).

The Dodgers needed such a strong pitching staff to overcome a rather mediocre offense that ranked sixth in the NL in runs scored (640) and seventh in home runs (110), but thanks in large part to Maury Wills (.302/.355/.349, 40 SB) put pressure on opponents on the base paths, and led the NL with 124 stolen bases.

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