Fansided

Each MLB team’s best season ever

By Joshua Sadlock

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 29: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates with George Springer #4 after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 29: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates with George Springer #4 after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1970’s: Manager Earl Weaver #4 (L) of the Baltimore Orioles arguing with the home plate umpire during a MLB baseball game circa 1970’s at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Weaver Managed the Orioles from 1968-82 and 1985-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1970’s: Manager Earl Weaver #4 (L) of the Baltimore Orioles arguing with the home plate umpire during a MLB baseball game circa 1970’s at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Weaver Managed the Orioles from 1968-82 and 1985-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Orioles: 1970

The Baltimore Orioles teams that dominated the late 1960s to the early 1980s have left us with plenty of options to pick from for this list. From 1964 to 1983, the Orioles averaged 95 wins, won over 100 games five times, claimed six American League pennants and won three World Series titles. Who knows how many more championships the Orioles would have won with a modern playoff format. During that 20-year run of dominance, they missed the playoffs in years where they won 100, 97 (twice) and 94 (twice) games.

One season stands out from the Earl Weaver days in Baltimore, and that is 1970. One year prior, the heavily-favored Orioles were stunned by the upstart New York Mets 4-1 in the World Series after winning 109 games. The O’s returned in 1970 to win 108 games and blew out the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 to win it all.

Those 1970 Orioles were an utterly dominant bunch. They scored the most runs in the American League while allowing the fewest. All told, the Orioles outscored their opponents by 218 runs. Their lineup and rotation were both a “who’s who” of 1970s superstars. Paced by Hall of Famers Brooks and Frank Robinson, the Orioles had no easy outs. Slugging first baseman and franchise icon Boog Powell led the team with 35 home runs and 114 RBI. In center field, young Paul Blair was making a name for himself and hit 18 home runs with 24 stolen bases.

The top of the Orioles rotation boasted three 20-game winners in Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally. The trio combined to post a 68-27 record and completed 54 of their 119 starts. Weaver didn’t have to do much but write out his lineup and send his aces out to the mound to win most nights. Brooks Robinson was the MVP of the World Series, putting on a defensive show that is still plastered all over Fall Classic highlights to this day.

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