Fansided

The top 10 greatest short-lived duos in MLB history

By Steve Zavala

World Series co-MVPs Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson (L) and Curt Schilling hold their MVP trophy during post-game ceremonies after the Diamondbacks' win of Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix 04 November 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three to become the world champions. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
World Series co-MVPs Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson (L) and Curt Schilling hold their MVP trophy during post-game ceremonies after the Diamondbacks' win of Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix 04 November 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three to become the world champions. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA – 1928. Ty Cobb, outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics, poses for a portrait in Shibe Park before a game in 1928. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – 1928. Ty Cobb, outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics, poses for a portrait in Shibe Park before a game in 1928. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

Short-lived MLB duo No. 6: Ty Cobb and Al Simmons — 1927–1928 Philadelphia Athletics

When looking at the best teams to never win a World Series, Connie Mack’s 1927 and 1928 Philadelphia Athletics are certainly among the ones at the top of the discussion.

The 1927 Philadelphia Athletics were projected to be a team on the rise, but the Yankees were deemed to be the favorites with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig leading the way. In an attempt to push the team over the hump, the A’s signed future Hall of Famers Eddie Collins and Zack Wheat before the season. They later added arguably the greatest pure hitter ever in Ty Cobb following his league reinstatement after being controversially cleared of allegations with fixing games. The trio of additions had the team featuring seven future Hall of Famers.

Cobb and Al Simmons were the two players who garnered the most attention from opposing pitchers in 1927. While Cobb was on the backend of his career, he still produced at a level that very few players have ever reached. For the 19th straight season, Cobb hit over .330 as he logged a .357 batting average and a wOBA of .429 at the age of 40. Simmons continued his rise as one of the top all-around hitters in the game as he recorded a career-high .392 batting average and a 171 wRC+.

As prolific as the 1927 A’s were, they finished second in the AL behind a Yankees side remembered by many as the greatest team of all-time. The A’s wound up finishing with an 8-14 record against the Yankees in the season.

Cobb went on to have a stout .323 batting average in his final season in 1928. Simmons blossomed with a .351 average and 107 RBI. Even with Cobb’s sharp decline, the A’s won 98 games due to slugger Jimmie Foxx’s breakout season. Still, the A’s could not take hold of first place in the American League because of their 6-16 record against the Yankees.

Had Cobb, Simmons and the rest of the 1928 A’s been fortunate enough to play together in their prime years, they not only would have dethroned the Yankees but may have been the undisputed greatest team ever. Over their careers, the 1928 A’s produced a combined 1,138 WAR, which ranks first all-time and just above the 2005 Yankees.

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