Sporting News 140: Ranking the 25 greatest baseball teams since 1886

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Sporting News 140: Ranking the 25 greatest baseball teams since 1886 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

To rank the 25 best baseball teams in Sporting News’ 140 years of existence, we assembled a panel of experts with more than twice that many years covering, calling and generally caring about the sport.

Getting the generous volunteers? Easy. Ranking 140 years’ worth of teams? Not so much.

“This,” Bob Costas said, “is impossible.”

And yet the Hall of Fame broadcaster and our 13 other panelists persisted. We asked each to rank 20 teams, with a first-place vote worth 20 points, down to a 20th-place vote worth one. We expanded our overall list to a Top 25, and we put them in order based on a single season.

Because MLB in 2024 added Negro Leagues stats (from seven different leagues from 1920-48) to baseball’s historical record, we suggested that our panelists consider those teams as well, with some help from the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame as well as SABR experts.

SN 140:Baseball's Greatest Players - 140 players and 14 Rooms

Not surprising, the franchise that has won 27 World Series features prominently on this list, especially near the top. All told, 74 teams received at least one vote, all but one coming from the post-1901 Modern Era. The 1886 St. Louis Browns (93-46) were the exception, a team from the year and city in which The Sporting News was born.

Two Negro Leagues teams made the list while 45 came from after 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier. Only one team in the Top 25, the 1906 Cubs, didn’t win its World Series.

So what’s the point? To continue the yearlong celebration of the Bible of Baseball’s 140th birthday, maybe educate a bit, sure, but also to jumpstart the arguments as we make our way to October. Enjoy!

SN's Blue Ribbon Panel:

• Mark Armour, past president, SABR, baseball historian and author

• Mark Bechtel, deputy editor, Sports Illustrated

• Mark Bowman, Supervising Club Reporter, Braves beat writer, MLB.com

• Scott Bush, CEO, SABR

• Ron Blum, national baseball writer, Associated Press

• Bob Costas, Hall of Fame broadcaster and bestselling baseball author

• Steve Gietschier, former SN Archivist, baseball historian and bestselling author

• Paul Hembekides, content producer, ESPN, writer of SN series “Baseball’s Greatest Players: 14 Rooms”

• Tyler Kepner, national baseball writer, The Athletic

• Michael Knisley, former SN MLB senior writer

• Will Leitch, MLB.com contributor, bestselling author, former SN columnist

• Bob Nightengale, national baseball writer, USA Today, former SN contributor

• John Rawlings, former SN Editor-in-Chief (1990-2008)

• Jayson Stark, Hall of Fame national baseball writer, The Athletic, former SN correspondent

Consulting:

• Bob Kendrick, president, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

• Clem Hamilton, SABR

MORE: Bob Costas breaks down his ballot

The Sporting News 25 greatest baseball teams since 1886​

1. 1927 Yankees​

Regular season: 110-44-1 (+376 run differential)

Postseason: def. Pirates 4-0 in World Series

Ruth and Gehrig, sure. But Earle Combs hit .356 with 23 triples! Bob Muesel .337 with 103 RBIs. Tony Lazzeri made the Hall of Fame, so did pitchers Waite Hoyt and Herb Pennock and manager Miller Huggins. Back to Ruth and Gehrig. In addition to the 60 and 47 homers, they each hit over .350 and had an OPS well over 1.200. 'Murderer’s Row' indeed. —Bob Costas

2. 1998 Yankees​

Regular season: 114-48 (+309 run differential)

Postseason: def. Rangers 3-0 in ALDS; def. Indians 4-2 in ALCS; def. Padres 4-0 in World Series

They were a TEAM, not top-heavy with stars. In fact, no one on the ’98 Yankees hit as many as 30 HRs. Nobody on this team was among league leaders in HRs, RBI, or slugging percentage – the World Series MVP was Scott Brosius, for cryin’ out loud -- but they nonetheless led the AL with a team batting average of .288 and outscored opponents by 309 runs with a run differential of 1.91 per game. — Michael Knisley

SN ARCHIVE: How will history rank the 1998 Yankees? (Nov. 2, 1998)

3. 1939 Yankees​

Regular season: 105-45-1 (+411 run differential)

Postseason: def. Reds 4-0 in World Series

They went 106-45-1 with an astounding run differential, won the pennant by 17 games and then swept the Reds in World Series. DiMaggio hit .381, which led MLB. The Yanks won four straight World Series from 1936-39, and the '39 team is generally thought to be the best. Side note: Lou Gehrig played only eight games before to his ALS diagnosis. —BC

SN 140: Lou Gehrig's July 4th 'luckiest man on Earth' speech

4. 1970 Orioles​

Regular season: 108-54 (+218 run differential)

Postseason: def. Twins 3-0 in ALCS, def. Reds 4-1 in World Series

A year after falling to the "Miracle Mets,"Baltimore came back with a vengeance. AL MVP Boog Powell had a career year, Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Mike Cuellar were 20-game winners. One Robinson, Frank, was still a force, the other, Brooks, was the World Series MVP, hitting .429 and putting on a defensive show vs. the Reds. —Bob Hille

You must be registered for see images attach

SN

5. 1976 Reds​

Regular season: 102-60 (+224 run differential)

Postseason: def. Phillies 3-0 in NLCS; def. Yankees 4-0 in World Series

Where to start with the "Big Red Machine"? With an offense that led the NL in batting, on-base percentage, slugging, runs, home runs, and stolen bases? With a defense that committed the fewest errors in the NL and featured four Gold Glove winners (C Johnny Bench, 2B Joe Morgan, SS Dave Concepcion and CF Cesar Geronimo)? The pitching wasn't memorably spectacular, but it was solid enough as Cincy won 102 games and swept the Yankees in the World Series. —MK

SN ARCHIVE: Why the Big Red Machine is better than ever (Oct. 23, 1976)

6. 1961 Yankees​

Regular season: 109-53-1 (+215 run differential)

Postseason: def. Reds 4-1 in World Series

Best of five straight pennant winners in the early 1960s, going a remarkable 109-53-1. Maris and Mantle combine for 115 homers, the most ever by two teammates. Left-hander Whitey Ford wins 25 games and the Cy Young Award. All accomplished under first-year manager Ralph Houk, replacing Yankees legend and Hall of Famer Casey Stengel. —BC

7. 1975 Reds​

Regular season: 108-54 (+254 run differential)

Postseason: def. Pirates 3-0 in NLCS; def. Red Sox 4-3 in World Series

Once manager Sparky Anderson moved Pete Rose from left field to third base and inserted George Foster as a regular in left in mid-May, the ‘Great Eight’ lineup was set and the winning began in earnest. The first of back-to-back championships, the Reds led the National League in runs, stolen bases and saves. —MK

8. 2018 Red Sox​

Regular season: 108-54 (+229 run differential)

Postseason: def. Yankees 3-1 in ALDS, def. Astros 4-1 in ALCS; def. Dodgers 4-1 in World Series

A deep, deep lineup, elite pitching and arguably the best defensive outfield (Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr.) in MLB put the Red Sox head and shoulders above the rest of baseball in 2018. They started the season 17-2 and held off a 100-win Yankees team to capture the AL East. —MK

9. 1929 Athletics​

Regular season: 104-46-1 (+286 run differential)

Postseason: def. Cubs 4-1 in World Series

With four Hall of Famers at the top of their games — Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Mickey Cochrane — Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack's team won the pennant by 18 games. —Tyler Kepner

10. 1984 Tigers​

Regular season: 104-58 (+186 run differential)

Postseason: def. Royals 3-0 in ALCS; def. Padres 4-1 in World Series

Thanks to an astonishing 35-5 start, these 'Bless You Boys' Tigers went 104-58, running away with the AL East by 15 games. They made quick work of Royals and Padres in October. Lance Parrish (33 HRs) provided the power, complemented by Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. Jack Morris was the ace, and Willie Hernandez won the AL Cy Young and MVP out of bullpen. Oh, and another ring for HOF manager Sparky Anderson. —MK/BC

11. 1909 Pirates​

Regular season: 110-42-2 (+252 run differential)

Postseason: def. Tigers 4-3 in World Series

Shortstop Honus Wagner was 35 years old in 1909, but he led the National League in batting average (.339), doubles (39), on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.489), RBI (100), and total bases (242) that year. A seven-game World Series was a showdown of sorts between Wagner and the Tigers’ Ty Cobb, who won the Triple Crown in the American League that season. Wagner clearly came out on top, outhitting Cobb .333 to .231 and stealing six bases to Cobb’s two. —MK

SN 140:The greatest baseball players of each decade by WAR

12. 1955 Dodgers​

Regular season: 98-55-1 (+207 run differential)

Postseason: def. Yankees 4-3 in World Series

Brooklyn went to the World Series six times between 1947 and 1956. The Yankees beat them five times. This was “Next Year.” Seven Hall of Famers — Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Peewee Reese, Sandy Koufax (2-2 as a rookie!) and manager Walter Alston. –BC

SN 140:Jackie Robinson breaks MLB's color barrier

13. 1986 Mets​

Regular season: 108-54 (+205 run differential)

Postseason: def. Astros 4-2 in NLCS; def. Red Sox 4-3 in World Series

A remarkably deep team. They had four starters with at least 15 wins and none had more than six losses (three of them had WARs of 4.5 or better). Bonus points for being colorful ("colorful" meaning 'future criminals/nutjobs'). —Mark Bechtel

14. 1906 Cubs​

Regular season: 116-36-3 (+323 run differential)

Postseason: lost to White Sox 4-2 in World Series

The greatest team to not win a championship, according to our panel. The Cubs went 116-36-3 (.758!) but lost to the White Sox in the World Series. Carl Lundgren (17-6, 2.21 ERA) was the only starting pitcher with an ERA over 2.00 (staff ERA 1.75, rest of the league 2.75). Mordecai 'Three-Finger' Brown led the way with a 1.04 ERA, going 26-6. Player-manager Frank Chance led the NL in runs (103) and stolen bases (56). —BH

15. 1942 Cardinals​

Regular season: 106-48-2 (+275 run differential)

Postseason: def. Yankees 4-1 in World Series

The start of WWII hung over the season, yet the Cardinals put together one of the dominant seasons in franchise history. Pitcher Mort Cooper (22-7 with 10 shutouts) was the NL MVP, while emerging star Stan Musial (.315/.397/.490) joined fellow future Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter (.318/.412/.494) to lead the offense that beat the juggernaut Yankees in the World Series. —BH

16. 1905 Giants​

Regular season: 105-48-2 (+275 run differential)

Postseason: def. Athletics 4-1 in World Series

Hey, it was "the Dead Ball Era." For all I know, they were using a rock wrapped in a sock. But Christy Mathewson went 31-9 with an ERA of 1.28. Then threw three complete-game shutouts in Games 1, 3 and 5 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics. Good enough for me. —BC

You must be registered for see images attach

SN

17. 1995 Braves​

Regular season: 90-54 (+105 run differential)

Postseason: def. Rockies 3-1 in NLDS; def. Reds 4-0 in NLCS; def. Indians 4-2 in World Series

Five World Series in the decade, this is the one they won — and over a tremendous Cleveland team that had a shot at this list had it prevailed in ‘95 or ‘97. Maddux (19-2), Glavine (16-7) and Smoltz (12-7) are as great a rotation front three as the game has ever seen. 3B Chipper Jones and manager Bobby Cox join them in the HOF. (CF Andruw Jones was still a year away). —BC

18. 1943 Grays​

Regular season: 104-30-2 (+449 run differential)

Postseason: def. Barons 4-3-1 in World Series

If I had to order them by quality — a tough exercise — my top Negro Leagues team would be Homestead 1943. They were 26-7-1 (.788) in the Negro National League, 78-23-1 (.772) overall and won the World Series, 4-3-1, vs. the Birmingham Black Barons. A lineup led by Hall of Famers Cool Papa Bell (LF), Ray Brown (P, RF), Josh Gibson (C), Buck Leonard (1B) and Jud Wilson (3B) scored 7.5 runs per game, while giving up 4.2 for a 3.3-run differential. —Steve Gietschier

SN 140:Baseball's All-Time Team USA vs. All-Time Team World

19. 2024 Dodgers​

Regular season: 98-64 (+156 run differential)

Postseason: def. Padres 3-2 in NLDS; def. Mets 4-2 in NLCS; def. Yankees 4-1 in World Series

Was this the start of the first World Series three-peat since 1998-2000 Yankees? We won't know til October. What we do know about this 2024 team is that it was the singular Shohei Ohtani's coming-out party. Baseball's newly signed $700 million man became the first 50 HR/50 SB player in MLB history, leading talent-everywhere L.A. (98-64) to its first full-season championship since 1988. —BH

20. 2004 Red Sox​

Regular season: 98-64 (+181 run differential)

Postseason: def. Angels 3-0 in ALDS; def. Yankees 4-3 in ALCS; def. Cardinals 4-0 in World Series

Yes, they had a 4.18 ERA and finished in second place. But this team battled franchise demons both ancient and recent, overcame an unprecedented 0-3 deficit in the ALCS, hit like crazy and featured Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling at the top of the rotation. By the end, with an eight-game win streak to clinch the title, this group had no weaknesses — and no fear. —TK

SN 140: Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino

21. 1910 Athletics​

Regular season: 102-48-5 (+232 run differential)

Postseason: def. Cubs 4-1 in World Series

Righthander Jack Coombs (31-4) accounted for almost a third of the team's wins and future Hall of Famer Eddie Collins (.324/.382/.418) anchored the lineup for the American League's first 100-victory team under manager Connie Mack. Deadball Era fun fact: Frank "Home Run" Baker was fifth on the team in HRs with two. —BH

22. 2016 Cubs​

Regular season: 103-58-1 (+252 run differential)

Postseason: def. Giants 3-1 in NLDS; def. Dodgers 4-2 in NLCS; def. Indians 4-3 in World Series

As a Cleveland fan, I don’t like talking about this team. But they were pretty great. The staff ERA+ was 133. Also, as a Kurkjianian appreciator of weird coincidences, look at the lines of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant:

Rizzo	Bryant
HR	32	39
RBI	109	102
BA	.292	.292
OBP	.385	.385
SLG	.544	.554

—MB

SN 140: Cubs go extras in Game 7 to finally bring home title

23. 1912 Red Sox​

Regular season: 105-47-2 (+255 run differential)

Postseason: def. Giants 4-3-1 in World Series

Smoky Joe Wood, 22, went 34-5 with — get this — 35 complete games, and MVP Tris Speaker (10.1 WAR) slashed a stunning .383/.464/.567 for a team that went 105-47-2 (.688, a winning percentage that remains a franchise record more than a century later). A World Series win over the Giants capped quite a first season playing at Fenway Park. —BH

SN 140:Baseball's 'Immortals' and 10 numbers that define them

24. 1935 Crawfords​

Regular season: 53-27-4 (+91 run differential)

Postseason: def. Cubans 4-3 in Negro National League II World Series

"The pride of 'Smoketown,'" the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords featured four future Hall of Famers, even with Satchel Paige pitching elsewhere that season: OF Cool Papa Bell (.329/.420/.486 in '35), 1B/MGR Oscar Charleston, C Josh Gibson (.369/.443/.654) and 3B Judy Johnson, a reason one of the dominant franchises in Negro Leagues history, is often compared to the 1927 "Murderer's Row" Yankees. —BH

25. 1936 Yankees​

Regular season: 102-51-2 (+334 run differential)

Postseason: def. Giants 4-2 in World Series

This team kicked off a run of four World Series wins that marked the second wave of Yankees domination. Lou Gehrig (9.7 WAR) won the AL MVP by slashing .478/.696/1.174 in an everyday lineup that included five players with more than 100 RBIs and four future Hall of Famers: C Bill Dickey, 1B Gehrig, 2B Tony Lazzeri and rookie CF Joe DiMaggio. —BH

Continue reading...