Determining the top 10 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams of all time is a challenging task due to the rich and diverse history of the sport, as well as the many factors to consider such as different eras, player talent, and success rates.
Here is a selection of ten of the most historically successful or notable teams in MLB history. The order is not a ranking but simply a list:
- 1927 – New York Yankees: Known as “Murderer’s Row,” this team is often considered the best in baseball history. They won the World Series and boasted an incredible lineup that included legendary players such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
- 1975 – Cincinnati Reds: Known as “The Big Red Machine,” they had an impressive roster, including greats like Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose. They won the World Series this year.
- 1939 – New York Yankees: This team was one of the most dominant teams in the history of baseball, winning the World Series with a roster that included greats like Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, and Red Ruffing.
- 1998 – New York Yankees: With a regular-season record of 114-48, this team was a force to be reckoned with. They also swept the San Diego Padres in the World Series.
- 1961 – New York Yankees: Featuring a lineup with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, who hit 61 home runs that year, breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season record. They also won the World Series.
- 1986 – New York Mets: The Mets were dominant this year, winning 108 games in the regular season and capturing the World Series title in dramatic fashion.
- 2001 – Seattle Mariners: They tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the most wins in a regular season with 116. However, they were unable to convert this into a World Series win.
- 1970 – Baltimore Orioles: A well-balanced and dominant team that won the World Series. They had great pitching and hitting, including players like Jim Palmer, Boog Powell, and Brooks Robinson.
- 1955 – Brooklyn Dodgers: This team won its only World Series title in Brooklyn before moving to Los Angeles. It featured stars like Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider.
- 2016 – Chicago Cubs: Breaking the longest championship drought in the history of North American professional sports, the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908.
Remember that this is a subjective list and other baseball fans might have different opinions. The state of the game has also evolved over time, with changes in rules, technology, and player conditioning, which can complicate direct comparisons.