List of best MLB season won-loss records

Listed below are the Major League Baseball teams with the best season won-lost records in history, as determined by winning percentage (.700 or better), minimum 120 games played.

NL=National League, AL=American League, AA=American Association

Other teams

Several 19th century teams played .700 ball or better over shorter schedules, where there is much less of the "evening out" effect of a lengthier season. The 1876 Chicago White Stockings won the National League's first pennant with a 52-14 record (.788). Chicago won the 1880 NL pennant with a record of 67-17 (.798), which stands as the overall percentage record between the National or the American League, and would project to a record of 129-33 under the modern schedule of 162 games.

The all-time best single season record belongs to the St. Louis Maroons of the 1884 Union Association. Playing in a league that lasted only one season and was quite lopsided in talent distribution, and generally disorganized (six teams played close to full schedules while six more came and went during the course of the year), the Maroons went 94-19 (.832), or the equivalent of 134-28 under the modern schedule. The Maroons joined the National League for 1885 and, playing against stiffer competition, went 36-72.

Postseason successes and failures

The 1902 Pirates did not play in the post season because the modern World Series had not been established yet (the first Series was played the next year). The 1886 Wolverines didn't even win the championship of their league, finishing second behind the White Stockings. Of the other twelve teams on this list, only five won championships: the 1909 Pirates, 1927 Yankees, 1907 Cubs, 1998 Yankees, and 1939 Yankees. The playoff fates of the other seven teams:

*The 1906 Cubs, owners of the best record of baseball's modern era, lost the World Series in six games to their cross town rivals, the White Sox. The '06 White Sox won a championship despite having a .230 team batting average and earning the nickname "Hitless Wonders". [ [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1906ws.shtml 1906 World Series by Baseball Almanac ] ] The Cubs would rebound from their 1906 failure by winning back-to-back World Series in 1907-08.
*The 1886 White Stockings lost the 19th century version of the World Series to the St. Louis Browns, four games to two, the only American Association victory in those contests.
*The 1954 Indians, who compiled the best record in the history of the American League, were swept by the New York Giants in the World Series. This Series is best remembered for Willie Mays and his famous catch, and the pinch-hitting of Dusty Rhodes.
*The 2001 Mariners, who tied the record for most wins in a season, did not even make the Series, losing the ALCS to the Yankees, four games to one.
*The 1897 Boston Braves played in the Temple Cup, a shortlived playoff series between the first- and second-place finishers in the National League. They lost to Baltimore, four games to one.
*The 1931 Athletics, attempting to win their third straight championship, lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to three. Second baseman Max Bishop flied out to center with the tying runs on base to end the Series. Also, Cards' infielder-outfielder Pepper Martin ran roughshod over the Athletics with his hits and baserunning; and he caught Bishop's outfield fly.
*The 1887 Browns lost the early version of the World Series to the Detroit Wolverines, ten games to five.

Notes

*The 1998 Yankees hold the all-time record for most wins in a year. After starting out the season 0-3 but finishing 114-48, they won 11 playoff games en route to a World Series victory, finishing with an overall total of 125 wins.
*Only two teams, the 1998 Yankees and 2001 Mariners, have made this list in the last fifty years. The 1954 Indians are the only other team to have a .700 winning percentage since World War II began.

ee also

*List of worst MLB season records

References and external links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/ Records and statistics] at Baseball Reference
* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/best_major_league_teams_ever.shtml Baseball Almanac study] of best teams of all time
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/excerpts/baseball_dynasties.stm Excerpts] from "Baseball Dynasties" by Neyer and Epstein
*Neyer, Rob, and Eddie Epstein. "Baseball Dynasties: The Greatest Teams of All Time". Norton, 2000, 384 p.