The best teams in MLB history has been debated amongst Americans at recess, at the bar, or at the ball field for as long as there’s been professional baseball. There are too many legendary teams to chose from. Whether they won over 100 games, or had 6 players in the All-Star game, or their roster was loaded with Hall of Famers, these are the 7 best teams ever assembled in MLB history.
1998 New York Yankees
The New York Yankees were insane during the 1998 season. They finished the season with a 114-48 record. Including the playoffs, the Yankees won 125 games with 50 loses, a MLB record. The team was led by hitters Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, and Tino Martinez and pitchers Andy Pettite, David Wells, David Cone, and Mariano Rivera. Bernie Williams would win the Batting Title with a .339 average. On May 17, David Wells pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history. The Yankees would sweep the San Diego Padres to win the 1998 World Series.
2001 Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners in 2001 finished with a 116-46 record, the record for most regular season wins in American League history. Rookie Ichiro Suzuki led the league in batting average at .350, winning both Rookie of the Year and MVP. The Mariners had great seasons by hitters Brett Boone, Mike Cameron, and Edgar Martinez. Pitchers Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele, Jamie Moyer, and Arthur Rhodes had great pitching seasons. As good as the Mariners were during the regular season, they lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, missing a trip to the World Series.
1986 New York Mets
The 1986 New York Mets, the pinnacle of Mets success, saw them finish with a record of 108-54. Including the playoffs, the Mets would win 116 wins total, the MLB record until the 1998 Yankees. The Mets were led by hitters Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry, and Keith Hernandez. Gary Carter won the National League Catcher Silver Slugger Award, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 105 RBI. Keith Hernandez would bat .310 and win the Gold Glove for his work at first base. Starting pitchers Doc Gooden, Ron Darling, and Bob Ojeda had ERAs below 3, with their other two starters Sid Fernandez and Rick Aguilera finishing with an ERA below 4. The Mets would go on to beat the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series.
1927 New York Yankees
The most talked about team in MLB history, the 1927 Yankees finished 110-44. At the time, their 110 wins were the most in single-season American League history. The Yankees were led by baseball legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, who hit a combined 107 home runs and drove in 338 RBI. Their roster had 7 players who would eventually be chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Yankees would sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the 1927 World Series.
1975 Cincinnati Reds
The 1975 Cincinnati Reds finished the season with a 108-54 record. The Reds went 64–17 at home in 1975, which is the best home record ever by a National League team. The team was led by hitters Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose. Joe Morgan would win the NL MVP, batting .327 with 17 home runs and 67 steals. The Reds would beat the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 World Series. Morgan, Perez, Bench, and manager Sparky Anderson were elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
2018 Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox in 2018 finished with a 108-54 record, the best in the majors (and the most since the 2001 Mariners). The team was led by Mookie Betts, who would go on to win AL MVP, a Gold Glove, and a Batting Title. Betts had 32 home runs and 30 steals while batting .346. JD Martinez would rank second in the MLB in batting average at .330. Martinez would also hit 43 home runs and drive in 130 RBI. In his second season with the Red Sox, Chris Sale had a 2.11 ERA in 27 starts. The Red Sox would go on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
1954 Cleveland Indians
The 1954 Cleveland Indians finished the season with a 111-43 record. The team was led by hitters Al Rosen and Larry Doby, who both made the 1954 All-Star team. Their pitching really stood out, with Early Winn, Bob Lemon, and Mark Garcia all finishing with ERAs below 3. Pitchers Bob Feller and Art Houtteman finished with ERAs below 3.35. While the Indians would lose to the New York Giants in the 1954 World Series, they were able to prevent the New York Yankees from making their sixth straight World Series. Five players from this team would be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.