Most Wins in a MLB Season: 2023 Edition
G'day tribe! We're going with baseball again as we get nearer to Opening Day. Which teams have the most wins in a MLB season? We take a look across both the 154-game and 162-game seasons.
Achieving a 100-win season is a significant accomplishment in Major League Baseball requiring a combination of consistency, talent and some luck. Let’s take a look at the teams with the most wins in a MLB season.
10. Boston Red Sox 2018 (108-54)
The 2018 Boston Red Sox were a powerhouse team that dominated the regular season with 108 wins, and went on to win the World Series in five games against the LA Dodgers. Led by manager Alex Cora, the Red Sox had a strong lineup that’s considered to be one of the best we’ve seen in the MLB.
Boston’s team featured pitcher Chris Sale, one of the best pure hitters in J.D. Martinez, and Mookie Betts, who earned himself the American League MVP that year and is now with the Dodgers who gave him one of the biggest MLB contracts of all time.
Happy Anniversary to:
The 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox and….. The 2018 World Series champion Boston Red Sox: ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zmkLOQBApb — Adam Pellerin (@adampellerin) October 28, 2021
9. Baltimore Orioles 1969 (109-53)
A franchise record 109 wins for the 1969 Baltimore Orioles saw them finish 19 wins ahead of their nearest division rivals the Detroit Tigers, good enough to make the top 10 for most wins in a MLB season. The Orioles were led by Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer.
Palmer led the pitching rotation which had a league best ERA of 2.83, and Brooks Robinson is considered one of the greatest defensive third baseman. Unfortunately for the Orioles they would be stunned by heavy underdogs the New York Mets in the World Series.
Today In 1969: The New York #Mets win the World Series, beating the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in five games! Fans storm the field of Shea Stadium! #MLB #Baseball #History #Postseason pic.twitter.com/3FnOaFrbMT
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) October 16, 2022
8. New York Yankees 1961 (109-53)
The 1961 New York Yankees were one of the greatest teams in baseball history led by one of the best baseball players of all time Mickey Mantle. The team was dominant with Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, and Yogi Berra forming an elite supporting cast around Mantle.
Maris set a then-record 61 homers in a single season, with Mantle hitting 54 himself. The 1961 Yankees led the league in runs scored, batting average, and ERA, and they went on to defeat the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
Amazing color view of Yankee Stadium in the top of the 5th inning after New York #Yankees star Roger Maris hit his 61st HR of the '61 season! (October 1, 1961) #MLB #Baseball #History pic.twitter.com/NpYgmosXPt
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) November 16, 2021
7. New York Yankees 1927 (110-44)
It’s 1927, the year the New York Yankees dynasty began. It was the first year in a period of dominance with the Yankees winning 16 pennants and 15 World Series during that time. Led by the best player of all time Babe Ruth, the lineup also featured immortals like Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri.
The Yankees scored a then-record 975 runs, while their pitching staff allowed the fewest runs in the American League. Ruth hit 60 home runs, setting a new single-season record that had stood for 34 years. The Yankees went on to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series on the back of their 110 wins in the regular season.
Lloyd Waner and Paul Waner with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig before Game 1 of the 1927 World Series between the Pirates and New York Yankees at Forbes Field on October 5, 1927 pic.twitter.com/5hzU9hp00z
— Pittsburgh Pirates History (@HistoryPirates) October 22, 2021
6. Pittsburgh Pirates 1909 (110-42)
The 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates were led by player-manager Fred Clarke and featured stars including Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke, and Tommy Leach. The Pirates had an ERA of 2.19, the best in the National League, and they allowed the fewest runs in the league on their way to making the top 10 for most wins in a MLB season.
In the postseason, they defeated the Detroit Tigers in the World Series in seven games, with Babe Adams pitching three complete-game victories. The 1909 Pirates are remembered as one of the best teams of the dead-ball era, and they remain the only team in franchise history to win the World Series in consecutive years.
Great old time photo of Pittsburgh Pirates greatest hitter Honus Wagner circa 1909. pic.twitter.com/V8PxICKhKy
— The Skimmers (@TheSkimmers) May 10, 2022
5. LA Dodgers 2022 (111-51)
The 2022 LA Dodgers were led by a host of stars including Cody Bellinger, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts and Trae Turner. The Dodgers made winning a routine and their ERA was 29% better than the league average, the best of any team since the dead-ball era.
Despite their historic season by finishing with the second best National League record of all-time, the Dodgers were upset in the Division Series by the San Diego Padres, losing the series 3-1.
THE 111 WIN DODGERS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE 2022 PLAYOFFS IN THE DIVISION SERIES ROUND!!! https://t.co/JpY8GU2kYB pic.twitter.com/debpkhqIN4
— Niko 🌚 (@NLabendeira) October 16, 2022
4. Cleveland Indians 1954 (111-43)
Featuring stars including Larry Doby, Al Rosen, and Early Wynn, the 1954 Cleveland Indians made the list for most wins in a MLB season after finishing with a then American League regular season record of 111 wins.
The Indians allowed the fewest runs in the American League with an ERA of 2.78 and were dominating the league. In the World Series however, the Indians would be stunned, with the unfancied New York Giants causing one of the biggest upsets in baseball history by sweeping the Indians.
The New York Giants sweep the Cleveland Indians to win the 1954 World Series! #MLB #Baseball #SFGiants #Postseason #History pic.twitter.com/fNbPfTlBTX
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) December 16, 2022
3. New York Yankees 1998 (114-48)
The New York Yankees of 1998 dominated with 114 wins in the regular season, 22 games ahead of division rivals the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees were led by a superstar lineup that included Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, and is considered by many to be the greatest team of all time.
A strong pitching rotation headlined by Pettitte saw them finish with the best ERA in the American League with 3.82. The rotation included David Cone, Hideki Irabu, Orlando Hernandez and David Wells, who threw the first perfect game at Yankee Stadium since the 1956 World Series.
The 1998 New York Yankees
125 wins and the best baseball team of ALL-TIME pic.twitter.com/4liSJtbXu0 — 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐄 (@FrankiesTwoLoud) March 8, 2021
2. Seattle Mariners 2001 (116-46)
The 2001 Seattle Mariners headed into their final game of the season having won 10 out of their last 11, but lost the final game of the regular season against the Texas Rangers to fall short of claiming the outright most wins in a MLB season.
Featuring superstars Ichiro Suzuki, Bret Boone and Edgar Martinez, the Mariners scored the most runs in the American League and gave up a third-best ERA of 3.54. Unfortunately for the Mariners they were upset by the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and they remain one of six teams that have never won the World Series.
The Longest playoff drought in sports is over.
For the first time since 2001 ( TWO THOUSAND AND ONE) the Seattle Mariners are heading to the postseason. You couldn’t write a better script. pic.twitter.com/oaEhlKxSxp — Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 1, 2022
1. Chicago Cubs 1906 (116-36)
The Chicago Cubs won 116 games, tied with the 2001 Seattle Mariners for most wins in a MLB season, but achieved the feat in 10 fewer games. The 1906 Cubs had an impressive roster that included Hall of Famers like Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance.
Led by Brown, the Cubs had a dominant pitching rotation which also included Jack Pfiester and Ed Reulbach. The team also had a solid defense and they went on to win the World Series in a matchup against crosstown rivals the Chicago White Sox, a matchup which is one of the biggest MLB rivalries.
The 1906 Chicago Cubs had a record of 116-36-3. pic.twitter.com/25lGdeBH70
— CubWin (@CubWin) September 8, 2022
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
Interesting read, obviously it happened a lot more often than i realised - but not too often - although I'm a Giants fan - The Dodgers (boooooooo!!!!) entry is well warranted especially as they also achieved the 100 win mark in the previous season finishing 2nd, 1 game behind the Giants (107-55)
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Giants fan ay? You get out to Oracle Park? Def one of the top ballparks in the states!