The top 20 Major League Baseball teams of all-time is not an easy list to formulate. Going back over 100 years into MLB history means many great teams will be left out but the list only holds 20.
20. 2002 Oakland Athletics (103-59, Lost ALDS to Twins 2-3)
The A’s in 2002 won 103 games but the season ended in disappointment. Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada each belted 34 homers, but the pitching staff was the bright spot on the team. Jermaine Dye was an unsung hero with 24 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder all finished with excellent seasons during the prime for each of the three. Zito finished 23-5 with an ERA of 2.75, while Mulder was 19-7 with a 3.47 ERA. Billy Koch was the closer finishing with 44 saves.
The team is best known for winning 20 straight games during August and September. However, the season ended early as the A’s lost in the American League Division Series in five games to the Minnesota Twins.
19. 2001 Seattle Mariners (116-46, Lost ALCS to Yankees 1-4)
Seattle failed to close out what would have been one of the best MLB seasons of all time in 2001. Seattle won a record 116 regular season games, but failed to take home the World Series title.
Ichiro Suzuki was baseball’s best hitter that season finishing with 242 hits for a .350 batting averages, while also stealing 56 bases. Bret Boone smacked 37 home runs and finished with a .331 batting average, while Edgar Martinez batted .306 and knocked in 106 runs at 38 years of age
Seattle’s run differential was plus-300 and the pitching staff finished with a team ERA of 3.54. That season the top pitchers were Aaron Sele, Freddy Garcia, Paul Abbot and veteran Jamie Moyer. Each one of the four won 15 or more games, but the Mariners were knocked out of the postseason by the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
18. 2016 Chicago Cubs (103-58, Won World Series over Indians 4-3)
Breaking the century-long curse makes this club one to remember. The Cubs in 2016 reeked of talent. Chicago won 103 games and finished with a plus-298 run differential.
The core of the team was very young with Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell all less than 27 years of age. Bryant finished with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs, while Rizzo was not to be out done with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs.
On the hill, the Cubs relied on Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks with the three finishing the season with ERA of less than 3.25 and each won 15 games or more. Before the trade deadline, the Cubs added Aroldis Chapman as their closer in a trade with the Yankees which turned out to be an instrumental move during the postseason.
