The strongest baseball teams of all time
Evaluating rosters by adding up their players' TBRs
Total Baseball, the official encyclopedia of Major League Baseball, measures players' individual effectiveness each season. It is displayed as a number, called the "Total Baseball Ranking," with zero designating an average player at his position.
What if we added the season TBRs for all the players on a team? Which team in baseball history would have the highest aggregate TBR number? (No surprise: The 1927 Yankees, with a sum total of 36.2, rank highest. The second and third teams are unexpected, however, wouldn't you say?)
In the calculations that follow, if a player spent only a portion of the season with the team, his TBR while with the team was counted.
The appearance of two asterisks below means the team won the pennant; four asterisks means the team won the World Series.
This is a work in progress. If you'd like to know a particular team's ranking, leave a message in the guest book, below. Nineteenth century teams were not considered. Teams in ALL CAPS reflect calculations based on the revised TBR formulas in the recently published seventh edition of Total Baseball; the others are based on the formulas in the sixth edition.
36.2 1927 Yankees (110 wins, 19 games ahead of second-place team)****
32.3 1969 Orioles (109W, 19 games ahead, division)**
32.0 1998 Astros (102W, 18 games ahead, division)
29.9 1939 Yankees (106W, 17 games ahead)****
28.9 1998 Braves (106W, 18 games ahead, division)
28.9 1995 Indians (100W, 30 games ahead, division)**
27.9 1948 Indians (97W, 1 game ahead)****
27.7 1942 Yankees (103W, 9 games ahead)**
26.6 1910 Athletics (102W, 14.5 games ahead)****
26.3 1996 Indians (99W, 14.5 games ahead, division)
25.3 1998 Yankees (114W, 22 games ahead, division)****
25.2 1945 Cubs (98W, 3 games ahead)**
25.0 1905 Giants (105W, 9 games ahead)****
24.7 1936 Yankees (102W, 19.5 games ahead)****
24.5 1935 Cubs (100W, 4 games ahead)**
24.2 1977 Phillies (101W, 5 games ahead, division)
24.0 1953 Yankees (99W, 8.5 games ahead)****
23.4 1997 Yankees (96W, 2 games behind Orioles)
23.3 1988 Mets (100W, 15 games ahead, division)
23.0 1973 Orioles (97W, 8 games ahead, division)
22.8 1922 Browns (93W, 1 game behind Yankees)
22.2 1972 Pirates (96W, 11 games ahead, division)
21.9 1938 Yankees (99W, 9.5 games ahead)****
21.8 1961 Yankees (109W, 8 games ahead)****
21.8 1906 Cubs (116W, 20 games ahead)**
21.7 1993 Braves (104W, 1 game ahead)
21.5 1943 Cardinals (105W, 18 games ahead)**
21.3 1944 Cardinals (105W, 14.5 games ahead)****
21.2 1942 Cardinals (106W, 2 games ahead)****
21.2 1911 Giants (99W, 7.5 games ahead)**
21.0 1955 Yankees (96W, 3 games ahead)**
20.8 1952 Yankees (95W, 2 games ahead)****
20.7 1970 Orioles (108W, 15 games ahead, division)****
20.7 1957 Yankees (98W, 8 games ahead)**
20.6 1931 Yankees (94W, 13.5 games behind Athletics)
20.5 1954 Indians (111W, 8 games ahead)**
20.3 1958 Yankees (92W, 10 games ahead)****
20.2 1986 Mets (108W, 21.5 games ahead, division)****
20.2 1904 Giants (106W, 13 games ahead)**
20.1 1997 Braves (101W, 9 games ahead, division)
20.0 1969 Twins (97W, 9 games ahead, division)
20.0 1902 Pirates (103W, 27.5 games ahead)**
19.8 1957 Braves (95W, 8 games ahead)****
19.7 1929 Athletics (104W, 18 games ahead)****
19.6 1906 Indians (89W, 3rd place, 5 games behind White Sox)
19.5 1993 Giants (103W, 1 game behind Braves)
19.4 1931 Athletics (107W, 13.5 games ahead)**
18.9 1978 Dodgers (95W, 2.5 games ahead, division)**
18.8 1971 Orioles (101W, 12 games ahead, division)**
18.8 1912 Giants (103W, 10 games ahead)**
18.7 1953 Dodgers (105W, 13 games ahead)**
18.6 1985 Blue Jays (99W, 2 games ahead, division)
18.6 1955 Dodgers (98W, 13.5 games ahead)****
18.6 1901 Pirates (90W, 7.5 games ahead)**
18.5 1908 Giants (98W, 1 game behind Cubs)
18.4 1970 Reds (102W, 14.5 games ahead, division)**
18.3 1935 Tigers (93W, 3 games ahead)****
18.2 2000 GIANTS (97W, 11 games ahead, division)
18.2 1976 Reds (102W, 10 games ahead, division)****
18.2 1937 Yankees (102W, 13 games ahead)****
18.1 1975 Reds (108W, 20 games ahead, division)****
18.1 1954 Yankees (103W, 8 games behind Indians)
18.1 1934 Tigers (101W, 7 games ahead)**
18.0 1949 Red Sox (96W, 1 game behind Yankees)
17.9 1985 Cardinals (101W, 3 games ahead, division)**
17.6 1912 Red Sox (105W, 14 games ahead)****
17.5 1921 Yankees (98W, 4.5 games ahead)**
17.4 1956 Yankees (97W, 9 games ahead)****
17.2 1974 Dodgers (102W, 4 games ahead, division)**
17.1 1999 YANKEES (98W, 4 games ahead, division)****
16.9 1977 Yankees (100W, 2.5 games ahead, division)****
16.9 1910 Cubs (104W, 13 games ahead)**
16.7 1946 Red Sox (104W, 12 games ahead)**
16.5 1929 Cubs (98W, 10.5 games ahead)**
16.5 1928 Athletics (98W, 2.5 games behind Yankees)
16.3 1948 Braves (91W, 6.5 games ahead)**
16.3 1942 Red Sox (93W, 9 games behind Yankees)
16.0 1941 Dodgers (100W, 2.5 games ahead)**
15.9 1932 Yankees (107W, 13 games ahead)****
15.5 1909 Athletics (95W, 3.5 games behind Tigers)
15.2 1909 Pirates (110W, 6.5 games ahead)****
15.0 1919 Reds (96W, 9 games ahead)****
14.7 1984 Tigers (104W, 15 games ahead, division)****
14.3 1977 Royals (102W, 8 games ahead, division)
14.2 1998 Red Sox (92W, 22 games behind Yankees)
14.1 1976 Phillies (101W, 9 games ahead, division)
13.7 1928 Cardinals (95W, 2 games ahead)**
13.7 1911 A's (101W, 13.5 games ahead)****
13.6 1977 Dodgers (98W, 10 games ahead, division)**
13.6 1924 Giants (93W, 1.5 games ahead)**
13.1 1920 Indians (98W, 2 games ahead)****
12.9 1961 Tigers (101W, 8 games behind Yankees)
12.7 1990 A's (103W, 9 games ahead, division)**
12.5 1968 Tigers (103W, 12 games ahead)****
12.4 1947 Yankees (97W, 12 games ahead)****
11.4 1979 Orioles (102W, 8 games ahead, division)**
11.3 1978 Red Sox (99W, 1 game behind Yankees)
11.3 1917 Giants (98W, 10 games ahead)**
10.9 1918 Cubs (84W, 8.5 games ahead in season shortened by war)**
10.6 1915 White Sox (93W, 3rd place, 9.5 games behind Red Sox)
10.4 1986 Red Sox (**)
10.3 1912 Pirates (2nd place)
8.9 1934 Yankees (2nd place)
8.9 1928 Yankees (****)
8.5 1974 A's (****)
8.4 1914 Athletics (**)
8.2 1917 White Sox (****)
7.8 1908 Cubs (****)
============================================================================
THE SAME TEAMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
An asterisk indicates a calculation based on the formulas in the seventh edition of Total Baseball.
18.6 1901 Pirates
20.0 1902 Pirates
20.2 1904 Giants
25.0 1905 Giants
21.8 1906 Cubs
19.6 1906 Indians (3rd place)
18.5 1908 Giants (2nd place)
07.8 1908 Cubs
15.5 1909 Athletics (2nd place)
15.2 1909 Pirates
26.6 1910 A’s
16.9 1910 Cubs
21.2 1911 Giants
13.7 1911 A's
18.8 1912 Giants
17.6 1912 Red Sox
10.3 1912 Pirates (2nd place)
08.4 1914 Athletics
10.6 1915 White Sox (3rd place)
11.3 1917 Giants
08.2 1917 White Sox
10.9 1918 Cubs
15.0 1919 Reds
13.1 1920 Indians
17.5 1921 Yankees
22.8 1922 Browns (2nd place)
13.6 1924 Giants
36.2 1927 Yankees
16.5 1928 Athletics
13.7 1928 Cardinals
08.9 1928 Yankees
19.7 1929 Athletics
16.5 1929 Cubs
20.6 1931 Yankees (2nd place)
19.4 1931 Athletics
15.9 1932 Yankees
18.1 1934 Tigers
08.9 1934 Yankees (2nd place)
24.5 1935 Cubs
18.3 1935 Tigers
24.7 1936 Yankees
18.2 1937 Yankees
21.9 1938 Yankees
29.9 1939 Yankees
16.0 1941 Dodgers
27.7 1942 Yankees
21.2 1942 Cardinals
16.3 1942 Red Sox (2nd place)
21.5 1943 Cardinals
21.3 1944 Cardinals
25.2 1945 Cubs
16.7 1946 Red Sox
12.4 1947 Yankees
27.9 1948 Indians
16.3 1948 Braves
18.0 1949 Red Sox (2nd place)
20.8 1952 Yankees
24.0 1953 Yankees
18.7 1953 Dodgers
20.5 1954 Indians
18.1 1954 Yankees (2nd place)
21.0 1955 Yankees
18.6 1955 Dodgers
17.4 1956 Yankees
20.7 1957 Yankees
19.8 1957 Braves
20.3 1958 Yankees
21.8 1961 Yankees
12.9 1961 Tigers (2nd place)
12.5 1968 Tigers
32.3 1969 Orioles
20.0 1969 Twins
20.7 1970 Orioles
18.4 1970 Reds
18.8 1971 Orioles
22.2 1972 Pirates
23.0 1973 Orioles
17.2 1974 Dodgers
08.5 1974 A's
18.1 1975 Reds
18.2 1976 Reds
14.1 1976 Phillies
24.2 1977 Phillies
16.9 1977 Yankees
14.3 1977 Royals
13.6 1977 Dodgers
18.9 1978 Dodgers
11.3 1978 Red Sox
11.4 1979 Orioles
14.7 1984 Tigers
18.6 1985 Blue Jays
17.9 1985 Cardinals
20.2 1986 Mets
10.4 1986 Red Sox
23.3 1988 Mets
12.7 1990 A's
21.7 1993 Braves
19.5 1993 Giants (2nd place, division)
28.9 1995 Indians
26.3 1996 Indians
23.4 1997 Yankees (2nd place, division)
20.1 1997 Braves
32.0 1998 Astros
28.9 1998 Braves
25.3 1998 Yankees
14.2 1998 Red Sox (2nd place, division)
17.1 1999 Yankees*
18.2 2000 Giants*
What if we added the season TBRs for all the players on a team? Which team in baseball history would have the highest aggregate TBR number? (No surprise: The 1927 Yankees, with a sum total of 36.2, rank highest. The second and third teams are unexpected, however, wouldn't you say?)
In the calculations that follow, if a player spent only a portion of the season with the team, his TBR while with the team was counted.
The appearance of two asterisks below means the team won the pennant; four asterisks means the team won the World Series.
This is a work in progress. If you'd like to know a particular team's ranking, leave a message in the guest book, below. Nineteenth century teams were not considered. Teams in ALL CAPS reflect calculations based on the revised TBR formulas in the recently published seventh edition of Total Baseball; the others are based on the formulas in the sixth edition.
36.2 1927 Yankees (110 wins, 19 games ahead of second-place team)****
32.3 1969 Orioles (109W, 19 games ahead, division)**
32.0 1998 Astros (102W, 18 games ahead, division)
29.9 1939 Yankees (106W, 17 games ahead)****
28.9 1998 Braves (106W, 18 games ahead, division)
28.9 1995 Indians (100W, 30 games ahead, division)**
27.9 1948 Indians (97W, 1 game ahead)****
27.7 1942 Yankees (103W, 9 games ahead)**
26.6 1910 Athletics (102W, 14.5 games ahead)****
26.3 1996 Indians (99W, 14.5 games ahead, division)
25.3 1998 Yankees (114W, 22 games ahead, division)****
25.2 1945 Cubs (98W, 3 games ahead)**
25.0 1905 Giants (105W, 9 games ahead)****
24.7 1936 Yankees (102W, 19.5 games ahead)****
24.5 1935 Cubs (100W, 4 games ahead)**
24.2 1977 Phillies (101W, 5 games ahead, division)
24.0 1953 Yankees (99W, 8.5 games ahead)****
23.4 1997 Yankees (96W, 2 games behind Orioles)
23.3 1988 Mets (100W, 15 games ahead, division)
23.0 1973 Orioles (97W, 8 games ahead, division)
22.8 1922 Browns (93W, 1 game behind Yankees)
22.2 1972 Pirates (96W, 11 games ahead, division)
21.9 1938 Yankees (99W, 9.5 games ahead)****
21.8 1961 Yankees (109W, 8 games ahead)****
21.8 1906 Cubs (116W, 20 games ahead)**
21.7 1993 Braves (104W, 1 game ahead)
21.5 1943 Cardinals (105W, 18 games ahead)**
21.3 1944 Cardinals (105W, 14.5 games ahead)****
21.2 1942 Cardinals (106W, 2 games ahead)****
21.2 1911 Giants (99W, 7.5 games ahead)**
21.0 1955 Yankees (96W, 3 games ahead)**
20.8 1952 Yankees (95W, 2 games ahead)****
20.7 1970 Orioles (108W, 15 games ahead, division)****
20.7 1957 Yankees (98W, 8 games ahead)**
20.6 1931 Yankees (94W, 13.5 games behind Athletics)
20.5 1954 Indians (111W, 8 games ahead)**
20.3 1958 Yankees (92W, 10 games ahead)****
20.2 1986 Mets (108W, 21.5 games ahead, division)****
20.2 1904 Giants (106W, 13 games ahead)**
20.1 1997 Braves (101W, 9 games ahead, division)
20.0 1969 Twins (97W, 9 games ahead, division)
20.0 1902 Pirates (103W, 27.5 games ahead)**
19.8 1957 Braves (95W, 8 games ahead)****
19.7 1929 Athletics (104W, 18 games ahead)****
19.6 1906 Indians (89W, 3rd place, 5 games behind White Sox)
19.5 1993 Giants (103W, 1 game behind Braves)
19.4 1931 Athletics (107W, 13.5 games ahead)**
18.9 1978 Dodgers (95W, 2.5 games ahead, division)**
18.8 1971 Orioles (101W, 12 games ahead, division)**
18.8 1912 Giants (103W, 10 games ahead)**
18.7 1953 Dodgers (105W, 13 games ahead)**
18.6 1985 Blue Jays (99W, 2 games ahead, division)
18.6 1955 Dodgers (98W, 13.5 games ahead)****
18.6 1901 Pirates (90W, 7.5 games ahead)**
18.5 1908 Giants (98W, 1 game behind Cubs)
18.4 1970 Reds (102W, 14.5 games ahead, division)**
18.3 1935 Tigers (93W, 3 games ahead)****
18.2 2000 GIANTS (97W, 11 games ahead, division)
18.2 1976 Reds (102W, 10 games ahead, division)****
18.2 1937 Yankees (102W, 13 games ahead)****
18.1 1975 Reds (108W, 20 games ahead, division)****
18.1 1954 Yankees (103W, 8 games behind Indians)
18.1 1934 Tigers (101W, 7 games ahead)**
18.0 1949 Red Sox (96W, 1 game behind Yankees)
17.9 1985 Cardinals (101W, 3 games ahead, division)**
17.6 1912 Red Sox (105W, 14 games ahead)****
17.5 1921 Yankees (98W, 4.5 games ahead)**
17.4 1956 Yankees (97W, 9 games ahead)****
17.2 1974 Dodgers (102W, 4 games ahead, division)**
17.1 1999 YANKEES (98W, 4 games ahead, division)****
16.9 1977 Yankees (100W, 2.5 games ahead, division)****
16.9 1910 Cubs (104W, 13 games ahead)**
16.7 1946 Red Sox (104W, 12 games ahead)**
16.5 1929 Cubs (98W, 10.5 games ahead)**
16.5 1928 Athletics (98W, 2.5 games behind Yankees)
16.3 1948 Braves (91W, 6.5 games ahead)**
16.3 1942 Red Sox (93W, 9 games behind Yankees)
16.0 1941 Dodgers (100W, 2.5 games ahead)**
15.9 1932 Yankees (107W, 13 games ahead)****
15.5 1909 Athletics (95W, 3.5 games behind Tigers)
15.2 1909 Pirates (110W, 6.5 games ahead)****
15.0 1919 Reds (96W, 9 games ahead)****
14.7 1984 Tigers (104W, 15 games ahead, division)****
14.3 1977 Royals (102W, 8 games ahead, division)
14.2 1998 Red Sox (92W, 22 games behind Yankees)
14.1 1976 Phillies (101W, 9 games ahead, division)
13.7 1928 Cardinals (95W, 2 games ahead)**
13.7 1911 A's (101W, 13.5 games ahead)****
13.6 1977 Dodgers (98W, 10 games ahead, division)**
13.6 1924 Giants (93W, 1.5 games ahead)**
13.1 1920 Indians (98W, 2 games ahead)****
12.9 1961 Tigers (101W, 8 games behind Yankees)
12.7 1990 A's (103W, 9 games ahead, division)**
12.5 1968 Tigers (103W, 12 games ahead)****
12.4 1947 Yankees (97W, 12 games ahead)****
11.4 1979 Orioles (102W, 8 games ahead, division)**
11.3 1978 Red Sox (99W, 1 game behind Yankees)
11.3 1917 Giants (98W, 10 games ahead)**
10.9 1918 Cubs (84W, 8.5 games ahead in season shortened by war)**
10.6 1915 White Sox (93W, 3rd place, 9.5 games behind Red Sox)
10.4 1986 Red Sox (**)
10.3 1912 Pirates (2nd place)
8.9 1934 Yankees (2nd place)
8.9 1928 Yankees (****)
8.5 1974 A's (****)
8.4 1914 Athletics (**)
8.2 1917 White Sox (****)
7.8 1908 Cubs (****)
============================================================================
THE SAME TEAMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
An asterisk indicates a calculation based on the formulas in the seventh edition of Total Baseball.
18.6 1901 Pirates
20.0 1902 Pirates
20.2 1904 Giants
25.0 1905 Giants
21.8 1906 Cubs
19.6 1906 Indians (3rd place)
18.5 1908 Giants (2nd place)
07.8 1908 Cubs
15.5 1909 Athletics (2nd place)
15.2 1909 Pirates
26.6 1910 A’s
16.9 1910 Cubs
21.2 1911 Giants
13.7 1911 A's
18.8 1912 Giants
17.6 1912 Red Sox
10.3 1912 Pirates (2nd place)
08.4 1914 Athletics
10.6 1915 White Sox (3rd place)
11.3 1917 Giants
08.2 1917 White Sox
10.9 1918 Cubs
15.0 1919 Reds
13.1 1920 Indians
17.5 1921 Yankees
22.8 1922 Browns (2nd place)
13.6 1924 Giants
36.2 1927 Yankees
16.5 1928 Athletics
13.7 1928 Cardinals
08.9 1928 Yankees
19.7 1929 Athletics
16.5 1929 Cubs
20.6 1931 Yankees (2nd place)
19.4 1931 Athletics
15.9 1932 Yankees
18.1 1934 Tigers
08.9 1934 Yankees (2nd place)
24.5 1935 Cubs
18.3 1935 Tigers
24.7 1936 Yankees
18.2 1937 Yankees
21.9 1938 Yankees
29.9 1939 Yankees
16.0 1941 Dodgers
27.7 1942 Yankees
21.2 1942 Cardinals
16.3 1942 Red Sox (2nd place)
21.5 1943 Cardinals
21.3 1944 Cardinals
25.2 1945 Cubs
16.7 1946 Red Sox
12.4 1947 Yankees
27.9 1948 Indians
16.3 1948 Braves
18.0 1949 Red Sox (2nd place)
20.8 1952 Yankees
24.0 1953 Yankees
18.7 1953 Dodgers
20.5 1954 Indians
18.1 1954 Yankees (2nd place)
21.0 1955 Yankees
18.6 1955 Dodgers
17.4 1956 Yankees
20.7 1957 Yankees
19.8 1957 Braves
20.3 1958 Yankees
21.8 1961 Yankees
12.9 1961 Tigers (2nd place)
12.5 1968 Tigers
32.3 1969 Orioles
20.0 1969 Twins
20.7 1970 Orioles
18.4 1970 Reds
18.8 1971 Orioles
22.2 1972 Pirates
23.0 1973 Orioles
17.2 1974 Dodgers
08.5 1974 A's
18.1 1975 Reds
18.2 1976 Reds
14.1 1976 Phillies
24.2 1977 Phillies
16.9 1977 Yankees
14.3 1977 Royals
13.6 1977 Dodgers
18.9 1978 Dodgers
11.3 1978 Red Sox
11.4 1979 Orioles
14.7 1984 Tigers
18.6 1985 Blue Jays
17.9 1985 Cardinals
20.2 1986 Mets
10.4 1986 Red Sox
23.3 1988 Mets
12.7 1990 A's
21.7 1993 Braves
19.5 1993 Giants (2nd place, division)
28.9 1995 Indians
26.3 1996 Indians
23.4 1997 Yankees (2nd place, division)
20.1 1997 Braves
32.0 1998 Astros
28.9 1998 Braves
25.3 1998 Yankees
14.2 1998 Red Sox (2nd place, division)
17.1 1999 Yankees*
18.2 2000 Giants*
- The Greatest Baseball Teams Ever Top teams go head to head in computer-simulated games.
- The Best and Worst Baseball Teams of All Time For the author's criteria, check the site's news releases.
- Baseball's Greatest Teams CBS Sportsline's look at teams with high winning percentages.
- The Five Greatest Baseball Teams In late 1998, The Sporting News polled a panel of its editors (and we all know how painful THAT can be).
- The Greatest Baseball Teams of All Time Unexplained criteria.
- MLB Rankings Kenneth Massey's look at the best baseball teams right now.
Page created 11/12/1999. Last revised 9/2/2001.
