Once again, it’s time for Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye. (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” those one-of-a-kind accomplishment or statistics. Today, the Roundtable is looking at MLB teams with 100 or more wins in a season.
Overall, there have been a total of 119 100+ win seasons, with 38 of those teams going on to win the World Series.
No team has recorded more 100+ win seasons than the New York Yankees – with 21 such campaigns (ten more than the runner-up Dodgers). The Yankees won 12 World Series in seasons in which they won at least 100 games.
Only six franchises have never had a season of 100 or more victories: Rockies; Marlins; Brewers; Padres; Rangers; Blue Jays; Nationals.
Three-peats
There have been eight instances of a team/franchise recording three consecutive seasons of 100 or more wins.
Here they are, using current franchise names.
- Athletics 1929-39-31 (WS Champions 1929, 1930, 1931)
- Cardinals 1942-43-44
- Orioles 1969-70-71 (WS Champions 1969. 1970, 1971)_
- Braves 1997-98-99
- Astros 2017-18-19 (WS Champions 2017, 2019)
- Yankees 2002-03-04 (WS Champion 2003)
- Dodgers 2021-22-23
A String Quartet
There have been two seasons in which four teams notched 100 or more victories.
2019
Astros: 107-55, won the AL West by ten games over the second place A’s. Lost the World Series to the 93-69 Nationals.
Dodgers: 106-56, won the NL West by 21 games over the second-place Diamondbacks. Lost to the Nationals in the NL Championship Series.
Yankees: 103-59, won the AL East by seven games over the Rays. Lost to the Astros in the American League Championship Series.
Twins: 101-61, won the AL Central by eight games over the Indians. Lost in the AL Division Series to the Yankees.
2022
Dodgers: 111-51, won the NL West by 22 games over the Padres. Lost the NL Division Series to the 89-73 Padres.
Astros: 106-56, won the AL West by 16 games over the Marlins. Won the World Series 4-2 over the Phillies.
Braves: 101-61. Tied for the NL East Lead with the Mets (won Division on a tie breaker). Lost to the 87-75 Phillies in the NL Division Series.
Mets: 101-61, tied for NL West lead with Braves. Lost to the Padres in the Wild Card Round.
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What the “L” Is That On Our Record?
The fewest losses by any team winning 100+ games is 36: 1906 Cubs (116-36) and 1902 Pirates (103-36).
Man, What Do You Have to Do to Win This Thing?
Those Two 116-Win Seasons
Those most wins in an MLB season is 116 – 1906 Cubs (116-36) and 2001 Mariners (116-48). The Cubs finished 20 games ahead of the second-place Giants and lost the World Series (four games-to-two to the 93-58 White Sox). The Mariners finished 14 games ahead of second-place A’s in the West Division. Seattle was eliminated from the post-season (in the American League Championship Series) by the 95-65 Yankees.
On the 1906 Cubs, no pitcher appeared in more than nine games in relief and that was Ed Reulbach, who also started 24 games.
A few similarities:
- Both teams lead their league in runs scored and fewest runs surrendered;
- Both topped their league in batting average and earned run average;
- Both showed game-changing speed – The Mariners finished first in their league in stolen bases, the Cubs second. The Cubs finished first in triples, the Mariners second.
Here’s a bit of a breakout on these two squads.
1906 Cubs
Led the NL in runs scored (704); average (.262); triples (71). They were second in doubles (181); HR (20); and SB (283). On the mound, Chicago gave up the fewest runs (381); boasted the lowest ERA (1.75); the most strikeouts (702); and most shutouts (30).
First baseman Frank Chance was an offensive key, leading the NL in runs scored (103) and stolen bases (57), while hitting .319 in 136 games. Third baseman Harry Steinfeldt led the league in hits (176) and RBI (83), while hitting .327. Mordecai Brown led the staff with 26 wins and led the NL with a 1.04 ERA and nine shutouts.
2001 Mariners
Led the AL in runs scored (927); average (.288); hits (1,637); and stolen bases (174). The Mariners finish second in walks (614) and triples (38). On the mound, surrendered the fewest runs (627); had the lowest ERA (3.54); and recorded the most shutouts (14). Finished second in saves (56)
Key players on offense included Ichiro Suzuki, who led the league average (.350); hits (242); and stolen bases (56); Brett Boone, who went .331, with 37 homers, 118 runs scored and a league-leading 141 RBI; Edgar Martinez (.306-23-116); and Mike Cameron (.267-25-119). Thirty-eight-year-old Jamie Moyer led the mound staff with 20 wins (six losses) Kazuhiro Sasaki chipped in with 45 saves.
Primary Resource: Stathead.com
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