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Baseball has seemingly been around forever (officially, it has been around since 1876 professionally), and there have been some pretty good teams. However, no teams in the history of the game have been better than these 25 from specific seasons.
25. 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks
Credit: Getty Images25. 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks were definitely on the fringe of being included on this list, but their resolve during the 2001 World Series got them on it. They participated in one of the classic World Series ever against the powerhouse Yankees looking for their fourth straight World Series title. Of course, they also had one of the best starting pitching duos of all time as well in Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.
24. 1969 New York Mets
Credit: Getty Images24. 1969 New York Mets
No team has gotten hotter than the 1969 "Miracle Mets" got from late August on. Cubs fans remember the 1969 season as a collapse, as the team blew a huge division lead, but it was more about the Mets refusing to lose. Less than a decade into their franchise's existence, New York took the league by storm and won it all.
23. 1976 Cincinnati Reds
Credit: Getty Images23. 1976 Cincinnati Reds
The Big Red Machine was one of the best teams in big-league history. Surprisingly, they only won two World Series (back-to-back in 1975 and 1976), but those years were absolute domination. Three Hall of Famers played for this team, four if you count Pete Rose, who should be in the Hall. Very few teams can say that at any time in history.
22. 1942 St. Louis Cardinals
Credit: Getty Images22. 1942 St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals dominated the regular season, going 106-48, which is an insane mark, and they didn't disappoint in the playoffs. Behind future Hall of Famer Stan Musial, the Cardinals claimed yet another World Series title. That's something they would get used to in the years to come.
21. 1961 New York Yankees
Credit: Getty Images21. 1961 New York Yankees
Having Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle on the same team was all the Yankees needed to dominate the league in 1961. Yogi Berra was even still playing at this time. At 109-53, the Bronx Bombers left no doubt that they were the team to beat in baseball. Nobody was able to crack them as they went on to win it all.
20. 1969 Baltimore Orioles
Credit: Getty Images20. 1969 Baltimore Orioles
This team might be the best to never win the World Series. All year long, Baltimore looked like the team to beat, but they ran into a buzzsaw in the Miracle Mets. Not to worry, they would come back hungrier the following year. Now, that team was one of the best of all time.
19. 1999 New York Yankees
Credit: Getty Images19. 1999 New York Yankees
It's hard to rank each of the 1990s New York Yankees teams because they were all good, but 1999 was one of their best. Against a powerhouse in the Atlanta Braves, they ran away with it. Despite the Braves' strong pitching, the Yankees abused them and swept the Fall Classic.
18. 1954 New York Giants
Credit: Getty Images18. 1954 New York Giants
Willie Mays, Monte Irvin and Alvin Dark were a dangerous trio in the Giants' lineup in the mid-1950s, and everything came together for them in 1954. For a dominating team, their 97-57 regular-season mark wasn't incredible, but they made it clear in the playoffs that they were the best team in the league in that season.
17. 1973 Oakland Athletics
Credit: Getty Images17. 1973 Oakland Athletics
The Bay Area had some great baseball teams in the 1970s, and perhaps none were better than the 1973 Athletics. They won their third straight division title and advanced to the World Series, where they barely edged the Mets in seven games. The resolve this team showed all year long is what made them truly special.
16. 1934 St. Louis Cardinals
Credit: Getty Images16. 1934 St. Louis Cardinals
What was special about the Cardinals' 1934 season is that it seemed to set a precedent for the future of the franchise. Outside of the Yankees, there has been no more dominant franchise in baseball history. That started in 1934 when the team rolled to a World Series title. They edged out the Tigers in seven games and earned their third title in nine years. That solidified their first dynasty.
15. 2015 Kansas City Royals
Credit: Getty Images15. 2015 Kansas City Royals
This year's Royals were so special for so many reasons. They fell just short in 2014 and came back hungrier than ever before this season. Despite being five outs away from elimination in the ALDS against the Astros, they persevered and edged out Houston in that series. There has never been a team more clutch in the playoffs than this bunch, and they earned every bit of their World Series title.
14. 2002 Anaheim Angels
Credit: Getty Images14. 2002 Anaheim Angels
There was nothing quite like the Rally Monkey that the Angels employed in 2002 when they won it all. They engaged in a classic World Series against the Giants and barely did enough to win it all, erasing a 3-2 series deficit to win it in seven games. This was yet another team that never said die. It seems like that's a recipe for success historically.
13. 1995 Atlanta Braves
Credit: Getty Images13. 1995 Atlanta Braves
For a team that could have been a dynasty, the 1990s Braves were a disappointment. Despite winning the division 14 times in a row, Atlanta won just one World Series. That was in 1995 when everything finally came together for them. With one of the best pitching rotations of all time, the Braves simply didn't allow opposing teams to score enough to beat them.
12. 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers
Credit: Getty Images12. 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers
With Sandy Koufax in his prime, the Dodgers made a run at the World Series and won it all. Koufax won the Cy Yong and MVP that season and was the ace in front of Don Drysdale, who was great in his own right. Los Angeles relied heavily upon these two pitchers throughout the season and they did not disappoint.
11. 2004 Boston Red Sox
Credit: Getty Images11. 2004 Boston Red Sox
There aren't many stories in sports much cooler than the Red Sox' 2004 World Series run. Sure, they weren't the most dominant team ever, but they did something no other team had ever done in order to erase an 86-year World Series curse. Beating their hated rivals in the ALCS on the way just made it that much sweeter. The guys on this roster will forever be remembered in Boston.
10. 1986 New York Mets
Credit: Getty Images10. 1986 New York Mets
For as good as the 1969 Miracle Mets were, their 1986 team was even better. Of course, they were helped by Bill Buckner's gaffe in Game 6, but they truly were the best team in the league that season. People will always remember that World Series for Buckner's miscue, but they should also remember just how dominant the Mets were all season long.
9. 1993 Toronto Blue Jays
Credit: Getty Images9. 1993 Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays of 1993 were an exciting bunch. They won their second-straight World Series that season and it came after a Joe Carter Game 6 walk-off home run, which continues to live on as one of the most classic moments in World Series history. Everything that led to that moment was equally impressive as the team mowed down their competition all year long.
8. 1929 Philadelphia Athletics
Credit: Getty Images8. 1929 Philadelphia Athletics
While the league was taking a break from Yankee domination in the 1920s, the Athletics were busy being the best team in the league. Perhaps the best team ever coached by Connie Mack, these Athletics won 104 games and finally toppled the Yankees in the American League. Simply for the fact that they disposed of the legendary Yankees and won it all, this was one of the greatest teams of all time.
7. 1907 Chicago Cubs
Credit: Getty Images7. 1907 Chicago Cubs
Everyone knows how long it's been since the Cubs won a World Series title, but in the mid-to-late 1900s, they were the best team in the league. After being upset in the 1906 World Series by the White Sox, the Cubs came back better than ever in 1907. Their 107-45 mark is the best winning percentage in major-league history at the time and lasted for quite some time. They also won the franchise's first of two World Series titles. They haven't won one since those two.
6. 1984 Detroit Tigers
Credit: Getty Images6. 1984 Detroit Tigers
Not many teams can say they started the season 35-5. In fact, nobody but the 1984 Detroit Tigers can say that. From start to finish, they were the best team in the league due to a great balance between offense and pitching. Of course, you have to play the games, but all season long it seemed obvious the Tigers would be crowned as the champions by year's end.
5. 1939 New York Yankees
Credit: Getty Images5. 1939 New York Yankees
Yet another dominant Yankees team, the 1939 squad was one of the best in the history of the Bronx Bombers. After winning 106 games in the regular season, New York stormed to a fourth straight World Series title. That was the first time that happened in major-league history. This year marked the height of one of baseball's best dynasties.
4. 1975 Cincinnati Reds
Credit: Getty Images4. 1975 Cincinnati Reds
The first World Series-winning Big Red Machine team was even better than the first. Simply, they were far more dominant. With great players at nearly every position in the field, it didn't seem like any team had a chance at toppling them. The Red Sox gave them a fight in one of the most classic World Series matchups of all time, but when it was all said and done, it was the Reds hoisting the trophy.
3. 1998 New York Yankees
Credit: Getty Images3. 1998 New York Yankees
There may never be a team again that dominates offensively the way the Yankees did in 1998. Unbelievably, they scored 965 runs during the season, good enough for an astonishing 5.96 runs per game. After winning 114 regular-season games, the team matched up with the 116-win Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. They toppled the greatest regular-season team of all time and dominated their way to another World Series title.
2. 1970 Baltimore Orioles
Credit: Getty Images2. 1970 Baltimore Orioles
Following the disappointing end to their 1969 season, the Orioles came back with a vengeance in 1970. This team had four pitchers with 20 or more wins, something that hasn't happened since. Their offense wasn't too shabby either with Frank Robinson in the middle of the lineup. That all added up to one of the best teams in major-league history.
1. 1927 New York Yankees
Credit: Getty Images1. 1927 New York Yankees
Murderer's Row will never be matched by a single baseball team again. The names in the 1927 Yankees lineup were nearly all legendary. The first six hitters in the lineup were Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri. Now that's an incredible 1-6. It's no wonder the Bronx Bombers steamrolled everyone they played in 1927. They were simply the greatest team in MLB history.
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