The Top 10 Best Franchises in MLB History

The Chicago White Sox are one of the surprising teams to make the list. Since the franchise started in 1901 the team has won six pennants, three World Series, and have made nine playoff appearances.

In their history the White Sox have faced a scandal specifically in the 1918 World Series, which was fixed. It will always be remembered in baseball history as the "Black Sox scandal."

Furthermore the White Sox have 25 hall of fame players.

Even with that scandal on their record the White Sox have a history of winning games.

In the franchises history the team has scored 73,870 runs, 572,195 at-bats, 149,323 hits, 9,732 homeruns, and a batting average of .261

Pitching wise the White Sox have given up 72,967 runs and have an ERA of 3.73

Their all-time lineup looks like this:

Managing wise their best manager has been Fielder Jones who had a record of 426-293 with a winning pecentage of .592 and the worst manager in franchise history has been Lew Fonseca who had a record of 120-196 for a winning percentage of .380

Carlton Fisk-C
Paul Konerko-1B
Eddie Collins-2B
Luke Appling-SS
Robin Ventura-3B
Minnie Minoso-LF
Jim Landis-CF
Harold Baines-RF
Frank Thomas-DH
Ed Walsh-SP
Bobby Thigpen-CP

In the early part of the Detroit Tigers they had arguably one of the greatest players ever to play in Major League history. That man was Ty Cobb. Among others the Tigers may have had the quirkiest pitcher in history in Mark "the bird" Fidrych.

As for the hall of fame the Tigers have sent 20 players to Cooperstown.

The Tigers have accounted for four World Series, 10 pennants, and 12 playoff appearances. The Tigers most recent World Series appearance was in 2006 when the team lost the series 4-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Since the team started in 1901 the Tigers franchise has scored 78,391 runs, have had 577,422 at-bats, 153,182 hits, 12,115 homeruns, and a .265 batting average.

Pitching wise the Tigers have given up 77,417 runs and have an ERA of 3.96.

The all-time Tigers team would look like this:

The best manager would be Mickey Cochrane with a record of 348-250 for a winning percentage of .582 and the worst manager would have been Luis Pujols who went 55-100 for a winning percentage of .355.

Bill Freehan-C
Hank Greenberg-1B
Charlie Gehringer-2B
Alan Trammell-SS
Aurelio Rodriguez-3B
Bobby Veach-LF
Ty Cobb-CF
Al Kaline-RF
Sam Crawford-DH
Bill Donovan-SP
Todd Jones-CP

The Reds are one baseball's oldest franchises. The Reds began playing in 1882. Pete Rose played a majority of his career with the Reds and is basebal's all-time hit leader, but he's also known as the player who was barred from being inducted into the hall of fame because he bet on baseball.

The Reds have won 10 pennants and have won five World Series, along with that the Reds have also had 33 players inducted into the hall of fame.

As for the all-time team here's a look:

The best manager Pop Snyder who had a record of 140-76 which is good for a .648 winning percentage and the worst manager was Donie Bush with a record of 58-94 for a winning percentage of .382

Johnny Bench-C
Tony Perez-1B
Bid McPhee-2B
Barry Larkin-SS
Hick Carpenter-3B
Frank Robinson-LF
Vada Pinson-CF
Eric Davis-RF
Pete Rose-DH
Will White-SP
Danny Graves-CP

Out of all the teams in the top 10 with the highest winning percentages the Indians have the least amount of pennants with five and they are tied for the last amount World Series with two.

The Indians have had 28 hall of fame players in their franchises history. Bob Feller a starting pitcher for the Indians maybe the most recognizable.

Since the franchise started in 1901 the Indians have scored 76,698 runs, 577,113 at-bats, 153,876 hits, 11,399 homeruns, and a .267 batting average.

The pitching for the Indians has given up 74,966 runs and the ERA is at 3.82

As for the all-time team the Indians would field a team that would look like this:

As the best manager Al Lopez had a record of 570-354 for a winning percentage of .617 and the worst manager the Indians franchise has sent out was Jimmy McAleer who went 54-82 for a winning percentage of .397

Victor Martinez-C
Jim Thome-1B
Nap Lajoie-2B
Joe Sewell-SS
Ken Keltner-3B
Jeff Heath-LF
Earl Averill-CF
Manny Ramirez-RF
Tris Speaker-DH
Bob Feller-SP
Bob Wickman-CP

The Chicago Cubs are an example of a team that wins, but once they make the post season the team doesn't go very far. The Cubs are considered the "lovable losers" due to the fact that the Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908.

Even with that the Cubs come in at number six in terms of winning percentage. The Cubs are one of the oldest franchises in baseball and got their start all the way back in 1876.

The Cubs have had 39 players inducted into the hall of fame. The team has 16 pennants and two World Series championshps.

As a franchise the Cubs have scored 91,800 runs, 680,270 at-bats, 179,260 hits, 12,529 homeruns, and a batting average of .264

Pitching wise the Cubs have given up 88,463 and have an ERA of 3.66

The all-time Cub team would look like this:

Manager for the Cubs that had the best winning percentage was Frank Chance with a record of 768-389 for a .664 winning perecentage and the worst manager the Cubs have had was Joey Amalfitano who went 66-116 for a winning percentage of .363

Gabby Hartnett-C
Cap Anson-1B
Ryne Sandberg-2B
Ernie Banks-SS
Ron Santo-3B
Billy Williams-LF
Hack Wilson-CF
Sammy Sosa-RF
Moredecai Brown-SP
Lee Smith-CP

The Boston Red Sox had a history of winning but not winning until recently. I remember a few years ago in New York getting to watch a game at Yankee Stadium and it was the Red Sox vs Yankees.

I'm neither a fan of the Red Sox or the Yankees, but it was interesting to see the back and forth between fans though. At the time the Red Sox hadn't won a World Series since 1918.

Red Sox fans would shout "Yankees Suck" and the Yankee fans would yell right back "1918."

The Red Sox have one of the most recognizable players in baseball history in Ted Williams he is the last player to hit over .400 in a season and the last player in baseball to win a triple crown. Meaning most homeruns, rbis, and the highest batting average.

Since the franchise started in 1901 the Red Sox have won 12 pennants, seven world series, and as well had 31 players elected to the hall of fame.

As a franchise the team has scored 78,240 runs, 577,227 at-bats, 154,224 hits, 11,738 homeruns, and a .267 batting average.

Pitching wise the Red Sox have given up 75,545 runs and have an ERA of 3.88

Here's what the all-time team would look like for the Red Sox:

Managerial wise the best manager in the franchises history has been Jake Stahl who had a record of 144-88 for a .621 winning percentage and the worst manager in franchise history has been Heinie Wagner who went 52-102 for a .338 winning percentage.

Jason Varitek-C
Jimmie Foxx-1B
Bobby Doerr-2B
Joe Cronin-SS
Frank Malzone-3B
Ted Williams-LF
Reggie Smith-CF
Dwight Evans-RF
Carl Yastrzemski-DH
Cy Young-SP
Jonathan Papelbon-CP

The Cardinals were another surprising team to make the list. Stan Musial is one of the most recognizable players in the franchises history. Another player who has been recognizable is Ozzie Smith mostly due to his ability on defense, and Bob Gibson is the most recognizable pitcher the Cardinals have had.

Since the franchise started in 1882 the team has won 21 pennants, 10 World Series, and have had 42 hall of fame players inducted to the hall of fame.

Furthermore the franchise has scored 89,314 runs, 667,450 at-bats, 178,103 hits, 10,556 homeruns, and have a batting average of .267.

As for the pitching the franchise has given up 86,344 runs and has an ERA of 3.68

The all-time team for the Cardinals looks likes this:

Charlie Comiskey was the best manager of the Cardinals franchise he went 563-273 for a winning percentage of .673 and the worst manager in the Cardinals franchise history has been Tim Hurst who went 39-111 for a winning percentage of .260

Ted Simmons-C
Stan Musial-1B
Rogers Hornsby-2B
Ozzie Smith-SS
Ken Boyer-3B
Joe Medwick-LF
Ray Lankford-CF
Enos Slaughter-RF
Bob Gibson-SP
Jason Isringhausen-CP

The Dodgers are one of the two California teams that came from New York. Jackie Robinson is the most famous Dodger when he broke the color barrier. He also is famous for stealing home in the World Series.

In recognition for Robinson breaking the color barrier each Major League team has had the number 42 retired to honor Robinson. So, no current player except for Mariano Rivera is able to wear the number 42.

The Dodgers also may have had the most colorful manager in Major League history in Tommy Lasorda.

In 1884 is when the Dodgers were founded. Since that time the team has won 22 pennants, six World Series, and have had 45 players enshrined into Cooperstown.

As a franchise the team has scored 86,350 runs, 655,960 at-bats, 171,907 hits, 11,199 homeruns, and a batting average of .262

Pitching wise the Dodgers franchise has allowed 82,383 runs and an ERA of 3.54

The all-time lineup would look like this:

For the best manager in the Dodgers history it was Bill McGunnigle with a record of 267-139 for a winning percentage of .658 and the worst manager in franchise history has been Charlie Ebbets who had a record of 38-68 for a .358 winning percentage.

Roy Campanella-C
Gil Hodges-1B
Tom Daly-2B
Pee Wee Reese-SS
Ron Cey-3B
Zack Wheat-LF
Duke Snider-CF
Carl Furillo-RF
Sandy Koufax-SP
Eric Gagne-CP

The San Francisco Giants like the Dodgers moved from New York. Before AT&T Park was built the Giants played their home games at Candlestick Park, which was a ballpark that was known for its strong winds that knocked down baseballs.

There's an argument of how many more homeruns Wilie Mays would have had if he hadn't played his home games in Candlestick Park. For the Giants there are really three names that are truly recognizble.

There's Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, and Willie McCovey. In fact for McCovey the Giants named the cove just outside of AT&T Park McCovey Cove.

Also, the Giants have had some of the most memorable plays in the World Series. One was the homerun by Bobby Thompson and the announcer screaming "the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant."

The second play was Willie Mays's over the shoulder catch that is simply known as "the catch" on the play Mays ran after the ball and was about 425 feet away made the catch, quickly turned around and threw a perfect strike back to the infield. At the time the bases were loaded and no player advanced.

As for the franchise itself being the number two in terms of winning percentage that was the biggest surprise to me in my opinion. I knew the giants in their history had some good teams, but having the second best winning percentage in Major League history was rather shocking.

In the franchise's history the Giants have won 20 pennants, five World Series but none since 1954, and have had 55 hall of famers enshrined in Cooperstown.

The franchise has scored 90,327 runs, 659,562 at-bats, 174,611 hits, 13,305 homeruns, and a .265 batting average.

Pitching wise the Giants have given up 83,063 runs and have an ERA of 3.56

For an all-time team the lineup would look like this:

The best manager has been Jim Mutrie with a record of 529-345 which meant a .605 winning percentage and the worst manager the Giants have had was Jim Davenport who went 56-88 for a .389 winning percentage.

Chief Meyers-C
Willie McCovey-1B
Larry Doyle-2B
Travis Jackson-SS
Matt Williams-3B
Barry Bonds-LF
Willie Mays-CF
Mel Ott-RF
Christy Mathewson-SP
Robb Nen-CP

As this was really no surprise the New York Yankees the team with the most World Series with 26 have the best winning percentage in Major League Baseball history.

The Yankees have the three most recognizable players in the history of baseball. Those are Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe Dimaggio. Yogi Berra was one of the most quotable players in baseball as well.

Yankee Stadium when it was built was called "the house that Ruth built." That lasted until this year when Yankee Stadium was replaced by the New Yankee Stadium.

Even to the present day the Yankees the players are some of the most recognizable figures in baseball.There's Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Johnny Damon.

For the Yankees franchise itself the franchise has won 39 pennants, and the 26 World Series as mentioned before, and have had 41 hall of famers enshrined in Cooperstown.

The Yankees have scored 82,194 runs, 576,085 at-bats, 154,185 hits, 13,992 homeruns, and a .268 batting average.

Pitchers for the Yankees have given up 70,900 and have an ERA of 3.63

For the Yankes the all-time lineup would be:

Managerial wise the best manager the Yankees have had was Dick Howser who went 103-60 whch was good for a .632 winning percentage and the worst manager in Yankees history was Harry Wolverton who went 50-102 for a winning percentage of .328

Yogi Berra-C
Lou Gehrig-1B
Tony Lazzeri-2B
Derek Jeter-SS
Alex Rodriguez-3B
Babe Ruth-LF
Joe Dimaggio-CF
Paul O'Neil-RF
Mickey Mantle-DH
Whitey Ford-SP
Mariano Rivera-CP

During the time I did the research for this article I came across some interesting facts. For example which team has the most hall of famers, which team has hit the most homeruns, etc....

So here's the list of facts I thought were interesting:

The Dodgers have the best ERA as a franchise which is at 3.54

The Giants have the most hall of famers with 55, followed by the Atlanta Braves with 45, and the Dodgers with 45 as well.

The Chicago Cubs have scored the most runs with 91,800

Cubs have the most at-bats with 680,270

Cubs have the most hits with 179,260

The Rockies have the best batting average at .278

The Phillies have given up the most runs at 91,199

The Yankees have the most pennants with 39

The Cardinals have used the most players by using 1949 of them

The two oldest teams started in 1876 that was the Braves and Cubs.