Ranking Best New York Yankees Teams That Didn't Win a World Series
The New York Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, more than any other franchise in baseball, and they have had plenty of other teams capable of winning it all that ultimately came up short.
Whether it's an opponent getting hot at the perfect time, a playoff format that didn't give them a chance before the postseason field expanded or a great team that simply came up short, there have been some memorable squads in Yankees history that didn't accomplish the ultimate goal.
Ahead we've ranked the 10 best Yankees teams that didn't win the World Series, focusing on their win-loss record, underlying stats like run differential, team OPS+, team ERA+ and expected win-loss record, as well as the broader narrative that surrounded the team.
Importantly, the focus is not simply on which teams came closest to winning it all, but instead on the overall quality of the team itself.
10. 1980
1 of 10
W/L: 103-59 (.636) | Expected W/L: 97-65 (.599)
Run Differential: +158 | OPS+: 112 | ERA+: 110
Result: Lost in ALCS
Top Hitters: Right fielder Reggie Jackson hit .300/.398/.587 with an AL-leading 41 home runs and 111 RBI in arguably his best season in a Yankees uniform, finishing runner-up in AL MVP balloting. Infielders Willie Randolph, Bucky Dent and Graig Nettles joined him on the All-Star team, while catcher Rick Cerone finished seventh in AL MVP voting.
Top Pitchers: Veteran Tommy John (22-9, 3.43 ERA, 265.1 IP) and left-hander Ron Guidry (17-10, 3.56 ERA, 219.2 IP) anchored the starting rotation, while Hall of Fame reliever Rich Gossage (64 G, 33 SV, 2.27 ERA) finished third in Cy Young and MVP voting at the back of the bullpen.
End Result: Despite leading the majors with 103 wins during the regular season, the Yankees were swept by AL MVP George Brett and the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.
9. 1960
2 of 10
W/L: 97-57-1 (.630) | Expected W/L: 89-65 (.578)
Run Differential: +119 | OPS+: 108 | ERA+: 103
Result: Lost in World Series
Top Hitters: A year before their legendary push for the single-season home run record, Roger Maris (160 OPS+, 39 HR, 112 RBI) and Mickey Mantle (162 OPS+, 40 HR, 94 RBI) finished first and second in AL MVP voting in their first year as teammates. First baseman Bill Skowron (141 OPS+, 26 HR, 91 RBI) also had a big season, while a 35-year-old Yogi Berra (118 OPS+, 15 HR, 62 RBI) still made an impact.
Top Pitchers: Hall of Famer Whitey Ford (12-9, 3.08 ERA, 192.2 IP) had a down year by his lofty standards, but was still the ace of the staff. Art Ditmar (15-9, 3.06 ERA, 200.0 IP) was the other top arm on a staff that saw eight different pitchers make at least eight starts in an era where that was relatively uncommon.
End Result: With lopsided victories in Game 2 (16-3), Game 3 (10-0) and Game 6 (12-0) of the World Series, the Yankees actually outscored the Pittsburgh Pirates by a 55-27 margin over seven games. However, Bill Mazeroski's legendary walk-off blast in Game 7 gave Pittsburgh the series.
8. 1997
3 of 10
W/L: 96-66 (.593) | Expected W/L: 100-62 (.617)
Run Differential: +203 | OPS+: 108 | ERA+: 117
Result: Lost in ALDS
Top Hitters: In his second season with the Yankees, Tino Martinez put together the best year of his career, hitting .296/.371/.577 for a 143 OPS+ with 44 home runs and 141 RBI to finish runner-up to Ken Griffey Jr. in MVP voting. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter joined him in recording 5-WAR seasons, while Paul O'Neill was an All-Star Game starter.
Top Pitchers: With Andy Pettitte (18-7, 2.88 ERA, 240.1 IP) anchoring a rotation that also featured David Wells, David Cone, Kenny Rogers and Dwight Gooden, this stands as one of the better pitching staffs on this list. Mariano Rivera moved into the closer's role after starring as a setup man in '96 and had 43 saves with a 1.88 ERA in 66 appearances.
End Result: A year after winning their first World Series since 1978, and a year before the beginning of a dynasty that would capture three straight titles, the 1997 team serves as an odd bridge year in Yankees history. A potent Cleveland offense sent them packing in five games in the ALDS.
7. 1957
4 of 10
W/L: 98-56 (.636) | Expected W/L: 98-56 (.636)
Run Differential: +189 | OPS+: 105 | ERA+: 120
Result: Lost in World Series
Top Hitters: A staggering 11.3-WAR season from Mickey Mantle paced the Yankees offense, as he hit .365/.512/.665 with 34 home runs, 94 RBI, 121 runs scored and 146 walks at the peak of his Hall of Fame career. Teammates Yogi Berra, Bill Skowron, Bobby Richardson, Gil McDougald and Elston Howard all joined him on the All-Star team.
Top Pitchers: With ace Whitey Ford slowed by a nagging shoulder injury, Tom Sturdivant (16-6, 2.54 ERA, 201.2 IP), Bobby Shantz (11-5, 2.45 ERA, 173.0 IP) and Bob Turley (13-6, 2.71 ERA, 176.1 IP) stepped forward to lead what ended up being one of the best pitching staffs in franchise history.
End Result: While the World Series went seven games, the Yankees were unable to overcome a brilliant October run from Milwaukee Braves starter Lew Burdette. He finished 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA over 27 innings while tossing three complete games, including a seven-hit shutout in Game 7.
6. 2019
5 of 10
W/L: 103-59 (.636) | Expected W/L: 99-63 (.611)
Run Differential: +204 | OPS+: 118 | ERA+: 104
Result: Lost in ALCS
Top Hitters: The Yankees hit 306 home runs during the 2019 season, with young shortstop Gleyber Torres (128 OPS+, 38 HR) leading seven different players who topped 20 long balls. Aaron Judge (143 OPS+, 27 HR) played just 102 games, but was still a 5.6-WAR player, while DJ LeMahieu (.327/26/102) finished fourth in MVP voting.
Top Pitchers: The rotation could best be described as "good enough" given the team's offensive firepower, with Masahiro Tanaka fronting a staff that included breakout right-hander Domingo Germán, a healthy James Paxton and veteran starters J.A. Happ (36) and CC Sabathia (38). The trio of Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and Adam Ottavino at the back of the bullpen was lights-out.
End Result: After a 7-0 victory in Game 1, the Yankees managed just 14 runs over the next five games as their potent offense was silenced by the Houston Astros pitching staff in the ALCS.
5. 1921
6 of 10
W/L: 98-55 (.641) | Expected W/L: 96-57 (.627)
Run Differential: +240 | OPS+: 111 | ERA+: 110
Result: Lost in World Series
Top Hitters: It's splitting hairs deciding which individual season was the best of Babe Ruth's storied career, but 1921 is certainly part of the conversation. He hit .378/.512/.846 for a ridiculous 239 OPS+ with 59 home runs, 168 RBI, 177 runs scored and 12.9 WAR. Only six other teams had more combined home runs than the 59 he hit himself.
Top Pitchers: Hall of Famer Waite Hoyt (19-13, 3.09 ERA, 282.1 IP) was the most prominent name on the Yankees staff, but Carl Mays (27-9, 7 SV, 3.05 ERA, 336.2 IP) had the superior season in 1921. He completed 30 of his 38 starts and also made 11 relief appearances with seven saves.
End Result: In their 19th year as a franchise, the Yankees finally captured their first AL pennant, so while they came up short in the 1921 World Series this team still achieved a significant milestone. During a brief window when the league experimented with a best-of-nine format for the Fall Classic, the Yankees were bested 5-3 by the New York Giants.
4. 2002
7 of 10
W/L: 103-58 (.640) | Expected W/L: 99-62 (.615)
Run Differential: +200 | OPS+: 114 | ERA+: 115
Result: Lost in ALDS
Top Hitters: The entire Yankees infield of Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter and Robin Ventura made the All-Star team, along with catcher Jorge Posada, while center fielder Bernie Williams hit .333/.415/.493 and won a Silver Slugger. Soriano (129 OPS+, 39 HR, 102 RBI, 41 SB) and Giambi (172 OPS+, 41 HR, 122 RBI) both finished top-five in MVP voting.
Top Pitchers: With 30-year-old Andy Pettitte as the youngest starter in the rotation, the Yankees staff was lacking in youth, but Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens, David Wells and Orlando Hernández made it a truly stacked rotation from top to bottom. Nagging groin and shoulder issues limited Mariano Rivera to 45 games and 28 saves.
End Result: The 2002 Anaheim Angels proved to be a team of destiny, knocking off a heavily-favored Yankees team in four games in the ALDS en route to one of the more unlikely World Series title runs in history.
3. 1931
8 of 10
W/L: 94-59-2 (.614) | Expected W/L: 100-53 (.654)
Run Differential: +307 | OPS+: 125 | ERA+: 95
Result: Missed playoffs
Top Hitters: This was one of several seasons where Babe Ruth (218 OPS+, 46 HR, 162 RBI) and Lou Gehrig (194 OPS+, 46 HR, 185 RBI) were both in peak form offensively. They were joined by fellow Hall of Famers Bill Dickey, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Sewell and Earle Combs.
Top Pitchers: Lefty Gomez (21-9, 2.67 ERA, 243.0 IP) was the unquestioned ace of a rotation that also featured Hall of Fame hurlers Red Ruffing and Herb Pennock. That staggering run differential, despite a 95 ERA+, highlights the dominance of the offense.
End Result: That +307 run differential is the sixth-highest mark in franchise history, behind 1939 (+411), 1927 (+376), 1936 (+334), 1998 (+309) and 1937 (+308) teams that all won the World Series. This group didn't even get a crack at October, finishing 13.5 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics for the AL pennant.
2. 1954
9 of 10
W/L: 103-51-1 (.669) | Expected W/L: 101-53 (.656)
Run Differential: +242 | OPS+: 110 | ERA+: 107
Result: Missed playoffs
Top Hitters: With a .307/.367/.488 line, 22 home runs and 125 RBI to go along with his intangibles as a leader and team captain, Yogi Berra won his second of three MVP awards in 1954. He was joined in the middle of the lineup by a 22-year-old Mickey Mantle, who hit .300/.408/.525 with 27 home runs, 102 RBI and an AL-leading 129 runs scored.
Top Pitchers: Whitey Ford (16-8, 2.82 ERA, 210.2 IP) earned his first of 10 career All-Star selections in 1954. He was joined atop the staff by AL Rookie of the Year Bob Grim (20-6, 3.26 ERA, 199.0 IP), while veterans Johnny Sain and Allie Reynolds were invaluable in relief roles.
End Result: This stands as one of the best teams in MLB history to not reach the postseason, as Cleveland finished 111-43 to claim the AL pennant before getting swept by the New York Giants in the World Series. The Yankees had won five straight World Series titles coming into the '54 season.
1. 1942
10 of 10
W/L: 103-51 (.669) | Expected W/L: 107-47 (.695)
Run Differential: +294 | OPS+: 110 | ERA+: 119
Result: Lost in World Series
Top Hitters: Joe DiMaggio was the face of the franchise and had a great season, but Joe Gordon was the story in 1942 as he hit .322/.409/.491 with 18 home runs, 103 RBI and 7.7 WAR to capture AL MVP honors. Outfielder Charlie Keller led the team in OPS+ (163) and home runs (26), while shortstop Phil Rizzuto joined them to give the lineup four 5-WAR players.
Top Pitchers: Tiny Bonham (21-5, 2.27 ERA, 226.0 IP), Spud Chandler (16-5, 2.38 ERA, 200.2 IP) and Red Ruffing (14-7, 3.21 ERA, 193.2 IP) were all All-Stars, while Hank Borowy (15-4, 2.52 ERA, 178.1 IP) garnered some down-ballot MVP votes. A 33-year-old Lefty Gomez also played his final season with the Yankees.
End Result: That 107-47 expected win-loss record is the star of the show here, as this team was utterly dominant on paper. The Yankees allowed 507 runs, their fewest over a full season's worth of games, but the St. Louis Cardinals plated 19 runs over the final four games in the World Series for a five-game series win.
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