MLB Playoffs 2011: Top 15 Winningest Teams Not to Claim World Series

The 2011 New York Yankees are just one bad A.J. Burnett start away from being eliminated from the 2011 #Postseason.  (Note: I'm not sure if I'll ever be able write #Postseason without the # anymore.)

If A.J. Burnett pitches like A.J. Burnett, then the Yankees will join a long line of great teams that weren't able to win the title. Some of them just faced the wrong team at the wrong time, and others maybe just weren't that good to begin with. 

The Yankees may have run into both. The Tigers are a hot team that is showcasing the best pitcher, and possibly the best overall player, in baseball. Plus, the Yankees just might not be as good as we thought they were.

In that spirit, let's take a look at the 15 winningest teams that have not won a title since 1969 (when the playoffs expanded).

15. 2001 Oakland Athletics: 102-60

Key Hitter

Jason Giambi: .342, 38 HR, 120 RBI

Key Pitcher

Tim Hudson: 18-9, 3.37 ERA, 1.221 WHIP

What went wrong?

Derek Jeter put himself in the right place at the right time.

14. 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers: 102-60

Key Hitter

Steve Garvey: .312, 21 HR, 111 RBI

Key Pitcher

Andy Messersmith: 20-6, 2.59 ERA, 1.098 WHIP

What went wrong?

They couldn't hit Rollie Fingers in the World Series. Fingers won a game and saved two more.

13. 1970 Cincinnati Reds: 102-60

Key Hitter

Johny Bench: .293, 45 HR, 148 RBI

Key Pitcher

Gary Nolan: 18-7, 3.27 ERA, 1.285 WHIP

What went wrong?

Brooks Robinson hit .429 with two home runs in the World Series.

12. 2002 Oakland Athletics: 103-59

Key Hitter

Miguel Tejada: .308, 34 HR, 131 RBI

Key Pitcher

Barry Zito: 23-5, 2.75 ERA, 1.134 WHIP

What went wrong?

Billy Koch had a disastrous ninth inning in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins.

11. 1993 San Francisco Giants: 103-59

Key Hitter

Barry Bonds: .336, 46 HR, 123 RBI

Key Pitcher

Bill Swift: 21-8, 2.82 ERA, 1.074 WHIP

What went wrong?

The Giants went into the last day of the regular season tied with the Atlanta Braves.  The Braves won, and the Giants lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-1.  The wild-card rounds were added in 1995—go figure!

10. 1999 Atlanta Braves: 103-59

Key Hitter

Chipper Jones: .319, 45 HR, 110 RBI

Key Pitcher

Kevin Millwood: 18-7, 2.68 ERA, 0.996 WHIP

What went wrong?

Mariano Rivera and the 1999 Yankees just wouldn't be denied.

9. 2002 New York Yankees: 103-59

Key Hitter

Jason Giambi: .314, 41 HR, 122 RBI

Key Pitcher

David Wells: 19-7, 3.75 ERA, 1.236 WHIP

What went wrong?

The Yankees starting pitching fell apart in postseason.

8. 1980 New York Yankees: 103-59

Key Hitter

Reggie Jackson: .300, 41 HR, 111 RBI

Key Pitcher

Tommy John: 22-9, 3.43 ERA, 1.229 WHIP

What went wrong?

Frank White hit .545 in the series, and the Kansas City Royals pitching staff was just too tough.

7. 1990 Oakland Athletics: 103-59

Key Hitter

Rickey Henderson: .325, 28 HR, 61 RBI, 65 SB

Key Pitcher

Bob Welch: 27-6, 2.95 ERA, 1.223 WHIP

What went wrong?

Jose Rijo of the Cincinnati Reds completely shut them down in Games 1 and 4.

6. 1993 Atlanta Braves: 104-58

Key Hitter

David Justice: .270, 40 HR, 120 RBI

Key Pitcher

Greg Maddux: 20-10, 2.36 ERA, 1.049 WHIP

What went wrong?

Curt Schilling of the Philadelphia Phillies came through with two clutch starts in the NLCS.

5. 1988 Oakland Athletics: 104-58

Key Hitter

Jose Canseco: .307, 42 HR, 124 RBI, 40 SB

Key Pitcher

Dave Stewart: 21-12, 3.23 ERA, 1.270 WHIP

What went wrong?

Kirk Gibson.

4. 2004 St. Louis Cardinals: 105-57

Key Hitter

Albert Pujols: .331, 46 HR, 123 RBI

Key Pitcher

Matt Morris: 15-10, 4.72 ERA, 1.292 WHIP

What went wrong?

The Cardinals lacked quality starting pitching, plus the 2004 Boston Red Sox weren't going to lose.

3. 1998 Atlanta Braves: 106-56

Key Hitter

Andres Galarraga: .305, 44 HR, 121 RBI

Key Pitcher

Tom Glavine: 20-6, 2.47 ERA, 1.203 WHIP

What went wrong?

I can't believe I'm about to type these two words: Sterling. Hitchcock. The San Diego Padres' starting pitcher went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 10 innings against the Braves in the NLCS.

2. 1969 Baltimore Orioles: 109-53

Key Hitter

Boog Powell: .304, 37 HR, 121 RBI

Key Pitcher

Mike Cueller: 23-11, 2.38 ERA, 1.005 WHIP

What went wrong?

The Amazin' Mets.

1. 2001 Seattle Mariners: 116-46

Key Hitter

Bret Boone: .331, 37 HR, 141 RBI

Key Pitcher

Freddy Garcia: 18-6, 3.05 ERA, 1.123 WHIP

What went wrong?

They ran into the post-9/11 New York Yankees. Plus, Bret Boone's steroid guy couldn't travel because of the new flight restrictions. I kid.

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