25 Greatest Hitting Teams in Baseball History

While defense and pitching wins championships, offense is the most exciting to watch.

While the past few decades have brought us a number of great offensive teams, the best, most historic hitting teams hail from earlier times.

The Yankees make a number of appearances in this forthcoming list. When you factor in their 27 World Series wins, it is easy to see that they possessed plenty of top-notch offensive talent.

Here are the 25 best hitting teams of all time.

25. 1977 New York Yankees

The 1977 Yankees had a lineup that included Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Lou Pinella and Bucky Dent, to name a few.

The team stormed through the playoffs and defeated the Dodgers in the World Series.

24. 2009 Philadelphia Phillies

While no one had a particularly good hitting season for the 2009 Phillies, they had plenty of power.

Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez each had more than 30 home runs as their world-class offense, albeit in a tiny stadium, led them to glory.

23. 1997 Seattle Mariners

Not only did the team include Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, but in total, four players hit greater than .300 on the season. Joey Cora and Edgar Martinez also hit well above the .300 mark.

Griffey, Jay Buhner and Paul Sorrento all slugged more than 30 home runs.

While the offense dominated, the pitching was lacking, and they were dispatched in the first round of the playoffs.

22. 1995 Cleveland Indians

No team in recent history has had so much power potential in a lineup at the same time.

While Albert Belle was the only player to really slug with 50 home runs, the rest of the roster certainly had the potential.

The lineup also included Eddie Murray, Jim Thome (when he played 3B) and Manny Ramirez.

They made it all the way to the World Series but lost to the pesky Braves.

21. 1996 New York Yankees

In the beginning of the Yankees' most recent dynasty, Derek Jeter was their ninth-best hitter.

Granted, it was his first full season, but the cache of talent on display was impressive.

Their lineup included Wade Boggs, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Cecil Fielder, Tino Martinez and Ruben Sierra, to name a few.

Five players hit over .300 en route to the team's first World Series win since 1978.

20. 1997 Colorado Rockies

Granted, the light air in Colorado contributed to this monumental season, but the talent on display was remarkable nonetheless.

The meat of the lineup featured Ellis Burks, Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla.

Walker, Galarraga, Castilla and Burks each hit at least 32 home runs.

19. 1999 Texas Rangers

The Rangers have always had great offensive teams, but never did they have such a year as 1999.

Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez each hit over .324 with at least 35 home runs and 113 RBI.

While the pitching still lacked talent and the team was swept by the Yankees in the ALDS, their combination of offensive talent was remarkable.

18. 1961 New York Yankees

Maris, Mantle and Berra.

This was the year that Roger Maris hit 61 home runs and got 141 RBI. It was also the same year that Mickey Mantle hit 54 home runs and drove in 128 runs.

17. 1927 Philadelphia Athletics

The 1927 Athletics didn't have the power hitters of the Yankees, but they could sure hit for average.

Al Simmons, Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Zack Wheat, Jimmy Dykes, Sammy Hale and Joe Boley all hit over .300, and the team as a whole just raked.

Unfortunately, they were stuck behind the mammoth '27 Yankees, who are yet to come on this list.

16. 1970 Cincinnati Reds

The Reds' lineup included Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez.

Perez, Rose, Bobby Tolan and Bernie Carbo all hit above .300, while Bench, Perez and Lee May all hit 34 or more home runs.

The team won 102 games and the NL pennant before losing in the World Series.

15. 1928 New York Giants

The Giants' lineup featured Mel Ott, Lefty O'Doul and Bill Terry.

Eight of the team's nine starters hit above .300 and while nobody hit too many homers, the team managed 92 wins while Ott was only 19 years old.

14. 1939 New York Yankees

Boy, the Yankees show up here a lot.

Any team with Joe DiMaggio deserves a mention.

In 1939, DiMaggio led the team with a .381 average with 30 home runs and 126 RBI.

Four others hit over .300 and three more had 100 RBI or more.

Just another 106-win season and another World Series title for the Yankees.

13. 1976 Cincinnati Reds

Their lineup included Pete Rose, Ken Griffey Sr., Joe Morgan, John Bench and Dave Concepcion.

Five players hit more than .300.

While Bench had a terrible year, the team still stormed through the regular season and over the Yankees for a World Series title.

12. 1934 Detroit Tigers

Led by Hank Greenberg, the '34 Tigers were a hitting machine, with six players over the .300 mark and four players eclipsing the 100 RBI level. Goose Goslin and Charlie Gehringer both had tremendous seasons as well.

The team won 101 games and made it all the way to the World Series where they fell to the Cardinals.

11. 1932 New York Yankees

The last season with Babe Ruth really in charge, he hit 41 home runs with 137 RBI.

Lou Gehrig hit .349 with 34 home runs and 151 RBI.

The team won 107 games and defeated the Cubs in the World Series.

10. 1931 New York Yankees

Almost the same as the '32 team, but this was Gehrig's best year.

He drove in 184 runs and hit .371 while Ruth hit an insane .373. Both hit 46 home runs while Ben Chapman and Lyn Larry each drove in over 100 runs as well.

The team "struggled" to win only 94 games and missed a World Series appearance.

9. 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates

Anchored by Pie Traynor and Kiki Cuyler, the 1925 Pirates were an incredible hitting machine.

All eight regulars hit above .300 except for 2B Eddie Moore, who hit a pedestrian .298.

The Pirates used their expansive offense to win their second World Series title.

8. 1929 Chicago Cubs

Hack Wilson and Rogers Hornsby in the same lineup, surrounded by guys who get on base.

The result was a pair of tremendous offensive seasons for the duo.

Wilson hit .345 with 39 homers and 159 RBI, while Hornsby hit .380 with 39 home runs and 149 RBI.

The Cubs won the pennant but lost to the A's in the World Series.

7. 1935 Detroit Tigers

This team featured four future Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer, Mickey Cochrane and Goose Goslin.

Four players hit over the .300 mark, and Greenberg knocked in a ridiculous 170 runs.

The Tigers won 93 games and the World Series.

6. 1928 New York Yankees

Ruth hit 54 homers with 142 RBI and a .323 average.

Though the team couldn't compare to the 1927 Yankees, they were still stout across the board.

Gehrig hit .374 with 142 RBI and led the Yankees to 101 wins and a World Series sweep of the Cardinals.

5. 1930 New York Giants

Led by Bill Terry and Mel Ott, the 1930 Giants had six players hitting above .327.

Terry led the majors with a .401 average and also tacked on 129 RBI.

Ott hit .349 with 119 RBI.

The team's pitching wasn't deep other than Carl Hubbell, and they won only 87 games despite their stacked lineup.

4. 1922 St. Louis Browns

George Sisler and Ken Williams headlined the 1922 Browns team.

Sisler hit .420 and 105 RBI. Ken Williams hit 39 homers with 155 RBI and a .332 average.

Overall, six players hit above .312 and four drove in 102 runs or more.

The team won 93 games, one game short of the pennant.

3. 1929 Philadelphia Phillies

One of the best offenses was paired with a terrible pitching staff.

Despite winning only 71 games in 1929, the team had six players hit above .300, three with more than 31 homers and four with 115 RBI or more.

Lefty O'Doul hit an astounding .398 with 32 dingers and 122 RBI.

2. 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers

The 1953 Dodgers featured Jackie Robinson, Pee-Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella.

Campanella won the MVP with a .312 average, 41 homers and 142 RBI. Snider, Robinson, Hodges and Carl Furillo all hit above .300, and the Dodgers won 105 games.

Unfortunately, they were dropped by the Yankees in the World Series.

1. 1927 New York Yankees

Any team that has Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig has to be considered.

In 1927, the entire team put together an astonishing season.

Known as Murderers' Row, this Yankees team won the AL Pennant by 19 games and swept the Pirates in the World Series.

Ruth hit 60 home runs and 164 RBI, while Gehrig connected for 47 home runs and 175 RBI.