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Ten worst baseball teams of all time
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Elliott Kalb / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 days ago
The Kansas City Royals have won seven games in the first five weeks of the 2006 season, a pace that puts them among the worst of all-time.
Not counting any of my rotissierie or fantasy teams, here are 10 of the worst teams in major league history.
1. 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117)
They are the only team in history to win less than 24% of their games. In fact, from August 7, 1915 to August 8, 1916, they were 29-125, for a winning percentage of .188. The star of the team was 41-year old second baseman Nap Lajoie. A year earlier, there were plenty of stars on the A's. But Connie Mack dismantled the championship team, although he kept Bullet Joe Bush. Bush won 15 of the team's 36 games. ****** Nabors won his first game of the season, and then dropped 19 in a row. Shortstop Whitey Witt made 78 errors.
2. 1935 Boston Braves (38-115)
Babe Ruth was on this team. Of course, he was 40 years old, and the Braves signed him as a way to attract fans. The move didn't work. Ruth had six homers (three in one game) in only 72 at-bats. Ruth had come to Boston, having been promised the managerial position in '36. Of course, it never happened. The Braves finished more than 60 games out of first place.
3. 1962 New York Mets (40-120)
The Mets have to be included in any list of the worst teams ever. In their first year of existence, the Mets dropped their opener 11-4 to St. Louis. The Mets lost another eight games before winning their first. Marvin Eugene Throneberry (notice the initials) hit 16 homers. But, as his manager Casey Stengel would note, "Marv's glove fields better without Marv in it."
4. 1904 Washington Senators (38-113)
In 1907, the great Walter Johnson would make his debut for the Senators. Prior to that, they had no one. In '04, the New York Highlanders (they would later become the Yankees) had a pitcher named Jack Chesbro. Chesbro won 41 games in 1904. Washington won 38.
5. 1919 Philadelphia Athletics (36-104)
The pitching staff had an ERA of 4.26. And this was still the dead-ball era. They finished 52 games out of first place. Whitey Witt was still around, although Mack had enough sense not to play him at shortstop. He played 59 games in the outfield, and another 56 at second base.
6. 2003 Detroit Tigers (43-119)
Here's a rare sight: The Tigers celebrating one of their 43 wins in 2003. (Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images)
This team had a team batting average of .240. Their pitching staff had a team ERA of 5.30. Mike Maroth lost 21 games. Nate Cornejo lost 17. Jeremy Bonderman lost 19. And Adam Bernero was 1-12. The Tigers lost 40 games that season by five or more runs.
The Tigers have a long history sprinkled with four World Series championship teams and a host of Hall of Fame players. They have a beautiful ballpark to play in, and a passionate city of fans. It's nice to see that ownership put some money into the organization and the team is competitive now just three years after that 43-win season.
7. 1939 St. Louis Browns (43-111)
You could have put the 1937 St. Louis Browns (46-108), or almost any year the Browns played. The '39 Browns finished 64.5 games behind the Yankees. Look at the American League that year. The Yankees had DiMaggio. The Red Sox had Williams. The Indians had Feller. The Tigers had Greenberg. The Browns had … ****** Berardino?
8. 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks (51-111)
Take away 40-year old Randy Johnson (16-14), and the D-Backs were only 35-97. In fact, Arizona did try to remove "The Big Unit" all summer. But like the 2003 Tigers, this team has moved quickly to become respectable. Starting pitcher Brandon Webb was 7-16 for the 2004 D'Backs. He has won his first five starts in 2006. Arizona finished only five games back of first place in 2005, and will contend for the National League West title this season.
9. 1909 Washington Senators (42-110)
Take away 21-year old Walter Johnson, and the Senators were only 29-85. After 1909, Johnson improved from 13-25 to 25-13. That improvement made the Senators respectable in 1910, and far from one of the worst teams of all-time.
10. 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (42-112)
If you're looking for recognizable names, Ralph Kiner and Joe Garagiola were regulars on this team and combined for 45 home runs (Kiner hit 37). A couple of 21-year olds were able to wait it out long enough to be a part of the 1960 Championship team (Dick Groat and Bob Friend).
Honorable Mention
The 1961 Philadelphia Phillies lost a record 23 games in a row, and finished 47-107. The Phillies in 1942 (42-109), 1941 (43-111), 1928 (43-109), 1939 (45-106), 1945 (46-108), and 1938 (45-105) were even worse than the '61 team.
Story Tools:
Print Email Blog This Subscribe
Elliott Kalb / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 days ago
The Kansas City Royals have won seven games in the first five weeks of the 2006 season, a pace that puts them among the worst of all-time.
Not counting any of my rotissierie or fantasy teams, here are 10 of the worst teams in major league history.
1. 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117)
They are the only team in history to win less than 24% of their games. In fact, from August 7, 1915 to August 8, 1916, they were 29-125, for a winning percentage of .188. The star of the team was 41-year old second baseman Nap Lajoie. A year earlier, there were plenty of stars on the A's. But Connie Mack dismantled the championship team, although he kept Bullet Joe Bush. Bush won 15 of the team's 36 games. ****** Nabors won his first game of the season, and then dropped 19 in a row. Shortstop Whitey Witt made 78 errors.
2. 1935 Boston Braves (38-115)
Babe Ruth was on this team. Of course, he was 40 years old, and the Braves signed him as a way to attract fans. The move didn't work. Ruth had six homers (three in one game) in only 72 at-bats. Ruth had come to Boston, having been promised the managerial position in '36. Of course, it never happened. The Braves finished more than 60 games out of first place.
3. 1962 New York Mets (40-120)
The Mets have to be included in any list of the worst teams ever. In their first year of existence, the Mets dropped their opener 11-4 to St. Louis. The Mets lost another eight games before winning their first. Marvin Eugene Throneberry (notice the initials) hit 16 homers. But, as his manager Casey Stengel would note, "Marv's glove fields better without Marv in it."
4. 1904 Washington Senators (38-113)
In 1907, the great Walter Johnson would make his debut for the Senators. Prior to that, they had no one. In '04, the New York Highlanders (they would later become the Yankees) had a pitcher named Jack Chesbro. Chesbro won 41 games in 1904. Washington won 38.
5. 1919 Philadelphia Athletics (36-104)
The pitching staff had an ERA of 4.26. And this was still the dead-ball era. They finished 52 games out of first place. Whitey Witt was still around, although Mack had enough sense not to play him at shortstop. He played 59 games in the outfield, and another 56 at second base.
6. 2003 Detroit Tigers (43-119)
Here's a rare sight: The Tigers celebrating one of their 43 wins in 2003. (Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images)
This team had a team batting average of .240. Their pitching staff had a team ERA of 5.30. Mike Maroth lost 21 games. Nate Cornejo lost 17. Jeremy Bonderman lost 19. And Adam Bernero was 1-12. The Tigers lost 40 games that season by five or more runs.
The Tigers have a long history sprinkled with four World Series championship teams and a host of Hall of Fame players. They have a beautiful ballpark to play in, and a passionate city of fans. It's nice to see that ownership put some money into the organization and the team is competitive now just three years after that 43-win season.
7. 1939 St. Louis Browns (43-111)
You could have put the 1937 St. Louis Browns (46-108), or almost any year the Browns played. The '39 Browns finished 64.5 games behind the Yankees. Look at the American League that year. The Yankees had DiMaggio. The Red Sox had Williams. The Indians had Feller. The Tigers had Greenberg. The Browns had … ****** Berardino?
8. 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks (51-111)
Take away 40-year old Randy Johnson (16-14), and the D-Backs were only 35-97. In fact, Arizona did try to remove "The Big Unit" all summer. But like the 2003 Tigers, this team has moved quickly to become respectable. Starting pitcher Brandon Webb was 7-16 for the 2004 D'Backs. He has won his first five starts in 2006. Arizona finished only five games back of first place in 2005, and will contend for the National League West title this season.
9. 1909 Washington Senators (42-110)
Take away 21-year old Walter Johnson, and the Senators were only 29-85. After 1909, Johnson improved from 13-25 to 25-13. That improvement made the Senators respectable in 1910, and far from one of the worst teams of all-time.
10. 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (42-112)
If you're looking for recognizable names, Ralph Kiner and Joe Garagiola were regulars on this team and combined for 45 home runs (Kiner hit 37). A couple of 21-year olds were able to wait it out long enough to be a part of the 1960 Championship team (Dick Groat and Bob Friend).
Honorable Mention
The 1961 Philadelphia Phillies lost a record 23 games in a row, and finished 47-107. The Phillies in 1942 (42-109), 1941 (43-111), 1928 (43-109), 1939 (45-106), 1945 (46-108), and 1938 (45-105) were even worse than the '61 team.