Here, every WS winner ranked by regular season pythagorean record, normalized for a 162 game season, every player from each team with a WAR (baseball reference version) over 5 is listed. The team each beat, with its pythag, is also listed.
With that - every WS winner ranked. Updated through 2019.
1. 1939 Yankees 119 (111) (MLB Network says this is the second greatest team ever)
-Gehrig’s last year, but it was DiMaggio’s team the best team in baseball history swept the World Series. Yanks were 23 pythag wins ahead of the next best team in the AL. Dimaggio, Dickey, Gordon, Keller, Rolfe, Selkirk, Ruffing (d. Reds 99)
2. 1927 Yankees 114 (109) (MLB added a countdown of the 5 greatest teams ever, it said these Yankees were #1)
-Maybe the most famous team ever; There might be a better 1-2 combo someplace in sports history than Ruth/Gehrig in ’27, but it wouldn’t be by much. They swept the Series and finished 22 pythag wins ahead of the next best AL team. WAR Above 5.0: Combs, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Ruth, Hoyt, Moore (d. Pirates 96)
3. 1942 Cardinals 113 (107)
-Two Cardinals teams battle for the title of best NL team of all time; note both are in the WWII era; Enos Slaughter had his best season in ’42 and was the best player on the club; The Dodgers were also over a hundred pythag wins in ’42, so the distance between they and the Cards was just four games. The Yanks had a monster pythag also (the Cards beat them in 5) and that might make the ’42 Series the best matchup ever. Musial, Slaughter, Cooper (d. Yankees 112, yeah, this is going to be the best Series ever)
4. 1944 Cardinals 113 (107)
-’44 was Musial and everyone else; the Cards took advantage of the downturn in talent to hold a 23 pythag win advantage in the NL and beat an overmatched Browns in a 6 game WS. Hopp, Musial, (d. Browns 92)
5. 1909 Pirates 111 (105)
-35 year old Honus Wagner was easily the pacesetter for the ’09 Pirates This is the first team on the list which wasn’t the best in its league during the regular season (the Cubs had 109 pythag wins, same as the ’27 Yanks, but finished 6 and a half games out). Also the first team on the list who had to go to a seventh game to win the WS. Clarke, Wagner, Camnitz, Willis (d. Tigers 102, the second series where both clubs were 100 win teams)
6. 1905 NYGiants 111 (105)
-The Giants refused to play the AL Champ in ’04, but gave in here to crack the top 10; this is the first team whose best player was a pitcher (Mathewson, obviously). New York was only 1 pythag game better than the Cubs, who were extra unlucky, as they finished in 3rd overall 13 games out. The Giants beat the A’s in the Series; imagine being able to show the fans of each club that 84 years later there would be a rematch with both clubs residing in Northern California. What would I have to tell you about two current teams playing in 2094 to equal that? Donlin, McGann, Mathewson (d. Athletics 98)
7. 1910 Athletics 111 (103)
- 14 game pythag advantage in the AL and beat a 101 pythag win Cub team in 5 in the WS. Collins, Bender, Coombs, (d. Cubs 106)
8. 1998 Yankees 108 (MLB agrees with the pythag. Best team since '61.)
-The best team in modern baseball history, you ask? The best regular season post WWII WS champion was the ’98 Yankees. The Yanks finished 12 pythag wins up in the AL and swept the Padres in the WS. Brosius, Jeter, O’Neill, Williams, (d. Padres 93)
9. 1948 Indians 108 (104)
-Lou Boudreau’s career season and the best season by anyone on the list so far not named Ruth or Gehrig; they were 7 pythag wins best in the AL and won the WS in 6. Boudreau, Gordon, Keltner, Bearden, Lemon (d. Braves 98)
10. 1937 Yankees 108 (103)
Gehrig played on 3 of the ten best teams in baseball history. Dickey, Dimaggio, Gehrig, Gomez, Ruffing (d. Giants 94)
11. 1912 Red Sox 108 (102)
Gardner, Speaker, Collins, O’Brien, Wood (d. Giants 107)
12. 1907 Cubs 108 (102) (MLB says this is the third greatest team ever)
It’s Tinker to Evers to Chance – (Orvall Overall was their best player). Brown, Lungren, Overall (d. Tigers 101)
13. 1936 Yankees 108 (102)
4 Gehrigs out of 13 teams. Dickey, Gehrig, Rolfe (d. Giants 93)
14. 1953 Yankees 108 (101)
-A half dozen Yankee teams in the top 15 of all time. Mantle, (d. Dodgers 110 – the first upset, at 110 real wins that Dodger team is their best team ever and one of the great WS losers ever)
15. 1917 White Sox 108 (101)
Eddie Cicotte had the best pitching season on the list thusfar, disgrace still a couple years away. Collins, Felsch, Jackson, Cicotte (d. Giants 105)
16. 1929 Athletics 108 (100)
Foxx, Grove, Walberg (d. Cubs 100)
17. 2016 Cubs 107 (second best pythag for a WS winner since WW2)
Bryant, Rizzo, Lester, Hendricks (d. Indians 91)
18. 1975 Reds 107 (MLB and me had them second for the half century)
-The best season by any player on the list so far – Joe Morgan’s 1975. Bench, Morgan, Rose (d. Red Sox 90)
19. 1911 Athletics 106 (99)
-3 A’s teams make the top 20. Baker, Collins, Bender, Plank (d. Giants 104)
20. 1903 Red Sox 105 (90)
-the first ever WS winner cracks the top 20 of all time. Collins, Dougherty,Parent, Dineen, Young (d. Pirates 92)
21. 1970 Orioles 104 (4th best by MLB, I'd have them 3rd)
-Blair, Powell, Palmer (d. Reds 91)
22. 1947 Yankees 104 (100)
-DiMaggio, Henrich, (d. Dodgers 98)
23. 1932 Yankees 104 (99) (MLB said this was the fifth best team pre 1961)
8th Yankee team on the list and the fifth Gehrig. Combs, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Ruth, Ruffing (d. Cubs 90)
24. 1976 Reds 103 (8th by MLB, I'd have them as 4th best after '61)
Foster, Morgan, Rose (d. Yankees 98)
Foster, Morgan, Rose (d. Yankees 98)
25. 1968 Tigers 103 (7th by MLB, I'd have them 5th best after '61)
Freehan, Horton, McAuliffe, Northrup, McLain (d. Cards 96)
26. 2018 Red Sox 103 (the Astros team they beat in the ALCS had a 109 win pythag, they would have been the best WS winner since '44)
Betts, Martinez, Sale (d. Dodgers 92)
26. 2018 Red Sox 103 (the Astros team they beat in the ALCS had a 109 win pythag, they would have been the best WS winner since '44)
Betts, Martinez, Sale (d. Dodgers 92)
27. 1986 Mets 103 (5th by MLB, I'd have them 6th)
The top 25 ends with the ’86 Mets. Hernandez, (d. Red Sox 90)
28. 1961 Yankees 103 (3rd best by MLB, I'd have them 7th)
Howard, Mantle, Maris, (d. Reds 87 – the first sub 90 WS team on the list)
29. 1956 Yankees 103 (98)
29. 1956 Yankees 103 (98)
-10 Yankee teams make the Top 30. Berra, Mantle, McDougald, Ford (d. Dodgers 94)
30. 1908 Cubs 103 (98)
-Three Finger Brown’s (18.4) best season. Evers, Tinker, Brown, (d. Tigers 92)
31. 1935 Tigers 102 (97)
Cochrane, Gehringer, Greenberg, Rogell, (d. Cubs 106 – the second upset on the list and the tenth WS where each team had a hundred real wins)
32. 1954 NYGiants 102 (97)
-The last ever Giants team to win the World Series. Hah! Totally untrue! Totally untrue! (d. Indians 109, a good sized upset for not quite my Giants) Mays. Antonelli
33. 1931 Cardinals 102 (97)
Hafey (d. Athletics 103)
34. 1913 Athletics 102 (97)
Collins; Home Run Baker. McInnis, (d. Giants 101)
35. 1920 Indians 102 (97)
for Speaker Jim Bagby. Coveleski (d. Dodgers 97)
36. 1938 Yankees 102 (97)
Dickey, DiMaggio, Ruffing (d. Cubs 93)
37. 1915 Red Sox 102 (95)
Speaker, (d. Phillies 98)
38. 1971 Pirates 101 (MLB rank #33)
-They beat SFG in the NLDS. Clemente, Stargell, (d. Orioles 105)
39. 2013 Cardinals 101
-Carpenter, Molina, Wainwright. (d. Red Sox 100)
40. 2002 Angels 101 (MLB rank #26. Booooo. Boooooo)
-Carpenter, Molina, Wainwright. (d. Red Sox 100)
40. 2002 Angels 101 (MLB rank #26. Booooo. Boooooo)
-And they beat SFG in 7 games in the WS. Anderson, Eckstein, Erstad, (d. SFG 98)
41. 2007 Red Sox 101 (MLB picked them #21 post '61)
-Lowell, Ortiz, (d. Rockies 90)
42. 1972 A’s 101 (97) (14th by MLB)
Epstein, Jackson, Rudi, Hunter (d. Reds 98)
43. 1941 Yankees 101 (96)
-DiMaggio’s best season, Gordon, Keller, (d. Dodgers 104)
44. 1958 Yankees 101 (96)
-Mantle. Siebern (d. Braves 96)
45. 1950 Yankees 101 (96)
-3 straight Yankee teams gives them 13 overall thusfar. Berra, DiMaggio, Rizzuto, (d. Phillies 91)
46. 1940 Reds 101 (96)
-Frey, McCormick, Werber, Walters (d. Tigers 96)
47. 1921 NYGiants 101 (95)
Bancroft, Frisch, (d. Yankees 101 – the first dead even matchup on the list, the 16th matchup of 2 100 win teams)
48. 1923 Yankees 101 (95)
Ruth’s best year nearly a double MVP season. Pennock (d. Giants 97)
49. 1946 Cardinals 100 (97)
Musial. Breechen, Kurowski, Slaughter (d. Red Sox 102)
50. 1949 Yankees 100 (95)
DiMaggio, (d. Dodgers 103)
51. 1955 Dodgers 100 (95)
Campanella, Furillo, Snider, (d. Yankees 102, that’s 19 double 100 matchups, can we get one more?)
52. 1928 Yankees 100 (95) (third tiebreak)
Ruth; Gehrig. Pennock (d. Cardinals 98)
53. 1952 Yankees 100 (95)
17 of the top 50 of all time – Yankees. Berra, Mantle, Reynolds (d. Dodgers 99)
54. 1922 NYGiants 100 (95)
Bancroft (d. Yankees 95, that’s it for the 100 win champs – we stick at 19 double 100 win WS)
55. 1977 Yankees 99 (MLB picked them at #25 post 1961)
55. 1977 Yankees 99 (MLB picked them at #25 post 1961)
None (d. Dodgers 101)
56. 1978 Yankees 99 (15th by MLB)
Randolph, Guidry – check out the Yankees, going back-to-back on this all time list. (d. Dodgers 98)
57. 2017 Astros 99
Altuve, Correa, Springer (d. Red Sox 93)
57. 2017 Astros 99
Altuve, Correa, Springer (d. Red Sox 93)
58. 1984 Tigers 99 (6th by MLB)
Gibson, Lemon, (d. Padres 87 – so, how’s this, through these first 53 WS, only two teams have sub 90 win pythags – both Padres teams.)
59. 1951 Yankees 99 (94)
Berra, (d. NYG 96)
60. 1919 Reds 99 (92)
Groh, Roush, (d. White Sox 90)
61. 1981 Dodgers 98 (67)
Valenzuela (d. Yankees 95)
62. 1974 A’s 97 (MLB picked them #24 post '61)
Bando, Campaneris, Jackson, Rudi, Hunter (d. Dodgers 106 – that’s a pretty good sized upset)
63. 1967 Cards 97 (9th by MLB)
Brock, Cepeda, Flood, McCarver, (d. Red Sox 93)
64. 1989 A’s 97 (#16 on MLB Net countdown)
The Earthquake A’s. The first SFG WS of my lifetime. It could have gone better. Henderson, Moore (d. SFG 92)
65. 1925 Pirates 97 (93)
Cuyler, (d. Senators 96)
66. 1957 Braves 97 (93)
Aaron, Mathews, (d. Yankees 103)
67. 1930 A’s 97 (93)
Cochrane, Foxx, Simmons, Grove, (d. Cardinals 98)
68. 1918 Red Sox 97 (76)
Hooper, Ruth, (d. Cubs 104)
69. 2004 Red Sox 96 (MLB took them #19)
Schilling – two Red Sox teams go back to back on the list. How about that? (d. Cards 100)
70. 1999 NYY 96 (11th by MLB).
Jeter, Williams, (d. Braves 98)
71. 1966 Orioles 96
FRobinson (d. Dodgers 97)(#35 on the MLB Countdown)
72. 1983 Orioles 96
Murray, Ripken, McGregor (d. Phillies 88)(#36 on the MLB Countdown)
73. 1973 A’s 96 (MLB took them at #18)
Bando, Jackson, North, Tenace, (d. Mets 83 – the worst WS team yet on the list)
74. 1943 NYY 96 (92)
Gordon, Keller, Chandler (d. Cardinals 106 – a sizeable upset)
75. 1924 Senators 96 (92)
Goslin, Johnson (d. Giants 101)
76. 1960 Pirates 96 (92)
Groat, Hoak, Friend (d. Yankees 93)
77. 1906 White Sox 96 (90, they beat the Cubs – who had a translated pythag of 122 wins; that Cub team is the best team who didn’t win and might be the best team in baseball history.)
Davis, White
78. 1933 NYG 96 (90)
Ott, Hubbell, Schumacher (d. Senators 99)
79. 2019 Nationals 95
Strasburg, Rendon, Scherzer, Corbin (d. Astros 107)
80. 1979 Pirates 95 (MLB named them #27)
Parker, (d. Orioles 99)
81. 2009 NYY 95 (13th by MLB)
Cano, Jeter, Teixeira, (d. Phillies 92)
82. 2001 Arizona 95 (MLB picked them #23 post '61, they picked the Mariners #20)
Gonzalez, Johnson, Schilling (d. Yankees 90)
83. 1934 Cardinals 95 (90)
Collins, Dean (d. Tigers 103)
84. 1926 Cardinals 95 (90)
None (d. Yankees 94)
85. 1962 NYY 94 (MLB picked them #22 post '61)
Mantle (d. SFG 100 – the greatest SFG team ever; we should have won this one)
86. 1991 Minn 94 (#38 on the MLB list)
Tapani (d. Braves 92)
87. 2010 SFG 94
-We’re Number 83!! Huff (d. Rangers 91)
88. 1914 Braves 94 (89)
Evers, James, Rudolph (d. Athletics 105, super big upset)
89. 1995 Atlanta 94 (84) (10th by MLB)
Maddux, Glavine (d. Indians 104 MLB named them the 28th best team of the expansion era)
90. 2008 Phils 93 (#37 on the MLB countdown)
Utley (d. Rays 92 – the worst WS matchup yet)
91. 1990 Reds 92
Rijo (d. A’s 99)
92. 1965 Dodgers 92 (second tiebreak)
Koufax (d. Twins 100)
93. 1963 Dodgers 92 (#31 on MLB list)
Gilliam, Drysdale, Koufax (d. NYY 100)
94. 1969 Mets 92 (12th by MLB with their 92 real wins. Stupid)
Agee, Jones, Koosman, Seaver (d. Orioles 110, just a startling upset MLB named them #29 of the expansion era)
95. 1988 Dodgers 91
Gibson, Hershiser (d. A’s 100 MLB named this Oakland team the 34th best all time)
96. 1992 Toronto 91 (MLB ranks #32)
Alomar, White, Guzman (d. Braves 94)
97. 1980 Phils 91
Schmidt, Carlton (d. Royals 92)(ranked, pretty ridiculously, #40 on the MLB Net list)
98. 1993 Toronto 91 (MLB took them 17th)
Alomar, Molitor, Olerud, White (d. Phillies 93)
99. 2005 CWW 91
Buehrle, Garland (d. Astros 91) (MLB #39; they can't mean the 40 best teams of all time, this has to just be of the TV era, maybe after 1950, this is nuts. As it turns out, it's post '61 teams only).
100. 1916 Red Sox 91 (87)
Ruth (d. Dodgers 96)
101. 1982 Cards 90
Smith, Andujar (d. Brewers 97)
102. 2015 Royals 90
Cain (d. Mets 89)
102. 2015 Royals 90
Cain (d. Mets 89)
103. 1945 Tigers 89 (84)
Newhouser (d. Cubs 103 – the first sub 90 win WS winner – and they beat a 100+ winner)
104. 1964 Cards 88
Boyer, Brock, Gibson (d. NYY 98)
105. 2011 Cards 88
Berkman, Pujols (d. Texas 98)
105. 2011 Cards 88
Berkman, Pujols (d. Texas 98)
106. 1996 NYY 88
Pettitte, Rivera (d. Atlanta 94)
107. 2012 SFG88
Posey (d. Detroit 87)
107. 2012 SFG88
Posey (d. Detroit 87)
108. 1997 Marlins 88
Brown – the Fish are back to back near at the bottom of the list (d. Indians 85 – this is like a SB where both teams are 9-7, just an all time bad matchup for any sport)
109. 2003 Marlins 87
Castillo (d. NYY 96)
110. 2014 Giants 87
Posey (d. KC 84)
110. 2014 Giants 87
Posey (d. KC 84)
111. 1985 Royals 86
Brett, Leibrandt, Saberhagen (d. Cardinals 100, look at the size of that upset)
112. 1959 Dodgers 86 (82)
Moon, Drysdale (d. White Sox 90)
113. 2000 NYY 85
Posada, Williams (d. Mets 88, the only two WS in over a hundred years to match 2 sub 90 win teams, just a few years apart)
114. 2006 StL 82
Pujols, Carpenter (d. Tigers 95)
115. 1987 Minn 79
Viola The only sub .500 winner – of a WS, a SB, or an NBA Title (d. Cardinals 91)
