Tomorrow, the AL Elite 8 - the day following, the NL Elite 8. Here are the 8 greatest teams in National League history.
1976 Cincinnati Reds-Sparky Anderson
v.
1905 New York Giants-John McGraw
1944 St Louis Cardinals-Billy Southworth
v.
1942 St Louis Cardinals-Billy Southworth
1975 Cincinnati Reds-Sparky Anderson
v.
1911 New York Giants-John McGraw
2011 Philadelphia Phillies-Charlie Manuel
v.
2016 Chicago Cubs-Joe Maddon
The 1976 Cincinnati Reds (defending World Champions) went 102-60, won the NL West by 10 games, swept the Phillies in the NLCS and then swept the Yankees to win the World Series. Their run differential was +224; they led all of MLB in homers, triples, doubles, walks and stolen bases. In games where all 8 starting position players were in the lineup the Reds had a winning percentage over .790.
The 1905 New York Giants went 105-48, won the NL by 9 games and then beat the A's 4-1 to win the World Series. Christy Mathewson threw three shutouts in 6 days in the Series.
The 1944 St Louis Cardinals went 105-49, won the NL by 14.5 and then beat the Browns 4-2 to win the World Series. Marty Marion was the first shortstop to win the MVP. The Cards led the NL in runs, fielding percentage, and ERA.
The 1942 St Louis Cardinals went 106-48, won the NL by two games and then beat the Yankees 4-1. The WWII era Cardinals were less impacted than other franchises and that level of domination is evident here as one of their representatives will be headed to the Final 4. This Cardinal team won 43 of the last 52 games to make up a ten game deficit on the Dodgers and win the pennant.
The 1975 Cincinnati Reds went 108-54, won the NL West by 20 games, swept the Pirates in the NLCS and then beat the Red Sox in 7 games to win the World Series. You may have seen Carlton Fisk's game 6 home run. The Reds lost 17 home games all season and had a run differential over +250.
The 1911 New York Giants went 99-54 (the only team in either Elite 8 not to win a hundred games) they won the NL by 7.5 games and then lost the World Series 4-2 to the A's. The Giants stole 347 bases - still the MLB record.
The 2011 Philadelphia Phillies are the only team in either Elite 8 not to win the pennant, they went 102-60, won the NL East by 13 games and then got bounced by the Cards 3-2 in the NLDS. The Phillies had the best record in MLB for the second straight year.
The 2016 Chicago Cubs went 103-58, won the NL Central by 17.5, beat my Giants 3-1 in the NLDS, beat the Dodgers 4-2 in the NLCS, and then, as maybe you heard, won their first World Series in over a century by beating Cleveland in 7 games. They were the first team to win games 6 and 7 on the road since the '79 Pirates.
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