Worst MLB team overall

[Mr. Bee]

Thought this would be an interesting subject. I'm eliminating the expansion teams for a lack of historical data, and the want to encompass who is the worst team across an entire century of data (the only expansion team that has been around for a while that I think may qualify is the Astros - consistently good, but no pennants in 40 years).

I'm basing mine on futility as an orgainization, both with regular season and post-season failures. I know that the Cubs may come to most people's mind, but - for me - the Phillies and their utter futility, only 5 pennants and nearly a century before their first title, take the cake as the worst organization as far as success goes in the history of the Major Leagues. Honarable mention to the White Sox (especially as the White Sox get absolutely no love, even though their futility lasted longer than the Red Sox).

1. Phillies
2. White Sox
3. Indians
4. Cubs
5. Senators/Twins

[SPTO]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

As far as out and out futility goes you can't go wrong with the Washington Senators (i'm referring to the original senators who became the Twins)

As far as a successful team with futility i'm surprised you didn't mention the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 20s/30s they were known as the Daffiness Boys. This was a team that was just outright HOORIBLE for the better part of the first half of the 20th century. You then have to add the failures against the greatest organization of all time in the late 40s and into the 50s. At least they beat the Yanks once.

[SPTO]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

As far as out and out futility goes you can't go wrong with the Washington Senators (i'm referring to the original senators who became the Twins)

As far as a successful team with futility i'm surprised you didn't mention the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 20s/30s they were known as the Daffiness Boys. This was a team that was just outright HOORIBLE for the better part of the first half of the 20th century. You then have to add the failures against the greatest organization of all time in the late 40s and into the 50s. At least they beat the Yanks once.

[Mr. Bee]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

As far as out and out futility goes you can't go wrong with the Washington Senators (i'm referring to the original senators who became the Twins)

As far as a successful team with futility i'm surprised you didn't mention the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 20s/30s they were known as the Daffiness Boys. This was a team that was just outright HOORIBLE for the better part of the first half of the 20th century. You then have to add the failures against the greatest organization of all time in the late 40s and into the 50s. At least they beat the Yanks once.

I was going with an entire century of history... but if you take up until 1960 (as it seems you are with the Senators comment), then the Phillies and Browns/Orioles are much better candidates than Washington. I still think that if you take any timeperiod greater than 25 years and apply it across the board, the Phillies will be a common denominator no matter when you decide to take your sample.

[Mr. Bee]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

As far as out and out futility goes you can't go wrong with the Washington Senators (i'm referring to the original senators who became the Twins)

As far as a successful team with futility i'm surprised you didn't mention the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 20s/30s they were known as the Daffiness Boys. This was a team that was just outright HOORIBLE for the better part of the first half of the 20th century. You then have to add the failures against the greatest organization of all time in the late 40s and into the 50s. At least they beat the Yanks once.

I was going with an entire century of history... but if you take up until 1960 (as it seems you are with the Senators comment), then the Phillies and Browns/Orioles are much better candidates than Washington. I still think that if you take any timeperiod greater than 25 years and apply it across the board, the Phillies will be a common denominator no matter when you decide to take your sample.

[SPTO]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I added the Twins to that mix. As far as i'm concerned they're one and the same. Tho you do make a great point about the Phillies.

I still think the Dodgers would have to rank up there tho.

[SPTO]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I added the Twins to that mix. As far as i'm concerned they're one and the same. Tho you do make a great point about the Phillies.

I still think the Dodgers would have to rank up there tho.

[Misfit]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I went with the White Sox. Not only have they failed to win a title but they were also a part of the biggest scandal in baseball history. I'm surprised the Braves are on that list considering they have won a championship and have dominated the NL East for the past decade or so.

[Misfit]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I went with the White Sox. Not only have they failed to win a title but they were also a part of the biggest scandal in baseball history. I'm surprised the Braves are on that list considering they have won a championship and have dominated the NL East for the past decade or so.

[Mr. Bee]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I'm surprised the Braves are on that list considering they have won a championship and have dominated the NL East for the past decade or so.

They've won less pennants than the Cubs...

I had them on more for the futility of their Boston days, but in all honesty they've not done well even in Atlanta, given what they had in the 1990s, they really underachieved.

[Mr. Bee]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I'm surprised the Braves are on that list considering they have won a championship and have dominated the NL East for the past decade or so.

They've won less pennants than the Cubs...

I had them on more for the futility of their Boston days, but in all honesty they've not done well even in Atlanta, given what they had in the 1990s, they really underachieved.

[SPTO]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I thought I would take a look at the win % of the teams mentioned throughout their entire history. I've added the Dodgers to see if my point has some merit.

Braves: 499% 17 pennants 3 WS

Orioles: 477% 7 pennants 3 WS

Cubs: 515% 16 Pennants 2 WS

White Sox: 505% 5 pennants 2 WS

Indians: 510% 5 pennants 2 WS

Dodgers: 525% 22 pennants 6 WS

Senators/Twins: 479% 6 pennants 3 WS

Phillies: 467% 5 pennants 1 WS


Wow my pick (Sens) and Phillies have had horrendous histories. You can't go wrong with either of them.

My conjecture of putting the Dodgers in may have been wrong but they were terrible for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Interesting stats tho.

[SPTO]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I thought I would take a look at the win % of the teams mentioned throughout their entire history. I've added the Dodgers to see if my point has some merit.

Braves: 499% 17 pennants 3 WS

Orioles: 477% 7 pennants 3 WS

Cubs: 515% 16 Pennants 2 WS

White Sox: 505% 5 pennants 2 WS

Indians: 510% 5 pennants 2 WS

Dodgers: 525% 22 pennants 6 WS

Senators/Twins: 479% 6 pennants 3 WS

Phillies: 467% 5 pennants 1 WS


Wow my pick (Sens) and Phillies have had horrendous histories. You can't go wrong with either of them.

My conjecture of putting the Dodgers in may have been wrong but they were terrible for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Interesting stats tho.

[Mr. Bee]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I thought I would take a look at the win % of the teams mentioned throughout their entire history. I've added the Dodgers to see if my point has some merit.

Braves: 499% 17 pennants 3 WS

Orioles: 477% 7 pennants 3 WS

Cubs: 515% 16 Pennants 2 WS

White Sox: 505% 5 pennants 2 WS

Indians: 510% 5 pennants 2 WS

Dodgers: 525% 22 pennants 6 WS

Senators/Twins: 479% 6 pennants 3 WS

Phillies: 467% 5 pennants 1 WS


Wow my pick (Sens) and Phillies have had horrendous histories. You can't go wrong with either of them.

My conjecture of putting the Dodgers in may have been wrong but they were terrible for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Interesting stats tho.

Just reinforces the idea that the Phillies are the worst... followed closely by the Orioles/Browns.

And to quantify my statement about the Cubs having more pennants than the Braves, I was only taking since 1903

[Mr. Bee]

Re: Worst MLB team overall

I thought I would take a look at the win % of the teams mentioned throughout their entire history. I've added the Dodgers to see if my point has some merit.

Braves: 499% 17 pennants 3 WS

Orioles: 477% 7 pennants 3 WS

Cubs: 515% 16 Pennants 2 WS

White Sox: 505% 5 pennants 2 WS

Indians: 510% 5 pennants 2 WS

Dodgers: 525% 22 pennants 6 WS

Senators/Twins: 479% 6 pennants 3 WS

Phillies: 467% 5 pennants 1 WS


Wow my pick (Sens) and Phillies have had horrendous histories. You can't go wrong with either of them.

My conjecture of putting the Dodgers in may have been wrong but they were terrible for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Interesting stats tho.

Just reinforces the idea that the Phillies are the worst... followed closely by the Orioles/Browns.

And to quantify my statement about the Cubs having more pennants than the Braves, I was only taking since 1903