3 Most Successful MLB franchises in History Revisited
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in America and has been for over a century. Over the years, the sport has grown so much that it is now deeply ingrained into American culture. Fans of the game look forward to every spring, as the changing seasons bring forth a new season of the MLB.
The 2023 campaign will get underway on March 30th, and fans are already salivating at the prospect of seeing the world’s finest going head-to-head in the hopes of lifting the Commissioner's Trophy. If you like betting, online bookmaker Bovada that provides baseball odds has made the Houston Astro’s the joint favorites for the crown next season, and it’s clear to see why.
The Texas-based outfit has appeared in the World Series in four of the last six seasons. They have won two of those forrays on the grandest stage, including last season. They defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the fall to earn the right to be called champions for just the second time in franchise history.
Should the Astros be able to live up to their billing - winning the MLB Championship once again - they will become the first team since the New York Yankees over two decades ago to win back-to-back championships. But they will face some stiff competition from the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the aforementioned Yankees, and the Atlanta Braves.
With that being said, and with a new season fast approaching, last take a look at the most successful franchises in the history of the MLB.
At the turn of the millennium, the New York Yankees reached six World Series in eight years, winning four of them. Success has been synonymous with the New York outfit and the Yankees are a household name in America. When those famed pinstripes take to the field, fans - either in favor of or against - will always have a visceral reaction.
And even before their incredible run in the late 90s and early 00s, the New York Yankees were already the most successful franchise in the history of the game. They have won the World Series 27 times, the most in the history of the MLB. This is a record that will likely never be broken and it is the cornerstone of their success.
From the legendary Babe Ruth to their recent stars such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, the Yankees have seen some of the greatest players ever grace their rosters.
The Yankees are known for their great traditional rivalries against the likes of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. The rivalries between these teams lend an extra layer of excitement to the games and when they face off, the matches are typically must-see events.
The Yankees’ success has led to some incredible moments in recent years, such as Aaron Judge’s improbable home run that won the 2017 Home Run Derby, or when the Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series. Yankees' history is full of examples of memorable moments and incredible performances that have made the team beloved among fans around the world.
Next up is the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that’s won 11 World Series titles. They have been a model of consistency, making the playoffs in 19 of the last 22 seasons. Their most recent title came in 2011 and they have had many iconic players, including Stan Musial and Ozzie Smith.
In each of the last three seasons, however, the Cardinals have exited the playoffs at the wild card stage. In 2020, they were dumped out by the San Diego Padres, and the following year it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who did the damage. Finally last term they lost 2-0 to the eventual beaten finalists, Philadelphia Phillies.
Third on the list is the Boston Red Sox who have amassed nine World Series championships. The Red Sox are - like the Yankees - a household name stateside and last tasted Commissioner’s Trophy Success in 2018. The franchise boasts some of the best players of all time in their alumni, such as Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and David Ortiz.
The Red Sox were the most successful franchise in the early years of the MLB, with Babe Ruth helping them to four championships in six years between 1912 and 1918. However, once the legendary Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees in 1920, the team embarked upon an 84-year curse in which they would never taste World Series success.
That ended in 2004 when the Red Sox thumped the Cardinals 4-0 in the World Series, and the outfit has picked up a further three championships since.
