MLB Franchise Power Rankings

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MLB Franchise Power Rankings

Josh Bell — The Pittsburgh Pirates have been playing baseball since 1882.

Now seems like a good time to look at Major League Baseball. Let's take some inventory, shall we?

We've ranked the franchises since 1881 when the first major league teams were founded. There’s no magic formula or convoluted metrics here. The picks are based on a combination of character, World Series championships, pennants, postseason appearances, won-loss record and star power (i.e., number of Hall of Famers), not necessarily in that order. Pennant and World Series totals tainted by a major scandal are marked with an asterisk.

First, some fun facts:

Seven of the top 10 teams reside in the National League. You should know at least two of the others. (Hint: Both can be seen on national television every couple or three days.)
If you root for a team outside the top 10 markets, well, you’re pretty much out of luck. Twelve of the 17 in that category have sub-.500 records in their histories.
Twenty percent of franchises (six) have combined to win 61 percent of the 115 World Series played to date.
Since 1990, a franchise should raise a World Series banner about every 22 seasons on average. Twenty-three have IOUs at the moment.

Now on with the show.

30. Chicago White Sox

Previous team names: None

Seasons: 119 (1901-present)

Record: 9,283-9,215 (.502)

Playoff appearances: 9

Pennants: 6 (1901, 1906. 1917, 1919, 1959, 2005)

World Series championships: 3 (1906, 1917, 2005)

Hall of Fame inductees: 36

Note: All stats are through the 2019 season.

30. Chicago White Sox

Carl Everett, Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko

Bottom line: There are things you shouldn’t do in baseball, and there are things you absolutely, positively cannot do under any circumstances. Such as take a bribe to tank a game.

As if 88 torturous years without a World Series title aren’t bad enough, the 1919 Black Sox took part in what remains the greatest scandal in pro team sports history.

Just think: This franchise has thrown as many World Series as it has won in the last 102 years. No amount of championships could ever, um, fix that.

29. Miami Marlins

Previous team names: Florida Marlins

Seasons: 27 (1993-present)

Record: 1,990-2,314 (.462)

Playoff appearances: 2

Pennants: 2 (1997, 2003)

World Series championships: 2 (1997, 2003)

Hall of Fame inductees: 6

29. Miami Marlins

Bottom line: A number of franchises could only dream of two World Series championship teams, but these Marlins teams were broken up as soon as the last confetti touched the ground.

Stadium scam artist Jeffrey Loria and his co-conspirators got out of town nearly $1 billion richer. That was nothing short of criminal, and it destroyed the public trust.

28. Tampa Bay Rays

Previous team names: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Seasons: 22 (1998-present)

Record: 1,686-1,876 (.473)

Playoff appearances: 5

Pennants: 1 (2008)

World Series championships: None

Hall of Fame inductees: 1

28. Tampa Bay Rays

Bottom line: No tradition to sell, no young fan base on which to build, no suitable place in which to play.

The situation has become so hopeless for the Rays, home games in another country have been considered.

At what point do we finally concede that major league professional baseball and Florida mix like cheap wine and vodka?

27. Seattle Mariners

Previous team names: None

Seasons: 43 (1977-present)

Record: 3,219-3,622 (.471)

Playoff appearances: 4

Pennants: None

World Series championships: None

Hall of Fame inductees: 7

27. Seattle Mariners

Bottom line: Remove four consecutive 90-plus-win seasons in the early 2000s from the Mariners' resume, and what’s left here? One L of a history.

The M’s have finished no better than fourth (in a seven-team division) in the last 17 seasons.

As former second baseman Russell Wilson would say, "Go ‘Hawks!"

26. San Diego Padres

Previous team names: None

Seasons: 51 (1969-present)

Record: 3,747-4,389 (.461)

Playoff appearances: 5

Pennants: 2 (1984, 1998)

World Series championships: None

Hall of Fame inductees: 13

26. San Diego Padres

Bottom line: The Friars finished no better than fourth in their first 15 seasons and no better than third in 12 of 13 campaigns from 2007 to 2019.

Oh, they also own the worst record among active franchises.

Ahhh, but that weather in San Diego is first class.

25. Houston Astros

A.J. Hinch, Justin Verlander and 2017 Houston Astros

Previous team names: Houston Colt .45s

Seasons: 58 (1962-present)

Record: 4,601-4,666 (.496)

Playoff appearances: 13*

Pennants: 3* (2005, 2017, 2019)

World Series championships: 1* (2017)

Hall of Fame inductees: 11

25. Houston Astros

Bottom line: In wake of the despicable Signgate scandal, I dropped these frauds seven spots in the order. If not for their glorious Colt 45s unis, it would have been more.

Unlike the 1919 Black Sox, at least this team cheated to win, but the cloud will follow the Astros for years.

24. Milwaukee Brewers

Previous team names: Seattle Pilots

Seasons: 51 (1969-present)

Record: 3,913-4,217 (.481)

Playoff appearances: 6

Pennants: 1 (1982)

World Series championships: None

Hall of Fame inductees: 7

24. Milwaukee Brewers

Bottom line: Truth is, baseball in Milwacky hasn’t been the same since Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and those great Braves teams left five decades ago.

Ryan Braun blames the FedEx guy.

23. Texas Rangers

Previous team names: Washington Senators

Seasons: 59 (1961-present)

Record: 4,500-4,912 (.478)

Playoff appearances: 8

Pennants: 2 (2010, 2011)

World Series championships: None

Hall of Fame inductees: 10

23. Texas Rangers

Bottom line: Quick, people — name five famous Texas Rangers. Other than Chuck Norris, Nolan Ryan and Ivan Rodriguez, I mean.

Except for back-to-back World Series appearances and two new stadiums with five different names, this steak hasn’t had much sizzle.

22. Colorado Rockies

Previous team names: none

Seasons: 27 (1993-present)

Record: 2,033-2,280 (.471)

Playoff appearances: 5

Pennants: 1 (2007)

World Series championships: 0

Hall of Fame inductees: 1

22. Colorado Rockies

Bottom line: The Rocks haven’t produced as much as a 93-win team, let alone a World Series winner, in their rather brief history.

But there’s rarely a dull moment in the thin air of Coors Field just the same.

Home attendance held steady between 2.5 and 3.0 million every year in the 2010s decade.

21. Philadelphia Phillies

Previous team names: Philadelphia Quakers

Seasons: 137 (1883-present)

Record: 9,825-11,000 (.472)

Playoff appearances: 14

Pennants: 7 (1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009_

World Series championships: 2 (1980, 2008)

Hall of Fame inductees: 37

21. Philadelphia Phillies

Bottom line: There have been some good moments here, all right. But as the record suggests, team management hasn’t produced nearly enough of them.

A major-market team to finish .500 in eight straight seasons (2012-19) shouldn’t happen, not in a sport that has liberal free-agent rules and no salary-cap restrictions.

20. Washington Nationals

Previous team names: Montreal Expos

Seasons: 51 (1969-present)

Record: 3,977-4,149 (.489)

Playoff appearances: 6

Pennants: 1 (2019)

World Series championships: 1 (2019)

Hall of Fame inductees: 11

20. Washington Senators

Bottom line: The champs have been to the playoffs in five of the last eight seasons since 2012.

They’ve also finished no worse than second in the East Division and drawn at least 2.25 million at home in each of them.

Don’t be surprised if this franchise moves into the upper half before long.

Let’s also not forget that the Expos coulda, woulda, shoulda beat them to a World Series title if the plug hadn't been pulled on the 1994 season.

19. Baltimore Orioles

Previous team names: Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Browns

Seasons: 119 (1901-present)

Record: 8,768-9,728 (.474)

Playoff appearances: 14

Pennants: 7 (1944, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, 1983)

World Series championships: 3 (1966, 1970, 1983)

Hall of Fame inductees: 35

19. Baltimore Orioles

Billy Ripken, Cal Ripken Sr., Cal Ripken Jr.

Bottom line: There was a time when the O’s set the standard for the acquisition and development of young talent. That was a while ago.

Of the nine players who started the final game of the 1970 World Series, five checked out.

After 14 seasons of 90-plus losses since then, Baltimore fans have to wonder if they’ll live long enough to see another.

18. Kansas City Royals

Previous team names: None

Seasons: 51 (1969-present)

Record: 3,901-4,222 (.480)

Playoff appearances: 9

Pennants: 4 (1980. 1985, 2014, 2015)

World Series championships: 2 (1985, 2015)

Hall of Fame inductees: 7

18. Kansas City Royals

Bottom line: If you’re an old-timer who remembers the Kansas City Athletics, also known as the New York Yankees Triple-A farm club, you’re shocked/thrilled to have witnessed four World Series and two championship teams in your lifetime.

Sustained success will be hard to come by here, but few mid-market teams have milked more out of less than this one.

17. Minnesota Twins

Previous team names: Washington Senators

Seasons: 119 (1901-present)

Record: 8,903-9,603 (.481)

Playoff appearances: 16

Pennants: 6 (1924, 1925, 1933, 1965, 1987, 1991)

World Series championships: 3 (1924, 1987, 1991)

Hall of Fame inductees: 25

17. Minnesota Twins

Bottom line: This mid-market franchise has done OK to hoist two World Series trophies since its move to Minny 58 years ago.

But, yikes, that postseason record. Since the 2004 ALDS opener, the Twins have dropped a record 16 consecutive playoff games.

Thirteen losses were to the New York Yankee$, which pretty tells you all that you need to know about the history of major league baseball.

16. Toronto Blue Jays

Previous team names: none

Seasons: 43 (1977-present)

Record: 3,383-3,458 (.495)

Playoff appearances: 7

Pennants: 2 (1992, 1993)

World Series championships: 2 (1992, 1993)

Hall of Fame inductees: 9

16. Toronto Blue Jays

Bottom line: Back-to-back World Series titles put this franchise slightly above the curve, but the inability to sustain momentum raises a red flag.

The Blue Jays have to contend against the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the same division, not to mention the Maple Leafs in the same city.

But the real problem is team ownership that has too many irons in the fire to make the kind of commitment that’s needed here.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks

Previous team names: none

Seasons: 22 (1998-present)

Record: 1,763-1,801 (.495)

Playoff appearances: 6

Pennants: 1 (2001)

World Series championships: 1 (2001)

Hall of Fame inductees: 3

15. Arizona Diamondbacks

Bottom line: If this franchise had been around longer, it would be higher in the order.

While postseason success has been rather scarce, it has consistently fielded a product that matches or exceeds market expectations.

The D-Backs finished first or second in the West Division in 10 of 22 seasons and reached 2 million in home attendance in each one of them.

14. Los Angeles Angels

Previous team names: California Angels, Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Seasons: 59 (1961-present)

Record: 4,709-4,719 (.499)

Playoff appearances: 10

Pennants: 1 (2002)

World Series championships: 1 (2002)

Hall of Fame inductees: 14

14. Los Angeles Anglels

Bottom line: Because this expansion franchise struggled in its early days, the numbers are a bit skewed here.

Since 1995, the Halos have put up a .523 win percentage, seven postseason appearances and won their only World Series title.

Still, given the team's considerable resources and major market status, it’s difficult to argue that they’ve fallen short of the mark especially in recent years.

13. New York Mets

Previous team names: none

Seasons: 58 (1962-present)

Record: 4,448-4,808 (.481)

Playoff appearances: 9

Pennants: 5 (1969, 1973, 1986, 2000, 2015)

World Series championships: 2 (1969, 1986)

Hall of Fame inductees: 16

13. New York Mets

Bottom line: It took this expansion franchise all of eight seasons to produce a World Series winner. Amazin’!

In the 50 seasons since then, it has exactly one. Alarmin'!

Or is it Amusin'!?

12. Cleveland Indians

Previous team names: Cleveland Blues, Cleveland Bronchos, Cleveland Naps

Seasons: 119 (1901-present)

Record: 9,477-9,037 (.512)

Playoff appearances: 14

Pennants: 6 (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997, 2016)

World Series championships: 2 (1920, 1948)

Hall of Fame inductees: 35

12. Cleveland Indians

Bottom line: OK, we know this franchise hasn’t won it all since the 1948 season. That’s 72 years ago for you snoring at home. But it’s not that bad. Really.

The Tribe have made 11 postseason trips in the last 24 years. In that span, it lost six elimination games, two in the World Series.

Then again, this was the organization that gave away stud slugger Rocky Colavito in his prime. So if it never wins the big one again, well, serves 'em right.

11. Detroit Tigers

Previous team names: none

Seasons: 119 (1901- 2019)

Record: 9,346-9,191 (.504)

Playoff appearances: 16

Pennants: 11 (1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006, 2012)

World Series championships: 4 (1935, 1945, 1968, 1984)

Hall of Fame inductees: 27

11. Detroit Tigers

Bottom line: What in the name of Tyrus Raymond Cobb is going on here? Sure, every franchise has its ups and downs over the long haul, but none has been as extreme as this one in the expansion era.

There have been several stretches of goodness and even greatness such as the 1984 "Bless You Boys," who led wire to wire. And there have been dumpster fires of 103 (1989), 109 (1996), 106 (2002), 119 (2003) and 114 (2019) losses.

Yo, Motown, can we get some consistency here?

10. Chicago Cubs

Previous team names: Chicago White Stockings, Chicago Colts, Chicago Orphans

Seasons: 144 (1876-present)

Record: 10,982-10,404 (.514)

Playoff appearances: 20

Pennants: 17 (1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885, 1886, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1945, 2016

World Series championships: 3 (1907, 1908, 2016)

Hall of Fame inductees: 51

10. Chicago Cubs

Bottom line: Only three franchises boast more Hall of Fame members than this one. And until the Los Angeles Dodgers moved ahead of the Cubs not long ago, none played in a larger market among them.

So how could the North Siders possibly go 108 years without a World Series title? Truth is, this remains one of the biggest underachievers in pro team sports, one whose greatest days were too long ago to remember.

Four of their six 100-win seasons and 10 of their 17 pennants came before World War I.

9. Atlanta Braves

Previous team names: Boston Red Stockings, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, Boston Bees, Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves

Seasons: 144 (1876-present)

Record: 10,697-10,659 (.501)

Playoff Appearances: 25

Pennants: 17 (1877, 1878, 1883, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1897, 1898, 1914, 1948, 1957, 1958, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999)

World Championships: 3 (1914, 1957, 1995)

Hall of Fame inductees: 55

9. Atlanta Braves

Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Pete Smith, John Smoltz and Steve Avery

Bottom line: After 77 mostly forgettable years in Beantown — 33 above-.500 finishes, two World Series titles — the worst is well behind them.

In the 67 years since the franchise moved to "Brewtown" and then "The Big Peach," it has won more games than it lost 43 times and averaged a playoff berth every three seasons or so.

Fall Classics still don’t come around often, but in a lukewarm sports town, home attendance has reached 2 million in each of the last 29 seasons since 1991.

8. Cincinnati Reds

Previous team names: Cincinnati Red Stockings, Cincinnati Redlegs

Seasons: 138 (1882-present)

Record: 10,599-10,393 (.505)

Playoff appearances: 15

Pennants: 10 (1882, 1919, 1939, 1940, 1961, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1990)

World Series championships: 5* (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990)

Hall of Fame inductees: 41

8. Cincinnati Reds

Bottom line: For all its long history, the first professional baseball team hasn’t had much extended excellence outside of the "Big Red Machine" of the 1970s. But what an era it was — six division titles, four pennants and consecutive World Series titles.

Home attendance has been steady since the mid-1980s, the last 17 seasons in a new ballpark since 2003.

A mid-market franchise could do a lot worse.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates

Kent Tekulve, Bruce Kison, Willie Stargell

Previous team names: Pittsburgh Alleghenys

Seasons: 138 (1882-present)

Record: 10,545-10,405 (.503)

Playoff appearances: 17

Pennants: 9 (1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960, 1971, 1979)

World Series championships: 5 (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979)

Hall of Fame inductees: 41

7. Pittsburgh Pirates

Bottom line: It’s criminal what the current bean-counters have done to the franchise that gave us Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski and the ’60 Buccos.

Lest we forget, the Pirates a 53 percent win rate, 10 first-place finishes and three World Series titles in a 35-year span (1958-92) not that long ago. Or was it?

The less things change, the more all that success and tradition fade to black.

6. Oakland Athletics

Previous team names: Philadelphia Athletics, Kansas City Athletics

Seasons: 119 (1901-present)

Record: 9,028-9,452 (.489)

Playoff appearances: 28

Pennants: 15 (1902, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1990)

World Series championships: 9 (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1989)

Hall of Fame inductees: 45

6. Oakland Athletics

Bottom line: How many more championship banners would these dynasty wreckers have if not for three premature breakups because of the rival Federal league, the Great Depression and revised free-agent rules in that order? One? Two? Three or more?

This much we do know — whoever says money doesn’t matter in major league baseball should introduce himself to an A’s fan.

All six of them.

5. Boston Red Sox

Previous team names: Boston Americans

Seasons: 119 (1901-present)

Record: 9,602-8,908 (.519)

Playoff appearances: 24

Pennants: 14 (1903, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1946, 1967, 1975, 1986, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018)

World Series championships: 9 (1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018)

Hall of Fame inductees: 43

5. Boston Red Sox

Bottom line: If we find that their epic 2018 team was involved in a Signgate scandal, then they’re out of the top 10.

Otherwise, this franchise checks all the boxes. Large market. Owners who will spend. Knowledgeable baseball people. Rich tradition. Loyal fan base. Ballpark museum.

The New York Yankees loom large in their division, but that forces them to raise the bar, so that’s not all bad, either.

4. San Francisco Giants

Previous team names: New York Gothams, New York Giants

Seasons: 137 (1883-present)

Record: 11,165-9,687 (.535)

Playoff appearances: 26

Pennants: 23 (1888, 1889, 1904, 1905, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1917, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1951, 1954, 1962, 1989, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2014)

World Series championships: 8 (1905, 1921, 1922, 1933, 1954, 2010, 2012, 2014)

Hall of Fame inductees: 61

4. San Francisco Giants

Bottom line: Which National League franchise owns the best win percentage of all time? And the most Hall of Famers in either league? You’re lookin’ at it, Homer.

Throw out a 27-year drought shortly after the move west — the "Curse of Candlestick Park," perhaps? — and the Jints have never gone more than 17 years without a World Series appearance.

The greatest of the greats played here, from Christy Mathewson to Willie Mays to Barry Buh- . . . Oh, never mind.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Previous team names: Brooklyn Atlantics, Brooklyn Grays, Brooklyn Grooms, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Superbas, Brooklyn Robins, Brooklyn Dodgers

Seasons: 136 (1884-present)

Record: 10,974-9,818 (.528)

Playoff appearances: 33

Pennants: 24 (1889, 1890, 1899, 1900, 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1988, 2017, 2018)

World Series championships: 6 (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988)

Hall of Fame inductees: 54

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Bottom line: On balance, this has been the model franchise for decades. From deep pockets to rich tradition to a vintage ballpark that never grows old, it has everything except a World Series title in the last 31 years.

Geez, what’s up with that? Whatever the heck it is, this team has lost three postseason elimination games in the last five years.

Of course, if the 2017 Houston Astros hadn’t cheated, we might not be talking about this.

2. St. Louis Cardinals

Previous team names: St. Louis Brown Stockings, St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Perfectos

Seasons: 138 (1882-present)

Record: 10,918-10,063 (.520)

Playoff appearances: 29

Pennants: 23 (1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013)

World Series championships: 11 (1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011)

Hall of Fame inductees: 50

2. St. Louis Cardinals

Bottom line: No franchise has been in a better place than this one. Literally. There’s no local NFL or NBA team, so the Cardinals have St. Loo practically to themself.

True, the Chicago Cubs cast a long shadow, but the rest of the Central Division isn’t a problem. This is a baseball town with lots of tradition, so free agents will come here, and the owner will pay them within reason.

Doesn't get much better than this.

1. New York Yankees

Previous team names: New York Highlanders

Seasons: 117 (1903-present)

Record: 10378-7840 (.570)

Playoff appearances: 55

Pennants: 40 (1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009)

World Series championships: 27 (1923, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009)

Hall of Fame inductees: 51

1. New York Yankees

Bottom line: We won’t waste your time on the obvious here. Let's just say the St. Louis Cardinals could win all 1,620 of their scheduled games in the 2020s and still not have an all-time .570 win percentage.

So unless Joe Jackson makes a miraculous comeback in pinstripes, the Yankees will be at the top of the heap for a while.