MLB History

Commissioner Bud Selig recently sat down with Bob Costas for an interview that aired on the MLB Network. Among the topics discussed was the possible inclusion of Pete Rose in the baseball Hall of Fame.

The topic of Rose and his possible admittance into the Hall has been one of baseball's most hotly debated issues since his lifetime suspension in 1989 by former commissioner Bart Giamatti.

Having broken their 86-year drought for a World Series title in 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their second Fall Classic under Terry Francona in 2007.

Powered by Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Curt Shilling, the Red Sox proved that the AL East wasn't just a formality for the New York Yankees on their way to October glory.

What about the hundreds of players who never led the Red Sox to a championship at Fenway? Men like Johnny Pesky and Babe Ruth. How should they be remembered in Boston's rich baseball history?

The Baltimore Orioles may not have been to the postseason since 1997, but the Maryland franchise has a rich history which includes three World Series victories and a string of first place finishes in the AL East under Earl Weaver in the 1970s.

One question, hundreds of answers. Which Oriole had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best ever collection of stars. They are calling it MLB 9s.

Year: 1902

Record: 52-83

Win Percentage: .385

Win Percentage Change: -.163

Run Differential: -91

Pythagorean Record: 58-77

AL Finish: Seventh of eight

Manager: Frank Dwyer

Best Transaction: Picked up Wild Bill Donovan

Year: 1920

Record: 61-93

Win Percentage: .396

Win Percentage Change: -.175 from season before

Run Differential: -181

Pythagorean Record: 60-94

AL Finish: Seventh of eight

Manager: Hughie Jennings

Best Transaction

              1953 Detroit Tigers Statistics:

• Year: 1953
• Record: 60-94
• Win Percentage: .390
• Win Percentage Change: +65
• Run Differential: -228
• Pythagorean Record: 57-97
• AL Finish: 6th of 8 teams
• Manager: Fred Hutchinson

Best Transaction:  On June 19, 1953 (just three months after my dad was born), the Tigers began their relationship with a man that is still involved with the club, Al Kaline. 

The 1999 Cleveland Indians had one of the best lineups in the history of Major League Baseball.

They had incredible individual accomplishments. Three sluggers combined for 108 homers. Four hitters had RBIs in the triple-digits. Five players scored 100 or more runs.

They became the first team in nearly 50 years to score 1,000 runs in a season.

• Year: 2002
• Record: 55-106
• Win Percentage: .342
• Win Percentage Change: -65 from the year before
• Run Differential: -289
• Pythagorean Record: 52-109
• AL Finish: 14th of 14 teams
• Manager: Phil Garner and Luis Pujols
• Best Transaction: Couple of decent moves here, actually. First, the Tigers drafted Curtis Granderson and Joel Zumaya in this draft, nothing to sneeze at there. Second, prior to the start of the season, they picked up Craig Monroe off of waivers.
  

• Year: 1996
• Record: 53-109 (second most losses in franchise history)
• Win Percentage: .327
• Win Percentage Change: -90 from the year before
• Run Differential: -320
• Pythagorean Record: 56-106
• AL Finish: 14th of 14 teams
• Manager: Buddy Bell
• Best Transaction: This one is arguably Randy Smith’s best move as GM of the Tigers, he sent pitcher Greg Gohr to the Angels for Damion Easley. Gohr was a bust with the Tigers and the Angels thought they could get him on track.
  

• Year: 1952
• Record: 50-104
• Win %: .325
• Win % Change: -149 from year before
• Run Differential: -149
• Pythagorean Record: 58-96
• AL Finish: 8th of 8
• Manager: Red Rolfe and Fred Hutchinson
• Best Transaction: Signed Harvey Kuenn as an amateur free agent.  Kuenn ended up a being a “professional hitter” and played in Detroit until 1960.  As a Tiger he led the AL in hits four times and doubles twice.  Sadly, he didn’t really do much for this particular Tigers team, appearing in only 19 games at the end of the season.  The Tig