27 World Series titles makes up the New York Yankees, who are the most successful franchise in North American sports, passing the 24 Stanley Cup titles of the Montreal Canadians. With some of the greatest players in the history of the game, the Yankees have claimed many crowns.
There could easily be more, however. With so much talent, the New York Yankees could have a lot more to show for their established success. Here are the top 10 Yankees teams without a World Series title.
10. 1976 Yankees (97-62)
For the second time in their history the Yankees were swept in the World Series, this time by the Cincinnati Reds (other in 1963). Their ascension to the division title was comfortable, with a 14 ½ game lead after the All-Star break.
The talented Yankees had six players in the All-Star game: Mickey Rivers, Sparky Lyle, Willie Randolph, Thurman Munson, Catfish Hunter, and Chris Chambliss. Ed Figueroa had a notably good season, with a 19-10 record (3.02 ERA).
9. 1981 Yankees (32-22, 25-26)
The 1981 players strike cut down this season, where playoff teams were chosen from the division winners in each half of the season. After sweeping the Oakland Athletics in the AL Championship Series, the Yankee lose in 6 games to the Fernando Valenzuela-led Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield led the talented Yankees in this shortened season. However, after winning the first two games of the World Series, the Dodgers won the remaining games to take the crown.
8. 2001 Yankees (95-65)
The dramatic conclusion to the Yankees emotional season, after the September 11 attacks, ended in a Game 7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. This year also marked Roger Clemens’ sixth Cy Young Award, the first pitcher to do so after a season of 16 straight wins.
Clemens was in good company with Mike Mussina and Andy Pettite. Offensively the Yankees were more than capable of picking up the title, with Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and many others of note.
7. 1942 Yankees (103-51)
Losing to the Stan Musial-led St. Louis Cardinals in just 5 games in the World Series, the 1942 Yankees posted one of the better regular season records the franchise has seen.
The pitching for the 42 Yankees was astounding, with six winning pitching records from Tiny Bonham, Spud Chandler, and company. Joe Gordon, Joe DiMaggio, and Charlie Keller led the potent offense.
6. 1963 and 1964 Yankees (104-57, 99-63)
After these two talented teams faltered in the World Series in 1963 and 1964, the Yankees would not return to the postseason until 1976, which was quite rare for the league’s most successful club. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Dodgers handed the two World Series losses, with a sweep and a 7-game series, respectively.
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle led these talented teams, along with good years from James Bouton, who received an All-Star selection in 1963 for his 21-7 record (2.53 ERA). These years marked the last successful ones of the Yankees in this era, as Maris and Mantle retired a few years after these two teams.
5. 1955 and 1957 Yankees (96-58, 98-56)
These two Yankees teams were along the line of powerful teams in the 1940s and 1950s produced in New York. Interestingly enough, in the following year of each team, the Yankees managed to beat the same team in the World Series to capture the title in 1956 and 1958, with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Milwaukee Braves, respectively.
Offensively these teams were led by Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Gil McDougald, and company. Whitey Ford posted excellent seasons, with a 18-7 (2.63 ERA) and 11-5 (2.57 ERA) record, respectively.
4. 2003 Yankees (101-61)
The impressive season from the Yankees led to a dramatic postseason. After seven games with the hated Boston Red Sox, the Yankees lost in six to the Florida Marlins.
Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, and others led the team offensively. Mike Mussina, Andy Pettie, and Roger Clemens were among the aces in the pitching staff that year.
3. 1921 and 1922 Yankess (98-55, 94-60)
The two teams managed consecutive World Series appearances in these seasons, however losing to the New York Giants both times, led by Casey Stengel and company. The best shot at a World Series title came in 1921, when the Yankees were up 3 games to 1. However, with an injury to Babe Ruth, the Giants won 4 in a row to take the title.
The two teams were led by Babe Ruth, with Wally Pipp and Bob Meusel as supporting cast. Carl Mays and Waite Hoyt, with Bob Shawkey in 1922, accounted for Yankees pitching for these two talented Yankees teams.
2. 1960 Yankees (97-57)
The walk-off homerun from Bill Mazeroski ended the Yankees hopes in 1960 for a World Series title, dramatically in Game 7 when the Pittsburgh Pirates captured the crown. The Yankees would however go on to win two straight titles after this loss.
Yogi Berra moved to the outfield, where he teamed with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris to lead the offense of the Yankees in this season. Whitey Ford was the ace to no surprise.
1. 1926 Yankees (91-63)
Beaten in 7 games in the World Series against a St. Louis Cardinals team led by Pete Alexander, the 1926 Yankees were just shy of winning a title. Perhaps they would’ve come back in the final game, down by 1 run when Babe Ruth was thrown out at second.
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Bob Meusel led the talented offense 1926 Yankees. With a rotation of Herb Pennock (23-11), Urban Shocker, Waite Hoyt, and Dutch Ruether, this Yankees team could have easily added to the hardware of the franchise.
by Brian Neese
3 Comments
Oh boo hoo. Cry me a river. You didn’t win the WS 10 times? Most other teams have a list of 30 good teams that didn’t win it all.
Cool and entertaining list, but you spelled Andy Pettitte’s name wrong.
Very astute observation to Steve Martel on the spelling of Andy Pettitte’s name. There is another typo regarding the 1963 and 1964 N.Y. Yankees. It was the St. Louis Cardinals and not the St. Louis Dodgers. A simple common human error………