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Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Top 10 Teams in Franchise History

By Otto Johnson

FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 24: Catcher Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins congratulates Justin Morneau #33 after his home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Hammond Stadium on March 24, 2013 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 24: Catcher Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins congratulates Justin Morneau #33 after his home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Hammond Stadium on March 24, 2013 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /
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American baseball player Earl McNeely (1898 – 1971), centerfielder for the Washington Senators, jumps up to make a catch, 1925. McNeely was brought to the team from the Pacific Coast League at a cost of three players and $40, 000, resulting in protests by Senators fans. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
American baseball player Earl McNeely (1898 – 1971), centerfielder for the Washington Senators, jumps up to make a catch, 1925. McNeely was brought to the team from the Pacific Coast League at a cost of three players and $40, 000, resulting in protests by Senators fans. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /

6. 1933 Washington Senators (99-53)

The first Senators team on the list, from way back in 1933 (prior to their move to Minnesota) won 99 games and the American League pennant. The team, led by All-Stars Joe Cronin (player-manager) and General Crowder dominated the AL en route to their first pennant in eight years.

The team had a strong team up and down the order, with Heinie Manush and Joe Kuhel each having great years, hitting over .320. Those two players led the squad that had the best team batting average (.287) and scored the third-most runs in all of baseball (793). Their pitching was below average, however, sporting a 4.35 ERA.

The Senators won eight more games than any other team in baseball, but that wouldn’t matter in the World Series, as the team lost to the New York Giants in five games. The Giants’ star aces; Carl “King” Hubbell and Hal “Prince” Schumacher pitched a combined 36 innings (75% of the innings pitched!) and Washington’s lineup was embarrassed on the biggest stage.

Their regular-season performance and a team featuring a couple of Hall of Famers are the only reason they are here. They were great all year, finally ending the stranglehold of the AL by the Yankees and Athletics, but failed to win when it mattered most, forcing them down to sixth on the list.

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