What is the Best Ever Regular Season of MLB?
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 14 November 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Тhe Best MLB Season
If you’re a baseball fanatic, you probably have your own opinion about what the best ever regular season of MLB is. However, in an effort to settle the score, we’ve covered the most memorable seasons that have had the biggest cultural impact and produced the most amazing results. From the excitement of Joe DiMaggio’s winning streak in 1941 to the record-breaking of 1998, we’ve discussed these groundbreaking seasons in detail.
Intro to the Best MLB Season Ever
When it comes to Major League Baseball, every season has its moments. But some seasons stand head and shoulders above the rest. To get started, we’ve explored what it is that makes these top seasons so special, from player highlights to the effect on baseball fandom.
We’ve then looked at the best regular season years in chronological order, starting with the historic events of 1941 and culminating with the return of MLB’s glory in 1998. Use the following links to jump to each season or scroll through for the full history lesson.
- What Makes a Top MLB Season
- The Historic 1941
- The Dramatic 1951
- The M&M Boys of 1961
- The Miracle Mets of 1969
- The Fan-Pleasing 1982
- The Underdog Story of 1991
- The Strike-Shortened 1994
- The Record-Breaking 1998
What Makes the Best MLB Season of All Time
The MLB regular season is a long grind, but any fan will know that no matter how slow the season seems to be moving, the season’s end and playoffs arrive before you know it. Our guide has found that there are numerous claims to the title of the best MLB season of all time, with fans, players, and experts experts highlighting these years for different reasons.
We believe that the best professional sports bettors are well-acquainted with sports histories, as these hold the origins of long-held rivalries and surprising upsets. Keep this information in mind before placing wagers at betting apps with MLB markets and set yourself apart from the amateurs.
The Historic 1941
The 1941 MLB season was a year of iconic achievements, many of which still stand today. One of the most impressive was Ted Williams’ spectacular season-long performance, becoming the last player to hit over .400 in a season. This was the same year that Joe DiMaggio had a 56-game hitting streak, another record that has yet to be broken.
What’s more, the 1941 season was the last MLB season to be played before the US officially entered World War II. In the midst of unstable global times, fans looked to the MLB as a symbol of American unity and excellence. While some of its events may not be quite as impressive as later seasons, it has huge significance in the context of history.
The Dramatic 1951
The 1951 season can lay claim to the best ever regular season of MLB because of the drama that unfolded in the National League. The New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers ended the regular season tied for first place, forcing a three-game playoff. The climax came in Game 3 when Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson claimed an impressive three-run home run.
This event was named the “Shot Heard Round the World”. On the pitching side, New York Yankees’ Allie Reynolds became the first MLB player in history to throw two no-hitters in the same season. While the Giants eventually lost to the Yankees in the World Series, the season remains one of the most dramatic and exciting in MLB history.
The M&M Boys of 1961
The 1961 season is considered by many to be the best MLB season that defined a new era of the sport. The home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris captured the nation’s attention, and Maris eventually broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing record by hitting 61 home runs.
But that was just the beginning. Willie Mays also had an incredible season, hitting four home runs in a single game against the Milwaukee Braves. Braves pitcher Warren Spahn threw a no-hitter, winning his 300th game, and the New York Yankees, led by Maris and Mantle, defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series in just five games.
The Miracle Mets of 1969
The 1969 season is still remembered as a miraculous year for New York Mets fans. Before the season, the Mets had never had a winning season, and started the year with a very underwhelming 18-23 record. But then, out of nowhere, something clicked. The Mets began an incredible run and finished the season with a record of 100-62.
They not only won the NL East but also swept the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. It culminated with a head-to-head with bookmaker favorites the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. When they beat them in five games, Mets fans were elated, marking the start of the team’s legacy and potentially their best ever regular season of MLB.
The Fan-Pleasing 1982
The 1982 season is considered an MLB best season ever as it was a long-awaited return to the game. The year before, a players’ strike resulted in the cancellation of 713 games, equating to a 38% reduction in the league’s total. As a result, fans and players were keen to see a return to the game. No one expected it to be as memorable as it was.
Fans flocked back in strong MLB viewership figures to witness Rickey Henderson break Lou Brock’s single-season stolen base record with a staggering 130 steals. Cal Ripken Jr., meanwhile, started his iconic streak of 2,632 consecutive games played. The record still stands today.
If this wasn’t enough, the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves won their divisions on the last day of the season, the culmination of long-fought battles. The World Series was a classic showdown between the Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals, with the Cardinals came back from a deficit to win Game 7. No wonder it’s considered as the best season in MLB history by many.
The Underdog Story of 1991
The 1991 MLB season was perhaps the best MLB season for showcasing the resilience and fortitude of underdogs. Both the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins had finished in last place in their divisions in the year previous, leading many to underestimate them in 1991. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
The season’s end was one of the most exciting, with both teams progressing to the World Series. Three of the seven games saw the games go into extra innings. In the nail-biting Game 7, a 1-0 win for the Twins was achieved thanks to a 10-inning shutout pitched by Jack Morris.
The season also saw Rickey Henderson break Lou Brock’s career stolen base record, while Cecil Fielder enchanted fans by hitting a home run that completely left Milwaukee County Stadium. The season also saw seven no-hitters thrown, adding to the MLB best season ever’s list of surprises!
The Strike-Shortened 1994
The 1994 MLB season was a heartbreaker for fans and players alike. Tony Gwynn was set to match Ted Williams’ 1941 achievement and was on the verge of hitting .400. Matt Williams was also chasing Roger Maris’ home run record, and the Montreal Expos were looking like a championship team.
However, these efforts were cut short when a players’ strike was called, stopping the season in its tracks and denying baseball fans a year of records. Not only did the strike cut short the chance of individual player records — it also left the Expos’ dream season unfinished and stopped it from being the best MLB season of all time.
Before the season was cut short, the Expose were bound for their second playoff appearance ever. Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers also threw a perfect game just two weeks before the season was cut short. This year is truly remembered as “the season that could have been” and deserves to be remembered fondly.
The Record-Breaking 1998
The 1998 MLB season was a turning point for baseball. After years of declining viewership and attendance figures, the league was facing a reckoning. Thankfully, the 1998 season changed all of this, with events so popular it brought the nation back to the game in record numbers.
The home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa was one of several headline stories, as was Ken Griffey Jr.’s hitting of 56 home runs. This was the 300th of his career. Alex Rodriguez also joined the 40-40 club, making it a best ever regular season of MLB in terms of player achievements.
This was the year Barry Bonds intentionally and successfully walked with the bases loaded, while David Wells threw a perfect game, placing himself into the record books. Additionally, Kerry Wood struck out 20 batters in a game, and the New York Yankees capped off this incredible season by defeating the San Diego Padres in the World Series.
