Welcome to the final countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1950s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1950s (1950-1959), a total of 160 teams were eligible (16 teams x 10 seasons), so the top 20 teams are a fairly exclusive group. We’ll summarize each team, including portions of their team dashboard, and explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #5 through #1.
Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1950s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard
#5: 1958 Milwaukee Braves, 53.2 WAR162
The Braves cruised to a second consecutive NL pennant, topping the Pirates by 8 games. Their season finished with a 7-game World Series defeat in a rematch with the Yankees.
The Braves were not a powerful offensive squad despite the presence of some big-name stars. Their 675 runs ranked fourth, as did their 167 home runs in a power-laden NL season. They did manage to lead the league in BA (a virtual tie with the Phillies) but were third in OPS behind the Cubs and Giants. Pitching is what sets the Braves apart from their rivals, as they paced the NL in ERA, WHIP, shutouts, and strikeout-to-walk rate.
As usual, Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews starred on offense for the Milwaukee club. Aaron batted .326 and stroked 30 homers, scored 109 runs, and had 95 RBI. Mathews belted 31 homers while drawing 85 walks, and catcher Del Crandall added 18 homers in his 131 games. Wes Covington homered 24 times in just 90 games played, batting .330. Warren Spahn had a fine age-37 season, posting a 22-11 record with 23 complete games and a 1.148 WHIP, all numbers topping the NL. Lew Burdette issued the fewest walks per 9 innings while winning 20 games, and the trio of Joey Jay (7-5), Bob Rush (10-6), and Carl Willey (9-7) combined for 26 wins behind the Spahn-Burdette duo.
#4: 1953 New York Yankees, 56.4 WAR162
The Yankees repeated as AL champs in 1953, finishing 8.5 games ahead of the Indians. They then defeated the crosstown Dodgers in the World Series for the second consecutive season.
This edition of the Yankees had both a powerful offense and strong pitching. The offense produced 801 runs, 31 more than the Indians, and swatted 139 home runs, second in the league. The Yankees swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS categories, with the Indians trailing them in each case. The pitching staff ERA of 3.20 was well ahead of the White Sox, and the team recorded the most shutouts, the best WHIP, and the second-best strikeout-to-walk rate in the AL.
The offense was led by 21-year-old Mickey Mantle and veteran catcher Yogi Berra. Mantle scored 105 runs, had a .398 OBP, and launched 21 homers, while Berra had 27 homers with 108 RBI. Hank Bauer posted a .394 OBP, and teammate Gene Woodling had an AL-best .429 OBP for the season. Veteran shortstop Phil Rizzuto also excelled with a .383 OBP, and Gil McDougald batted .285 with 83 RBI. Whitey Ford went 18-6 with 3 shutouts, Eddie Lopat went 16-4 with a league-best 2.42 ERA, and veteran Johnny Sain went 14-7, largely in a relief role.
#3: 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, 56.9 WAR162
The 1955 Dodgers cruised to the NL title, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Braves, and then conquered the Yankees (at last!) in a 7-game World Series. The Pythagorean projections had the Dodgers as a 95-win club, so they were a trifle lucky, but easily the top team in the NL.
The Dodgers scored nearly 100 more runs than any of their rivals, with 857 for the season. They also blasted 201 homers and 230 doubles, and swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS categories in 1955. This was a powerful offensive team that especially thrived at cozy Ebbets Field. Their pitching also led the NL in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, and strikeout-to-walk rate, making the Dodgers the class of the league.
Duke Snider had an exceptional season, leading the NL with 126 runs scored and 136 RBI while batting .309 with a .418 OBP and 1.046 OPS fueled by 42 home runs. Roy Campanella was named NL MVP after a 32-homer, 107 RBI, .318 BA season, and Carl Furillo batted .314 with 95 RBI. Gil Hodges (27 HR, 102 RBI) and Pee Wee Reese (99 runs, .282 BA) also made strong contributions for a deep Dodgers lineup. Don Newcombe was the pitching star, logging a 20-5 record with an NL-best 1.113 WHIP, aided by Carl Erskine (11-8), Johnny Podres (9 wins), and reliever Clem Labine, who appeared in an NL-high 60 games, earning a 13-5 record.
#2: 1954 Cleveland Indians, 57.7 WAR162
The 1954 Indians had the most impressive record of the decade, and one of the best of all-time. Luck played a role, as the Indians’ projection was for 104 wins. The team claimed the AL crown by 8 games over the Yankees, but was stunningly swept by the Giants in the World Series.
The Indians had a strong offense, although they trailed the Yankees in several categories. They ranked second in runs, home runs, and OPS, and just fourth in BA and OBP. Pitching was the strength of this team, as they posted a 2.78 ERA, well ahead of the White Sox and Yankees. The Indians staff issued the fewest walks, posted the best WHIP, and had the league’s highest strikeout-to-walk rate.
Bobby Avila was the offensive leader, batting .341 (AL-best) and scoring 112 runs. Larry Doby led the league with 32 homers and 26 RBI, Al Rosen batted .300 with 24 homers and 102 RBI, and Al Smith posted a .398 OBP. Mike Garcia (19-8, AL-best 2.64 ERA and 5 shutouts) and Early Wynn (23-11, 2.73 ERA) led the pitching corps, with Bob Lemon close behind, with a 23-7 record and 21 complete games.
#1: 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, 58.9 WAR
The 1953 Dodgers posted an impressive 60-17 home record on their way to 105 wins (versus a 99-win projection). This was plenty to beat the Braves by a 13-game margin for the NL pennant, before losing a 6-game World Series to the crosstown Yankees.
The Dodgers’ offense was likely the best of the 1950s, rolling up 955 runs, 187 more than their closest pursuers. They whacked 208 home runs and 274 doubles to top the NL in both categories, and swept the BA (.285), OBP (.366), SLG (.474), and OPS (.840) metrics. Their pitching was not quite as strong, ranking third in ERA and WHIP, but first in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate.
The offense was led by the 20-year-old Mickey Mantle, who batted .311 with an AL-best .924 OPS, and veteran catcher Yogi Berra, who slugged 30 homers and accumulated 98 RBI. Shortstop Phil Rizzuto had a fine age-34 season, stealing 17 bases and scoring 89 runs while playing excellent defense. More depth was provided by Hank Bauer (.293 BA, 17 homers), Gene Woodling (.309 BA, .397 OBP), and Gil McDougald (11 homers, 78 RBI). Allie Reynolds led the league with a 2.06 ERA and 6 shutouts while compiling a 20-8 record at age 35. Vic Raschi contributed 16 more wins, and Eddie Lopat added 10 as a capable third starter.
Summary
That’s it for the final entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1950s decade! Here’s a summary of the most dominant franchises of the 1950s:
