#1/2 Seeded Teams
#1 1927 Yankees
Original Season Record: 110-44, .714, 1st place in AL, won WS
Star Attractions: There may never in MLB history been a more dynamic duo than Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and this was likely their best season as a duo. Gehirig won the AL MVP (although rules at the time prevented a player from winning the award twice in a career and Ruth had already won the award in 1923 making himself ineligible) with team highs of 52 2B, 173 RBI, a .373 average and 447 total bases, plus 47 HR, 18 3B , 149 runs scored. a .474 on base percentage, .765 slugging percentage and 1.240 OPS, all second best on the team. Ruth slugged a then record 60 HR and led the league with 158 runs, 137 walks, a .486 on base percentage, .772 slugging percentage, 1.258 OPS and 12.6 WAR.
Also Featuring: Three different starting pitchers, Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock and Urban Shocker all had at least 18 wins and ERAs of 3 or lower, while Wilcy Moore, primarily pitching in relief won the AL ERA title with a mark of 2.28 and added 19 wins and tied for the AL lead with 13 saves. CF Earle Combs matched Ruth`s .356 batting average, led the league 23 3B and 231 hits, 648 AB and 726 plate appearances, scoring 137 runs.
Potential Pitfalls: It is nitpicking to find weaknesses on one of the greatest single season teams of all time, but if you want something, the bullpen lacks quality beyond Moore and the quality of the batting order drops off considerably in the bottom third with neither Mark Koenig or Joe Dugan representing significant threats.
#2 1977 Kansas City Royals
Original Season Record:102-60, .630, 1st place, AL West, lost ALCS
Star Attractions: 3B George Brett led the team with 105 runs scored, a .372 on base percentage, 532 slugging percentage and .905 OPS and was one off the team lead in 3B with 13 and HR with 22. OF Al Cowens tied for the team lead with 23 HR and a .312 batting average and led KC with 112 RBI. Dennis Leonard anchored the starting rotation with team highs of 20 wins, a 3.04 ERA, 21 CG, 5 SHO, and 292.6 IP.
Also Featuring: Three different relievers had double digit saves for the Royals with Doug Bird leading the way with 14 saves while lefty Larry Gura had 10 saves and a 3.13 ERA. SS Freddie Patek led the AL with 53 SB. one of six players on the team with double digit steals.
Potential Pitfalls: There is not a true number two starter in the rotation and no dominant closer in a committee system, but it is hard to argue that those are more than minor flaws on the team that led the AL in ERA. This is an extremely well rounded team.
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