The 10 Greatest MLB Franchises
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The 21st Century was shaping up to be the era of newfound parity and long-sought redemption. The Red Sox had erased an 86 year-old drought. The White Sox, an 88 year one. Even the once miserable Phillies had climbed the mountaintop after 38 years. Then there were the Diamondbacks and Angels, two teams to capture their first ever titles. The Rangers were supposed to join that party after 50 years of futility. With Hamilton’s blast in the 10th inning of game 6, the movie-ready script had seemingly been completed. And then David Freese happened. In the past three years, the three most successful franchises in Major League history have reassumed the throne in succession, solidifying their stranglehold atop the baseball heap. True, the nine different World Series champions in eleven years is no doubt impressive. But true parity always seems just out of reach for the modern American Pastime.
Here are the 10 most successful and storied franchises in MLB history.
1) 
Yankees--Established in 1901, based in NY since 1903. 27 World Championships, 40 Pennants, and $437 trillion spent.
Last championship: 2009
Defining Voice: Mel Allen
Defining Managers: Casey Stengel, Joe McCarthy, Joe Torre
The Legends: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson.
Defining Voice: Mel Allen
Defining Managers: Casey Stengel, Joe McCarthy, Joe Torre
The Legends: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson.
2) 
Cardinals--Established in 1881. 10 World Series tites and 18 Pennants.
Cardinals--Established in 1881. 10 World Series tites and 18 Pennants.Last championship: 2006
Defining Voice: Jack Buck
Defining Manager: Whitey Herzog
The Legends: Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Dizzy Dean, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst, Enos Slaughter, Bruce Sutter.
3)
Giants--Established in 1883, based in San Francisco since 1958. 6 World Series titles and 21 Pennants
Defining Voice: Jack Buck
Defining Manager: Whitey Herzog
The Legends: Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Dizzy Dean, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst, Enos Slaughter, Bruce Sutter.
3)
Giants--Established in 1883, based in San Francisco since 1958. 6 World Series titles and 21 PennantsLast championship: 2010
Defining Voice: Russ Hodges
Defining Manager: John McGraw
The Legends: Willie Mays, Mel Ott, Christy Mathewson, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Bill Terry, Carl Hubbell, Gaylord Perry, Barry Bonds.
4)
Dodgers--Established in 1883, based in LA since 1958. 6 World Series titles and 21 Pennants
Defining Voice: Russ Hodges
Defining Manager: John McGraw
The Legends: Willie Mays, Mel Ott, Christy Mathewson, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Bill Terry, Carl Hubbell, Gaylord Perry, Barry Bonds.
4)
Dodgers--Established in 1883, based in LA since 1958. 6 World Series titles and 21 PennantsLast championship: 1988
Defining Voices: Vin Skully, Red Barber
Defining Managers: Walter Alston, Tommy Lasorda
The Legends: Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Don Sutton, Don Drysdale, Pee Wee Reese, Jim Gilliam, Dazzy Vance, Zack Wheat.
5)
Athletics--Established in 1901, based in Oakland since 1968. 9 World Series titles and 15 Pennants.
Defining Managers: Walter Alston, Tommy Lasorda
The Legends: Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Don Sutton, Don Drysdale, Pee Wee Reese, Jim Gilliam, Dazzy Vance, Zack Wheat.
5)
Athletics--Established in 1901, based in Oakland since 1968. 9 World Series titles and 15 Pennants.Last championship: 1974
Defining Voice: Bill King
Defining Manager: Connie Mack
The Legends: Reggie Jackson, Ricky Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Lefty Grove, Bert Campaneris, Eddie Plank, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons.
6)
Red Sox--Established in 1901. 7 World Series titles and 12 Pennants
Defining Voice: Bill King
Defining Manager: Connie Mack
The Legends: Reggie Jackson, Ricky Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Lefty Grove, Bert Campaneris, Eddie Plank, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons.
6)
Red Sox--Established in 1901. 7 World Series titles and 12 PennantsLast championship: 2007
Defining Voices: Curt Gowdy, Jerry Remy
Defining Managers: Joe Cronin, Terry Francona
The Legends: Ted Williams, Carl Yazstrzemski, Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker, Pedro Martinez, Joe Cronin, Jim Rice, Harry Hooper, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz.
7)
Braves--Established in 1871, based in Atlanta since 1966. 3 World Series titles and 17 Pennants
Defining Voices: Curt Gowdy, Jerry Remy
Defining Managers: Joe Cronin, Terry Francona
The Legends: Ted Williams, Carl Yazstrzemski, Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker, Pedro Martinez, Joe Cronin, Jim Rice, Harry Hooper, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz.
7)
Braves--Established in 1871, based in Atlanta since 1966. 3 World Series titles and 17 PennantsLast championship: 1995
Defining Voice: Ernie Johnson Sr
Defining Voice: Ernie Johnson Sr
Defining Manager: Bobby Cox
The Legends: Warren Spahn, Hank Aaron, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro, Dale Murphy, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Andrew Jones.
8)
Reds--Established in 1869. 5 World Series titles and 9 Pennants
The Legends: Warren Spahn, Hank Aaron, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro, Dale Murphy, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Andrew Jones.
8)
Reds--Established in 1869. 5 World Series titles and 9 PennantsLast championship: 1990
Defining Voice: Marty Brennaman
Defining Managers: Sparky Anderson, Fred Hutchinson
The Legends: Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Dave Concepción, Frank Robinson, Barry Larkin, Ernie Lombardi, Eppa Rixey, Edd Rousch.
9)
Pirates--Established in 1882. 5 World Series titles and 9 Pennants
Defining Voice: Marty Brennaman
Defining Managers: Sparky Anderson, Fred Hutchinson
The Legends: Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Dave Concepción, Frank Robinson, Barry Larkin, Ernie Lombardi, Eppa Rixey, Edd Rousch.
9)
Pirates--Established in 1882. 5 World Series titles and 9 PennantsLast championship: 1979
Defining Voice: Bob Prince
Defining Manager: Danny Murtaugh
The Legends: Roberto Clemente, Ralph Kiner, Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, Pie Traynor, Max Carey, Arky Vaughan.
10)
Tigers--Established in 1894. 4 World Series titles and 10 Pennants
Defining Voice: Bob Prince
Defining Manager: Danny Murtaugh
The Legends: Roberto Clemente, Ralph Kiner, Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, Pie Traynor, Max Carey, Arky Vaughan.
10)
Tigers--Established in 1894. 4 World Series titles and 10 PennantsLast championship: 1984
Defining Voice: Ernie Harwell
Defining Manager: Sparky Anderson
The Legends: Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer, Hal Newhouser, Sam Crawford, George Kell, Harry Heilmann, Mickey Cochrane, Willie Horton.
Defining Voice: Ernie Harwell
Defining Manager: Sparky Anderson
The Legends: Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer, Hal Newhouser, Sam Crawford, George Kell, Harry Heilmann, Mickey Cochrane, Willie Horton.
