We are going to spend our 2025 season looking back on the past seasons, especially the 50 best teams in history, which I call the best 50. The best team in baseball.
Here is a quick boilerplate note attached to each story I have in this series:
I compiled the best 50 by analyzing 2,544 major league teams from 1903 to 2024. (The historical percentile for a given club is the percentage of its other 2,543 teams.)
Please refer to my book to explain my TS calculations. The book also offers a separate breakdown of the best and worst clubs every decade, along with a comprehensive overview of the best 50 (including a position-by-position lineup and more information than you will find in this newsletter), and a similar summary of the 10 worst teams of all time.
Now enter today’s profile.
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Team: 2007 Boston Red Sox
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Team Score: 86.949
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Ranking History: 27 of 2,544
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Historical percentile: 98.98%
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Seasonal record: 96-66 (.593)
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Season position: No. 1 in the US Eastern League
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Final identity: World Champion
The Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, which was their first championship in 86 years. Boston was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the initial leg of the 2005 playoffs and then failed to qualify for the 2006 playoffs.
During the spring training in 2007, an atmosphere of uncertainty shrouded Sox. Manny Ramirez Pitcher failed to report on time Curt Schilling Publicly paying tribute to his contract, skeptics predicted the club was downhill slide. manager Terry Francona Tell everyone to relax. “It’s the Red Sox,” he said. “We’re used to dealing with these things.”
Francona is a prophecy. His club adjusted its distractions and led 11.5 games in the U.S. League East before Memorial Day, which eventually proved essential. After the All-Star Game, the New York Yankees’ efforts easily surpassed Boston’s 43-32 record with a score of 51-25. The latter is great enough to leave two games in the end. The Divisional Crown is their first since 1995.
Get a complete low in 50 greatest (and 10 weakest) clubs of all time
The world championship in Boston in March 2007 was very similar to the 2004 campaign. Both start with the easy sweep of the Angels in the American League Division Series, followed by a second round of hardship.
Cleveland led three games in the AL Championship Series, but the Red Sox responded to three shots with 7-1, 12-2 and 11-2 to win the championship. Manny Ramirez Josh Beckett Two victories were won.
Just like three years ago, the World Series was a breeze. Boston swept Colorado with a total score of 29-10. Sox hit .333 and kept the Rocky Mountain average at .218. “That’s it, pitching and hitting in time,” the first baseman said Kevin Youkilis. “What can you say? This is the best team in baseball.”
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There was little overlap between the 2004-2007 Red Sox. “The 04 season was a long time ago,” the second baseman Dustin Pedroia Tell reporters. “Now I have to write something new. These things are over.”
Only seven members of Boston’s 2007 roster have the 2004 World Series ring. The five-foot-nine Pedroia is not among them. He had been going deep into the minor leagues at that time toward the Grand Slam track. Scratch is his phone card. “I’m not the biggest person in the world,” Pedroa said. “I don’t have that many tools.” Still, he beat the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2007 with .317.
Two other newcomers – Third Baseman Mike Lowell Pitcher Josh Beckett – Arrived from the Florida Marlins in a November 2005 trade. Lowell drove home to run 120, ranking fifth in AL in 2007. Beckett ranked the highest in two leagues with 20 regular season wins, then added four more in the playoffs. “I think he’s looking forward to this challenge,” Terry Francona said. “When you go into the playoffs, he’s always been a pitcher of some kind.”
Boston then sent out different paths on the road in 2007 during the two offensive midstream stages in 2004. Left fielder Manny Ramirez suffered losses by his own standards. He has hit 20 home runs, the least since the 1994 rookie year. David Ortiz Hit .332 and rolled out 35 home runs.
Ortiz imposed – six feet three, 230 pounds – although teammates think intelligence rather than size, it’s the key to his success. “You’re not going to hit the .330 because you’re just big and strong,” Lowell said. “You have to know how to hit.”
