The 25 best MLB teams from the 1990s

Pittsburgh led MLB with 98 wins in 1991, but their run ended in a seven-game NLCS vs. Atlanta. The team led the NL in runs scored with big years from Barry Bonds (.292-25-116, 43 stolen bases) and Bobby Bonilla (.302-18-100), as well as an elite starting rotation with 20-game winner John Smiley and a great season from Doug Drabek.

The Mets claimed the NL Wild Card after winning 97 games, but fell to the division rival Braves in the NLCS. The team's offense certainly made its mark with three MVP candidates in Robin Ventura (.301-32-120), Mike Piazza (.303-40-124), and Edgardo Alfonzo (.304-27-108), and the bullpen was elite with Armando Benitez the primary closer.

Houston claimed the NL Central with 97 wins before an unceremonious end to their season in the NLDS vs. Atlanta. Only the Braves allowed fewer runs, as Houston had two Cy Young candidate starting pitchers in Mike Hampton (22-4, 2.90 ERA) and Jose Lima (21-10, 3.58 ERA) and closer Billy Wagner (39 saves, 1.57 ERA). Jeff Bagwell finished a distant second behind Chipper Jones in the NL MVP race after hitting .304-42-126 with 30 steals and 149 walks.

Cincinnati's sweep of the A's in the 1990 World Series was a bitter end to an otherwise terrific season in Oakland. Tony La Russa's squad won 103 games during the regular season, with Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco combining for 76 home runs and Rickey Henderson winning AL MVP after hitting .325-28-61 with 65 stolen bases and a .439 on-base percentage. The incredible Athletics also had Cy Young winner Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95 ERA) and third-place finisher Dave Stewart (22-11, 2.56 ERA).

The Marlins were in only the fifth season in their history but made the most of a terrific roster under GM Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland. After claiming the NL Wild Card with 92 wins, the Marlins swept San Francisco, upsetting the Braves in a six-game NLCS. 21-year-old shortstop Edgar Renteria was the World Series hero in Game 7 vs. Cleveland. The team also had a star-studded lineup that included Gary Sheffield, Moises Alou, and Bobby Bonilla, and ace starting pitcher Kevin Brown.

The team that started New York's streak of four World Series victories in five years certainly wasn't its best, winning 92 games. Still, that was more than enough to win the AL East, and team had the good fortune to avoid the 99-win Indians in the playoffs. New York eventually won the World Series over Atlanta in six games, capping off a final stretch in which the team caught fire late, going 16-11 in September. The team's stars included unanimous Rookie of the Year Derek Jeter and two of the top three finishers in the AL Cy Young race with Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.

Montreal led MLB with a 74-40 record when the clock struck midnight on the season and the player's strike started. We'll never know if a World Series was part of the Expos fate after the World Series was canceled, but what this squad accomplished was notable. Awards voting was held, with Moises Alou finishing third in the NL MVP after hitting .339-22-78 in 107 games played and Ken Hill netting second in the NL Cy Young after going 16-5 with a 3.32 ERA. Other notable Expos included Larry Walker (.322-19-86) and Pedro Martinez (11-5, 3.42 ERA).

If there were any justice, the Giants would have made the playoffs with 103 wins and NL MVP Barry Bonds producing a mammoth .336/.458/.677 season, but the Giants went home after trailing Atlanta by one game in the NL West. San Francisco also allowed the third-fewest runs in MLB, led by Bill Swift (21-8, 2.82 ERA) and John Burkett (22-7, 3.65 ERA).

The 1999 Reds are somewhat forgotten squad after failing to make the playoffs, finishing only one game behind the Astros in the NL Central and the Mets in the Wild Card race with 96 wins. The team led by manager Jack McKeon still deserves mention with its plus-144 run differential and lineup of stars that included Sean Casey (.332-25-99), Greg Vaughn (.245-45-118), and Ed Taubensee (.311-21-87) along with Rookie of the Year reliever Scott Williamson (12 wins, 19 saves, 2.41 ERA).

The Reds only needed 91 wins to claim by NL West by five games over LA, on the strength of an excellent pitching staff led by Jose Rijo (14-8, 2.70 ERA) and closer Randy Myers (31 saves). Cincinnati got hot in the playoffs, taking down the Pirates in a six-game NLCS and sweeping Oakland.

After their breakthrough in 1995 with 100 wins and their first playoff appearance in over 40 years, Cleveland showed they were for real by going 99-62 with their young core of sluggers. The team scored the second most runs in the AL, as Albert Belle finished third in the AL MVP voting by hitting .311-48-148 and Jim Thome (38) and Manny Ramirez (33) added their fair share of homers. Unfortunately, the team fell to Baltimore in ALDS.

Toronto won their second consecutive World Series memorably with a Joe Carter walkoff home run. Up to that point, the Blue Jays proved themselves by winning the AL East with 95 wins as DH Paul Molitor finished second in the MVP votting after hitting .332/.402/.509, and first baseman John Olerud finished third after hitting .363 with a .473 on-base percentage. Toronto did have the good fortune of avoid 100-win teams Atlanta and San Francisco in the World Series, taking down the 97-win Phillies in six games.

Toronto won their first of back-to-back World Series with a magical season, led by a great offense that produced three of the top six MVP finishers in the AL with Joe Carter, Dave Winfield, and Roberto Alomar. The Jays finished only behind the Tigers in runs scored, winning 96 games in the regular season before beating the A's in the ALCS and Braves in the World Series.

The defending champs won 96 games during the regular season, but still trailed the Orioles by two games in the AL East. The second most prolific offense in the AL with an impressive plus-203 run differential, New York fell to another offensively terrific squad in Cleveland in a five-game ALDS. The 1997 Yankees team is still remembered well for Tino Martinez's 44 home run, 141 RBI production, as well as Andy Pettitte's 18-win campaign.

Atlanta's 1993 team won 104 games during the regular season, and were arguably as good as any of the 1990's squads despite losing in the NLCS. As usual, the team got elite pitching with Cy Young winner Greg Maddux (2.36 ERA in 267 innings) along with great years from John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Steve Avery. The lineup featured three players who finished in the top five in NL MVP voting in David Justice, midseason acquisition Fred McGriff, and Ron Gant.

Despite winning eight division titles during the 1990s, Atlanta's 1995 squad was their only World Series champ. Coming out of the 1994 player's strike, the Braves went 90-54 during the regular season, leading the league with 540 runs allowed including a historic season from Greg Maddux. The ace went 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA and 10 complete games in 28 starts as the unanimous Cy Young winner, while teammate Tom Glavine finished third in the voting. The lineup also had its fair share of spark, with Ryan Klesko posting a 1.004 OPS and Fred McGriff hitting 27 home runs.

Minnesota won the second World Series in five seasons with a well-rounded squad that won 95 games during the regular season and defeated Atlanta in a dramatic seven-game World Series. The clutch Kirby Puckett hit .319-15-89 during the regular season, though the team also wouldn't have had as much success without DH Chili Davis' 29 home runs and AL Rookie of the Year Chuck Knoblauch at second base. Scott Erickson finished second in the AL Cy Young race after winning 20 games, though rotation mate Kevin Tapani was arguably the better pitcher with a lower ERA (2.99) over 40 more innings.

After back-to-back World Series appearances, the Braves won their sixth consecutive division title with their usual recipe of elite pitching and great offense. The team won 101 games during the regular season but fell to the surprising Marlins in the NLCS. The Braves easily led MLB with only 581 runs allowed, with a historic year from the starting rotation as John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Denny Neagle combined to win 68 games, and none had an ERA higher than 3.02. The line also made its share of noise with four 20-plus home run hitters, led by Ryan Klesko with 24.

Houston's NLDS ouster in 1998 will always be remembered as a what-could-have-been after the team added Randy Johnson for the stretch run. The team's impressive lineup featured the Killer B's of Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio both having great seasons, but it was Moises Alou who got the most MVP consideration after hitting .312-38-124. The pitching staff was second to the Braves in runs allowed, with rotation members Shane Reynolds, Jose Lima, Mike Hampton, and Sean Bergman each posting sub-4.00 ERAs and Johnson sporting a 1.28 ERA in 11 starts before leaving for Arizona in free agency.

Led by ace Randy Johnson and a powerful lineup, the upstart Diamondbacks won 100 games in the regular season before losing to the Mets in the NLDS. The team was elite during the regular season, finishing third in both runs scored and runs allowed, as they got over 30 home runs from Jay Bell, Matt Williams, and Steve Finley while Luis Gonzalez also hit .336-26-111 in his breakout year. Johnson edged Mike Hampton in the NL Cy Young race after going 17-9 with a 2.48 ERA and 12 complete games in 35 starts.

The Cleveland squads of the mid-90s are remembered fondly despite never winning a World Series, and the 1995 version was arguably the best of the bunch. The team won 100 games in only 144 games during the regular season but came up just short against Atlanta in the World Series. The team's remarkable offense easily led in MLB with 840 runs scored, as Albert Belle launched 50 home runs and was protected by 23-year-old Manny Ramirez (.308-31-107) and 24-year-old Jim Thome (.314-25-73). The starting rotation also featured multiple sub-4.00 ERA starters anchored by Dennis Martinez, and closer Jose Mesa received Cy Young Votes after posting a 1.13 ERA with 46 saves.

It was the same old story for Atlanta, winning their eighth division title of the decade and producing their third consecutive 100-plus win season before falling in a World Series sweep against the Yankees. The season featured MVP Chipper Jones hitting .319-45-110 with 25 stolen bases and Kevin Millwood finishing third in the Cy Young vote with an 18-7 record and 2.68 ERA in 228 innings. The team led MLB in wins (103) and allowed the fewest runs in baseball (661).

Like much of the 1990s, the 1998 Braves didn't have the playoff success they hoped, but that shouldn't put a damper on their 106-win season. Led by their historic pitching staff, the Braves were masters at run prevention with a league-low 581 runs allowed as Tom Glavine won Cy Young and was trailed by Greg Maddux and John Smoltz finishing in the top four in voting. First baseman Andres Galarraga also earned MVP consideration after hitting .305-44-121. Atlanta fell to the Padres in the NLCS.

The Yankees could claim a dynasty with their third World Series victory in four years. The team's playoff experience showed with only one less over three playoff series, including a sweep of the Braves in the World Series. New York won 98 games during the regular season, getting incredible seasons from Derek Jeter (.349-24-102), Bernie Williams (.342-25-115), David Cone (3.44 ERA in 31 starts), and Mariano Rivera (1.83 ERA and 45 saves).

The Bronx Bombers won their second World Series in three years with one of the best teams in their storied history. The team won 114 games during the regular season, followed by an amazing run of 11-2 in the playoffs, including a World Series sweep of the Padres. The team led MLB in runs scored by a wide margin with 965, with a lineup with no holes and was led by Derek Jeter (.324-19-84) and Bernie Williams (.339-26-97). The pitching staff was elite in its own right, featuring 20-game winner David Cone, the arrival of rookie sensation Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, and surefire closer Mariano Rivera.