History judges teams by championships. And the top five teams on this list fit that description to a T. But were the 10 World Series winners of the decade the best 10 teams? No way (and it would be a pretty boring top 10 without a few curveballs along the way).
This list factors in hitting and pitching stats, and with postseason successes factored in. To qualify, a team must have made the playoffs. On with the countdown:
1. 2004 Boston Red Sox
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- Recap: 98-64, won World Series, won AL wild card), 11-3 in playoffs
- Hitting: .282 batting average, .472 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 4.19 ERA
- Run differential: 949-768 (+181)
- Comment: A wild-card team at No. 1? When you make history as the first team to rally from an 0-3 deficit in a playoff series, and end an 86-year championship drought in the process, it's enough for "The Idiots" to be No. 1.
2. 2002 Anaheim Angels
Donald Miralle/Getty Images
- Recap: 99-63, won World Series, won AL West, 11-5 in playoffs
- Hitting: .282 batting average, .433 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.69 ERA
- Run differential: 851-644 (+207)
- Comment: The Angels' first title team had the Rally Monkey, a great bullpen and a dramatic run toward glory.
3. 2007 Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
- Recap: 96-66, won World Series, won AL East, 11-3 in playoffs
- Hitting: .279 batting average, .444 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.87 ERA
- Run differential: 867-657 (+210)
- Comment: Red Sox's second title team was perhaps even more complete than the 2004 group. They rallied from 3-2 down in the ALCS vs. Cleveland, then swept Colorado.
4. 2009 New York Yankees
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
- Recap: 103-59, won World Series, won AL East, 11-4 in playoffs
- Hitting: .283 batting average, .478 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 4.28 ERA
- Run differential: 915-753 (+162)
- Comment: Decade's final champion was the best at the plate among the 10 title teams.
5. 2005 Chicago White Sox
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
- Recap: 99-63, won World Series, won AL Central, 11-1 in playoffs
- Hitting: .262 batting average, .425 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.61 ERA
- Run differential: 741-645 (96)
- Comment: Hitters were pedestrian, but pitching wasn't, especially in that sparkling postseason run.
6. 2001 Seattle Mariners
Ezra Shaw/Allsport
- Recap: 116-46, won AL West, lost in ALCS to Yankees
- Hitting: .288 batting average, .445 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.54 ERA
- Run differential: 927-627 (+300)
- Comment: If this team had won it all, it would have been the clear No. 1. Best run differential among all teams, led by rookie MVP Ichiro Suzuki. Record number of regular-season wins. Not too shabby on the mound, either.
7. 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks
Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport
- Recap: 92-70, won World Series, won NL West, 11-8 in playoffs
- Hitting: .267 batting average, .442 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.88 ERA
- Run differential: 818-677 (+141)
- Comment: Won thrilling seven-game World Series over Yankees.
8. 2008 Philadelphia Phillies
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
- Recap: 92-70, won World Series, won NL East, 11-3 in playoffs
- Hitting: .255 batting average, .438 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.89 ERA
- Run differential: 799-680 (+119)
- Comment: Phillies were solid all season and were scorching hot at the end for their first title in 28 years.
9. 2004 St. Louis Cardinals
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
- Recap: 105-57, won NL Central, swept in World Series by Red Sox
- Hitting: .278 batting average, .460 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.75 ERA
- Run differential: 855-659
- Comment: Lost in the shuffle of the Red Sox's improbable run was the overall brilliance of the NL pennant winner that season.
10. 2001 Oakland A's
Tom Hauck/Getty Images
- Recap: 102-60, won AL wild card, lost 3-2 in ALDS to Yankees
- Hitting: .264 batting average, .439 slugging percentage
- Pitching: 3.59 ERA
- Run differential: 884-645 (+239)
- Comment: Three 2001 teams in the top 10? A team that didn't even win a playoff series or its division? Might be a reach, but those stats don't lie.
