# Baseball Team of the Decade **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 1, 1999, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903 "1999-11-01T15:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 1999, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/1 "1999-11-01T15:39:00Z")
Ok Ok Ok, so here is a REAL debating point. Which team, if any, should take on the mantle of Team of the Decade from Major League Baseball? In answering, please note your criteria. Some criteria come to mind that can be used or not: number of wins, relative placements (I know Atlanta has the wins and am pretty sure they get the placements also), success in the playoffs, lack of more than one or maybe two poor seasons, staying power, etc. Obvious candidates include Atlanta and New York, but other teams can be included as well… Let’s hear your thoughts… ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 1999, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/2 "1999-11-01T16:26:00Z")
It really shouldn’t matter who you are a fan of, the Yankees have pretty much squelched any debate on this point (coming from a huge Cubs/marginal Bravs fan). So, I would like to nominate the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Points in their favor: Their long awaited and much heralded debut The beautiful splendor of Tropicana Field Rampant fan enthusiasm Great and memorable players and lineups Their yearly thrilling playoff chases Their national TV exposure And, finally, the way they have positioned themselves to completely own the AL East for years to come. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 1999, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/3 "1999-11-02T00:32:00Z")
This past season, if neither the Yanks or Braves had won, I would have said it was a total wash, with a slight edge to the Braves for their regular season dominance. But when you compare the Yankees three titles (and playoff appearances two other times and it would have been three if not for the strike), it’s obvious that the Yanks are the team of the '90s. They are also, without doubt, the team of the century. And the 1998 bunch, that was a whopping 125-50, is arguably the best team EVER in the history of the game. No matter how you add it up, the answer always comes up Yankees! * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 1999, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/4 "1999-11-02T13:24:00Z")
I hate to agree with Satan, but the Yankees are the team of the 90’s and of the century. Thankfully though the century is just about over and with any luck the new century will be dominated by the Cleveland Indians. What are the other team of the other decades of the century? My two cents: 1980’s: None 1970’s: Oakland A’s 1960’s: St. Louis Cardinals 1950’s: NY Yankees 1940’s: St. Louis Cardinals 1930’s: NY Yankees 1920’s: NY Yankees 1910’s: Boston Red Sox 1900’s: NY Giants. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 1999, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/5 "1999-11-02T13:26:00Z")
Sorry, but I forgot to proof-read. My last post was meant to refer to my choices for the other teams of the decade. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 1999, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/6 "1999-11-02T23:38:00Z")
Oh, I dunno, Patrick, the Cubs were a pretty happenin’ team back in 190x. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/7 "1999-11-03T04:02:00Z")
I vote for the Chicago Blackhawks. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/8 "1999-11-03T04:25:00Z")
Tough one, the Yanks have a good case, but they flat out sucked for the first half of the decade. 3 titles is a strong arguement. The Braves are a pillar of consistancy, and have the total wins. The Blue Jays have a case, but are overshadowed by the Yanks. Even with the last loss in the WS, I think I’d vote for the Braves. The Yanks were a little better than the Braves in the second half, but lost worse in the first half. So when talking about the entire decade i go with the Braves. My list: 90’s=Braves 80’s=Mets/A’s-really tough call 70’s=Red’s 60’s=Yanks/Cards-another tough one 50’s=Dodgers 40’s=Cardinals 30’s=Yanks 20’s=Yanks 10’s=White Sox 00’s=Cubs ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-team-of-the-decade/16903/9 "1999-11-04T04:48:00Z")
I can’t go with the Braves, because they sucked at winning the big one. Team of the NL, yes, for certain. On the other hand, the current Yankees may end up being one of those dynasties that wraps around from an end to a beginning.