The 24 worst MLB teams in the modern era

The A's still stand out as the worst team in modern MLB history, based on their winning percentage (.235), with a record of 36-117-1 and a 54.5-game deficit to first place. Manager Connie Mack's squads employed three pitchers with 20-plus losses (Elmer Myers, Bullet Joe Bush, Jack Nabors), and the team hit only 19 home runs for the season.

The Braves finished 38-115, mainly due to terrible pitching that allowed 852 runs scored and featured 25 losses from Ben Cantwell. However, the team did have some notable hitters, including a 40-year-old Babe Ruth before he retired in June and outfielder Wally Berger, who led the league with 34 home runs and 130 RBI.

The 1962 Mets are one of the first teams baseball fans think of when it comes to futility, with the first 120-loss season. The expansion year was rough, as New York allowed 948 runs scored while showing off horrific defense. Starting pitcher Roger Craig lost 24 games, but there were a few bright spots in the lineup, including left fielder Frank Thomas' 34 home runs.

The Senators had a tough start after being founded in 1901, finishing 38-113-6 with a .226 winning percentage in their fourth season. Their negative 306 run differential showed how bad they were in all facets. Happy Townsend led the league with 26 losses, while Casey Patten and Beany Jacobsen also lost 23 games.

Only a few years after failing to reach expectations with a talented young squad in the early 2020s, the White Sox faceplanted in 2024 at 41-121. The team started the season 3-22, and finished the regular season with a negative 306 run differential and only 507 runs scored. Former top prospects Luis Robert Jr., Eloy Jimenez, and Andrew Vaughn continued to disappoint at the plate, though there were a few bright spots on the pitching staff as Erick Fedde produced a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts before being traded and Garrett Crochet returned from injury to post a 3.58 ERA with 209 strikeouts.

Only three years after posting the worst winning percentage in modern history, the 1919 rendition of the Athletics nearly matched at 36-104. The offense scored only 457 runs while hitting just .244, while the pitching staff featured four pitchers with 15-plus losses.

The 2003 Tigers hit rock bottom at 43-119 before going on the upswing for the rest of the decade. The team had some capable hitters, led by Dmitri Young, Carlos Pena, and Craig Monroe, but the pitching staff allowed 928 runs. Mike Maroth lost 21 games with a 5.73 ERA, and top prospect Jeremy Bonderman also took his licks with a 5.56 ERA and 19 losses.

Coming off a 90-loss season in 1951, it only got worse for Pittsburgh the following year. The Pirates finished 42-112. A big year from Ralph Kiner and the arrival of shortstop Dick Groat weren't enough to boost the offense, while the team's pitching staff struggled, particularly the bullpen. The team finished with a negative 278 run differential.

The Senators continued their losing ways in 1909, finishing 42-110-4 with only 380 runs scored. The team hit only .223 with nine home runs for the year. Even a great year from Walter Johnson with a 2.22 ERA in 296.1 innings, as he still went 13-25.

Known as the "Phils" in 1942, Philadelphia went 42-109 and scored only 394 runs. They finished 62.5 games back in the National League.

The Browns went 43-111 in 1939, and their .234 winning percentage at home is still the worst in league history. While the team was able to generate offense with big years from George McQuinn, Harlond Clift, and Chet Laabs, they allowed a whopping 1,035 runs.

The 1932 Red Sox still stand as the worst team in franchise history, going 43-111 with only 566 runs scored. The team did have strong offensive contributions from Dale Alexander, Smead Jolley, and Roy Johnson, but also had several major holes in their lineup.

The Phillies finished 43-111 in 1941, a slightly better winning percentage (.279) than the 1942 season (.278). The team was 57 games back of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the NL standings, despite strong hitting seasons from Nick Etten and Danny Litwhiler.

The Athletics plunged after winning the pennant in 1914, finishing 43-109-2 in 1915. The pitching staff allowed 889 runs, with ace Weldon Wyckoff losing 22 games despite a 3.52 ERA in 43 appearances.

The Phillies finished 1928 at 43-109, 51 games behind the first place Cardinals in the National League. Run prevention was particularly difficult for the team, with 957 runs allowed and Ray Benge leading the way with 18 losses.

The Orioles overachieved several seasons in the 2010s under manager Buck Showalter, but that came to a screeching halt in 2018 with 115 losses. It was a very painful season for fans, as the team traded star Manny Machado and saw Chris Davis continue to struggle under the weight of his massive contract. The team allowed 892 runs, with Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner, and Alex Cobb each losing at least 15 games.

Formerly known as the Boston Doves, the franchise changed their name to the Rustlers after a change in ownership in 2011. The team proceeded to finish 44-107-5, allowing 1,021 runs. Buster Brown led the team with 18 losses, posting a 4.29 ERA over 241 innings.

The Tigers approached their historically poor 2003 season with a 47-114 final record in 2019. They struggled to post runs with only 582 runs scored and a .682 OPS, while high-priced starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann had another injury-plagued and disappointing season, going 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA in 23 starts.

Boston wasn't even the worst team in MLB during the 1909 season, a title that goes to the Washington Senators, but they were still historically bad at 45-108-2. The team scored only 435 runs, hitting .223 with 14 home runs on the year.

The Browns were 45-107 in 1911 with a negative 245 run differential. Second baseman Frank LaPorte had a strong season, hitting .314-2-82, but had very little support around him with the struggling offensive ball club.

The Phillies were outdone by the St. Louis Browns in the American League, but were still terrible at 45-106-1. Outfielder Morrie Arnovich had a big year hitting .324-5-67, but the rest of the offense struggled. Hugh Mulcahy led the team with 225.2 innings, though he was 9-16 with a 4.99 ERA.

The Browns finished 46-108-2 in 1937, with an astounding 1,023 runs allowed. The team featured five pitchers with double-digit losses, led by Elon Hogsett's 19 losses and a 6.29 ERA in 177.1 innings.

The Phillies finished the 1945 season at 46-108, 52 games out of first place in the NL. The offense was led by Vince DiMaggio, with 19 home runs and 84 RBI, but the team struggled to score runs overall. Dick Barrett led the team with 190.2 innings pitched, but he posted a 5.38 ERA and lost 20 games.

The Phillies had a rough go in 1938 at 45-103-1, finishing 43 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs. Hugh Mulcahy led the league with 20 losses, finishing with a 4.61 ERA over 267.1 innings, and the team scored only 550 runs.