Ranking the greatest World Series champions in baseball history: Nos. 100-81

Throughout the month of January, a cast of editors from theScore will share their rankings of the greatest teams, performances, pitchers, and position players in baseball history. This list focuses on the greatest World Series champions (RS: runs scored; RA: runs allowed):

100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1

Voter list:

• James Bisson, National Sports Editor
• Brandon Wile, Senior MLB Editor
• Jonah Birenbaum, MLB News Editor
• Michael Bradburn, MLB News Editor
• Jason Wilson, MLB News Editor
• Bryan Mcwilliam, MLB News Editor
• Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, MLB News Editor
• Dylan Perego, News Editor
• Josh Wegman, News Editor

100. 1933 New York Giants

The Giants owe this World Series victory to the Hall of Fame arm of Carl Hubbell, who racked up 23 regular-season wins and a scintillating 1.66 ERA, and added a pair of victories in the five-game triumph over the Washington Senators. -- Bisson

99. 1985 Kansas City Royals

Kansas City would fail to make the postseason again until 2014, but if you ask many Royals fans, it was worth it for this moment of glory. After going down 3-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Royals clawed back to win the franchise's first championship. George Brett was incredible, but it was the pitching staff led by Bret Saberhagen's 0.50 ERA - over two complete games - that made it all possible. -- Wilson

98. 1990 Cincinnati Reds

Led by fiery skipper Lou Piniella, Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, and the "Nasty Boys" bullpen, which featured NLCS co-MVPs Randy Myers and Rob Dibble, these 91-win Reds - losers of 87 games in 1989 - went wire-to-wire in '90 before sweeping the 103-win defending champion Athletics in one of the most shocking World Series upsets ever. Billy Hatcher set two single-series records by hitting .750 and recording a hit in seven consecutive World Series at-bats, but starter Jose Rijo - a former member of the A's - won World Series MVP after going 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA. -- Sharkey-Gotlieb

97. 2012 San Francisco Giants

The second of three World Series titles in the span of five seasons was only made possible by a pair of incredible series comebacks. After winning the division, the Giants met the high-powered Reds in the NLDS. San Francisco quickly went down 0-2 before rallying to win the next three games to advance. The Giants would once again find themselves trailing in the NLCS, falling behind 3-1 before winning in seven. Things were much simpler in the World Series, with the Giants sweeping the Tigers for their seventh title in franchise history. -- Wile

96. 1906 Chicago White Sox

Despite their intercity rivals being favored to take the series following a 116-36 season, it was the White Sox who came out victorious in the first ever crosstown World Series matchup. Despite being known as the "Hitless Wonders" for only batting .230 as a team, the White Sox toppled the Cubs in six games to win the franchise's first of three World Series crowns. -- Perego

95. 1997 Florida Marlins

The Marlins gave baseball a Cinderella story for the ages in 1997, becoming the first wild-card team in history to win it all, doing so via an extra-innings walk-off in game seven. On top of that, the victory came against the Indians, who were one of the most lethal offensive teams in recent memory. A costly error by Tony Fernandez produced one of the most memorable scenes in history, with Edgar Renteria knocking in Craig Counsell to seal baseball immortality. -- Perego

94. 1980 Philadelphia Phillies

With a pitching staff led by a 35-year-old Steve Carlton, who posted a 2.34 ERA over 304 innings en route to his third career Cy Young award, the Phillies barely squeaked into the postseason after finishing one win ahead of the Montreal Expos. That didn't stop the club from winning the first World Series in franchise history, though, with the Phillies and Royals teaming up to create the most-watched Fall Classic game of all-time, with 54.9 million viewers watching Game 6 - a record that still stands. -- Bradburn

93. 2015 Kansas City Royals

A well-rounded offense and virtually untouchable bullpen produced a dominating season from start to finish. After being labeled a perennially rebuilding laughingstock of a small-market franchise, the Royals were champions for the first time in 30 years. -- Sharkey-Gotlieb

92. 1914 Boston Braves

On July 4, the Braves were 26-40 and sat 15 games back of first place. In an amazing turnaround, they finished 94-59 en route to a postseason that concluded with a sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series. Starters Dick Rudolph and Bill James (not that one) combined for 52 wins for Boston during the regular season and were a perfect 4-0 in the World Series, allowing a combined one earned run. -- Mcwilliam

91. 2003 Florida Marlins

In the 100th World Series game ever to be played at Yankee Stadium, it was the Marlins who reigned supreme as Josh Beckett - on three days rest - spun a complete-game shutout. It's probably better known as the first big stage for a 20-year-old Miguel Cabrera, who hit a two-run homer off Yankees ace Roger Clemens. -- Bradburn

90. 1964 St. Louis Cardinals

After fending off the Reds and Phillies to claim the National League pennant, the Cardinals needed to work just as hard to defeat the mighty Yankees in their final year of an incredible run of 12 World Series appearances in 15 seasons. NL MVP Ken Boyer homered to lead the Cards past the Yankees 7-5 in an entertaining Game 7. -- Bisson

89. 2010 San Francisco Giants

The 2010 Giants, not unlike the '12 or '14 Giants, were built around pitching and defense, posting a league-best 3.36 ERA. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum led a stacked rotation featuring veteran Barry Zito, 20-year-old Madison Bumgarner, and Jonathan Sanchez. Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla formed a lights-out bullpen trio. -- Wegman

88. 1974 Oakland Athletics

The last of the Athletics' three consecutive World Series titles saw Rollie Fingers put together a masterful performance, winning once and adding a pair of saves as Oakland dispatched the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Four of those contests were decided by a single run, making the first all-California World Series one of the most competitive on record. -- Bisson

87. 1995 Atlanta Braves

Led by All-Stars Fred McGriff and Greg Maddux, the Braves finished the strike-shortened season an NL-best 90-54 and would win the division by 21 games. That momentum carried into the postseason as Atlanta won seven of eight games in the NLDS and NLCS to advance to the World Series against the Indians. The Braves would beat the best team in baseball that year in six games to win their first World Series since 1957. -- Wile

86. 2008 Philadelphia Phillies

Bud Selig's apparent inability to read a weather report couldn't stop these dynamic Phillies from dispatching the upstart Rays in five (slightly delayed) games behind the World Series MVP performance of Cole Hamels. Add in a perfect season of saves from Brad Lidge and that All-Star lineup core of Rollins, Howard, Utley, and Victorino at the peak of its collective powers. Other Phillies teams of this era had more talent as a unit, but only these guys won it all. -- Sharkey-Gotlieb

85. 1934 St. Louis Cardinals

The '34 Cardinals rostered three future Hall of Famers in infielder Frankie Frisch, outfielder Joe Medwick, and pitcher Dizzy Dean. The latter took home MVP honors that season, boasting a 2.66 ERA across 311.2 innings. He took his game a step further in the World Series, posting a 1.73 ERA in 26 innings. -- Wegman

84. 1922 New York Giants

In a battle of New York teams at the Polo Grounds, the Giants prevailed over the Yankees to win it 4-0 - but it wasn't a clean sweep. Game 2 went 10 innings and ended in a 3-3 tie after almost three hours of play. Jesse Barnes and Bob Shawkey took the bump for the Giants and Yankees respectively in the tie game, and both went the distance in the no-decision. -- Bradburn

83. 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates

In front of a packed house at Forbes Field, the Pirates did the impossible in Game 7, touching up the legendary Walter Johnson for nine runs (five earned) on 15 hits to overcome a 4-0, first-inning deficit against the Senators and secure the second championship in franchise history. Johnson, a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class, had allowed one run over his first two World Series starts - both complete-game victories.-- Birenbaum

82. 1943 New York Yankees

Despite winning 98 games in the regular season, the Yankees found themselves on the wrong end of a scheduling quirk that saw the Cardinals host the first three games - the Yankees would host the final four if necessary. But after winning twice in Missouri, New York returned home and promptly finished things off in five. -- Bisson

81. 1921 New York Giants

High Pockets Kelly and the Giants shocked the world when they took down Babe Ruth, Home Run Baker, and the arch-rival Yankees, winning the series 5-3. Kelly finished second in the NL with 122 RBIs that season. -- Wegman

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)