Arizona Diamondbacks
The Beginning - The Diamondbacks played their first season in 1998, as part of a two team expansion that included the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Later Developments - Unlike their counterparts, the D'Backs were immediately successful, winning their first division title in their second season and winning the World Series in their fourth season.
Best Trade in Team History - Trying to make a playoff push in 2000, the D'Backs sent Omar Daal, Nelson Figueroa, Travis Lee, and Vicente Padilla to the Phillies for Curt Schilling. While the trade did not put the D'Backs over the top in 2000, Schilling and Randy Johnson were unstoppable in 2001 as they took the D'Backs to a seven game World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
Worst Trade in Team History - In an attempt to bolster their offense in 2004, the D'Backs sent Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, Chad Moeller, Chris Capuano, and Jorge de la Rosa to the Milwaukee Brewers for Richie Sexson, Shane Nance, and a player to be named. Sexson played only 23 games with the D'Backs in 2004 before signing with the Mariners in 2005 as a free agent, while Lyle Overbay and Chris Capuano had break out seasons in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Atlanta Braves
The Beginning - The Boston Beaneaters were one of the original National League franchises in 1876. The team would later become known as the Braves. In 1901, the team drew challenge from the Boston Red Sox of the fledgling American League.
Not the First, Won't Be the Last - In 1953, the Braves moved west to Milwaukee. They would remain in Milwaukee for only 13 years.
Oh, I Wish I Was In the Land of Cotton - In 1966, the Braves moved on, this time to the Deep South. The Atlanta Braves played nearly three decades of terrible baseball before winning their division in 1991. They haven't failed to win the division title since that year.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1987, the Braves sent Doyle Alexander to the Detroit Tigers for a prospect named John Smoltz. The immediate dividends went to the Tigers, as Alexander went 9-0 the rest of the way, but Smolt went on to become on the Braves all time greats, both as a starter and a reliever.
Worst Trade in Team History - Late in 1975, the Braves traded Dusty Baker and Ed Goodson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jimmy Wynn, Tom Paciorek, Lee Lacy, and Jerry Royster. Only Royster would be a significant contributor for the Braves, while Baker enjoyed ten more good seasons with the Dodgers, Giants, and A's.
Baltimore Orioles
The Beginning - In 1901, the Milwaukee Brewers were one of the original members of the American League. In fact, so were the Baltimore Orioles. In 1902, the Brewers moved to St. Louis to become the Browns, and in 1903 the Orioles moved to New York and became the Yankees. Baseball would not return to Baltimore until 1954
Later Developments - The Browns played ball in St. Louis for 51 years, going to the World Series only once and losing to the across town St. Louis Cardinals
Baseball Moves East - In 1954, the Browns moved to Baltimore to play in the Memorial Colisseum (capacity 53,371) and become the Orioles. In 1992, the Orioles moved into their present day home, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, capacity 48.190.
Best Trade in Team History - In December of 1965, the Orioles traded Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, and Dick Simpson for the supposedly washed up Frank Robinson. All he did that year was win the Triple Crown, become the first player to win the MVP in both leagues, and lead the Orioles to a four to nothing sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Worst Trade in Team History - In an attempt to bolster their offense, the Orioles in 1990 acquired Glenn Davis from the Houston Astros for Steve Finley, Curt Schilling, and Pete Harnisch. Glenn Davis would never again be a productive player while Finley, Schilling, and Harnisch would go on to solid to great careers.
Boston Red Sox
The Beginning - The Boston Americans were one of the original American League teams in 1901, placed in Boston as a direct challenge to the National League franchise in that city. The team would also be known as the Somersets and Pilgrams before settling on the Red Sox in 1907.
Things Looked Great for a While - The Red Sox won 6 American League pennants betwen 1903 and 1918. Their victory in the 1918 World Series was their fifth in a row, but would famously be their last for 86 years.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1935, the Red Sox acquired superstar Jimmie Foxx from the Philadelphia Athletics, along with Johnny Marcum, for Gordon Rhodes, George Savino, and $150,000.
Worst Trade in Team History - The worst trade in the history of the Red Sox also happens to be the worst trade in the history of professional sports - Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000, straight up. The Red Sox would never recover.
Oh by the way, for any other franchise, the 1990 trade that sent future Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell to the Astros for middle reliever Larry Anderson would have been the worst trade in team history.
Chicago White Sox
The Beginning - An original member of the American League, the White Sox took the first AL title in 1901. Chicago fared well in the early going, knocking off the mighty 1906 Cubs in the World Series, and going to the World Series three times by 1919.
Say It Ain't So - The 1919 White Sox threw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, and the franchise didn't recover until it won the World Series in 2005. Ironically, the 1919 squad led to the establishment of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis' zero tolerance policy of gambling in baseball, the same zero tolerance policy which would see future Cincinnati Red Pete Rose barred from the Hall of Fame.
Best Trade in Team History - The White Sox sent power hitting Carlos Lee to the Milwaukee Brewers for the light-hitting, fleet-footed Scott Podsenik before the 2005 season. Podsednik turned out to be just the spark the White Sox needed at the top of the lineup and on defense, and he led the White Sox to the World Series title.
Worst Trade in Team History - Just before the start of the season in 1992, the White Sox sent Ken Patterson and a young outfielder named Sammy Sosa to the Chicago Cubs for George Bell. Bell would win the Dave Kingman Award that season, and then play one more year before calling it quits, while Sosa would become one of baseball's most prolific home run hitters of all time.
Chicago Cubs
The Beginning - The Chicago White Stockings were an original member of the National League and are the only team to have continued from day one in the same city. The team would later be known as the Colts and the Orphans before becoming the Cubs in 1903.
Everything Great Until 1908 - The Cubs won 9 pennants between 1876 and 1908, and won the 1907 and 1908 World Series. After that, the well went dry, and the Cubs have not won a World Series since.
Not Actually Our Stadium - The Cubs are well known for playing in "the Friendly Confines" of Wrigley Field, but the Cubs did not play in Wrigley Field until 1916, after the Chicago Whales of the Federal League abandoned the Stadium when the Federal League folded.
Best Trade in Team History - When Larry Himes was with the Chicago White Sox, he engineered a trade with the Texas Rangers to bring Sammy Sosa to Chicago with Scott Fletcher and Wilson Alvarez in exchange for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique. In 1992, Himes found himself in charge of the Cubs, and he promptly traded for Sammy again, this time sending George Bell for Sosa, straight up. The rest is baseball history.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1964, the Cubs sent Jack Spring, Paul Toth, and a young outfielder by the name of Lou Brock to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, Bobby Shantz, and Doug Clemens. Broglio, Shantz, and Clemens amounted to very little for the Cubs, while Brock went on to become the all-time leader in stolen bases and went on to the Hall of Fame.
Cincinnati Reds
The Beginning - In 1869, the first ever professional baseball team was the Cincinnati Red Stocking. They laid the ground work for organized baseball and the first ever major professional league, the National League. The 1869 team, however, did not become the Reds as we know them today. Today's incarnation was born in 1882 as part of the American Association. In 1890, the Reds became part of the National League.
Best Trade in Team History - In November of 1971, the Reds acquired Joe Morgan, along with Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, and Denis Menke, in exchange for Lee May, Tommy Helms, and Jimmy Stewart. May, Helms, and Stewart would accomplish little for the Astros, but Joe Morgan would become the centerpiece of the Big Red Machine in the 1970s.
Worst Trade in Team History - Just before Spring Training, 2000, the Reds sent Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko, Antonio Perez, and Jake Meyer to the Mariners in exchange for Ken Griffey, Jr. The Kid has been plagued by injuries in his time in Cincy, has managed to play over 100 games only three times in six years and managed over 130 only once, all while pulling in $12.5 million per year.
Cleveland Indians
The Beginning
The Cleveland Blues were an original member of the American League in 1901. After one season, the team switched its name to the Cleveland Bronchos.
Naptime
Philadelphia Phillie Nap LaJoie was the subject of early legal battles between the National and American Leagues. The National League actually went to far as to get an injunction from the Philadelphia Supreme Court, forcing LaJoie to play for only one team in Pennsylvania. As a result, AL boss Ban Johnson shifted LaJoie to the AL Cleveland franchise. His impact was so great that from 1903 to 1915, the team was known as the Cleveland Naps.
A Troubled Tribute Breeds Tribal Tribulation
The team allegedly changed its name to the Indians after the 1914 season to honor a fallen teammate. Louis "Chief" Sockalexis, a former member of the Cleveland franchise which played in the National League from 1887 to 1899, died on Christmas Eve of 1913. This story is largely thought to be apocryphal, made up after the fact to justify the Indians moniker which has been the subject of much protest from Native American tribes.
As further possible evidence that this story is untrue, the Indians have actually had two players die tragically while on the team - Addie Joss, of meningitis in 1911, and Ray Chapman, in 1920, the only player ever killed by a pitched ball. If ever a team were going to be named after a fallen teammate, these would seem to have been perfect opportunities. But to this day the team has never been known as the Cleveland Addies or the Cleveland Rays.
Best Trade in Team History
In 1948, after he went 8-19 with the Senators, the Indians acquired Early Wynn along with Mickey Vernon in exchange for Ed Klieman, Joe Haynes, and Eddie Robinson. Wynn enjoyed eight straight winning seasons for the Indians, including four 20-win seasons while Klieman and Haynes accomplished little, and Robinson would be traded again after a season and a half.
Worst Trade in Team History
Three years later, the Indians took part in a three way trade with the Athletics and the White Sox, the result of which the Indians essentially acquired Lou Brissie in exchange for 28 year old former Negro Leaguer Minnie Minoso. Minoso would bat better than .300 and top a .400 OBP in five of the next seven years with the White Sox, while Brissie was out of the league two years later at the age of 29.
Colorado Rockies
The Beginning - The Rockies joined the National League as part of a two team expansion in 1993 which also included the Florida Marlins. Baseball in Colorado was a great experiment, as the high altitude makes for thin air which makes for fantastic hitting conditions.
Dandy Under Don - The Rockies first skipper was Don Baylor, with whom the Rockies enjoyed three of their only four winning seasons and their only trip to the playoffs. The Rockies have not had a winning season since 2000, as the appropriate formula for consistent success in Colorado has yet to be discovered.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1992, the Rockies acquired Dante Bichette for Kevin Reimer straight up. Reimer played one more year before hanging it up, while Bichette enjoyed several monster seasons in offense friendly Colorado.
Worst Trade in Team History -
After the 1999 season, the Rockies sent Darryl Kile, Luther Hackman, and Dave Veres to the St. Louis Cardinals for Manuel Aybar, Brent Butler, Rich Croushore, and Jose Jimenez. While Jimenez would have moderate success with the Rockies, Kile spent two standout seasons with the Cardinals before his tragic death in 2002.
Detroit Tigers
The Beginning - The Detroit Tigers were charter members of the American League in 1901.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1960, the Tigers sent Steve Demeter to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for 25 year old Norm Cash. Demeter played to the Detroit Tigers for Steve Demeter. Demeter played exactly four games before disappearing from baseball, while Norm Cash went on to play 15 seasons for the Tigers, hitting 373 home runs.
Worst Trade in Team History -
In 1987, the Tigers sent a prospect named John Smoltz to the Braves for Doyle Alexander. The immediate dividends went to the Tigers, as Alexander went 9-0 the rest of the way, but Smoltz went on to become one the Braves all time greats, both as a starter and a reliever.
Florida Marlins
The Beginning - The Marlins joined the National League as part of a two team expansion with the Colorado Rockies in 1993. The Marlins won their first ever game over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Success without Dynasty - The Marlins won two World Series in seven years, both times doing so from the Wild Card. During that span, the Yankees and the Braves each won their division each year, while the Marlins followed up their World Series win in 1997 with a dismal last place finish, and didn't finish with a winning record again until '03, their second World Series season.
Best Trade in Team History - Right at the end of Spring Training '02, the Marlins sent Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca to the Cubs in exchange for Julian Tavarez, Jose Cueto, Ryan Jorgensen, and a minor league pitcher. That minor league pitcher turned out to be Dontrelle Willis, who won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2003 and finished second in the Cy Young voting in 2005. Meanwhile Alfonseca alfon-sucked for the Cubs, and Matt Clement moved on to the Red Sox after two seasons.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 2003, the Marlins traded Derrek Lee to the Cubs for Hee Seop Choi and Mike Nannini. Choi's stay with the Marlins was short lived, while Lee chased the Triple Crown with the Cubs in 2005.
Houston Astros
The Beginning - The Houston Colt .45s were born in 1962 and finished eighth out of ten teams. From 1962 - 1964, the team played in minor league Colt Stadium, which held 32,601.
Everything "Astro" - In 1965, the Colt .45s moved into the Houston Astrodome (capacity 54,313), the so-called "Eighth Wonder of the World" because of its domed top and indoor grass. To commemorate the move, the team changed its name to the Houston Astros and, when the indoor grass died, the team played its games on AstroTurf.
Best Trade in Team History - The trade which had the greatest impact on the Astros franchose took place in 1990 when the Boston Red Sox, looking to boost their team for a playoff run, acquired reliever Larry Anderson from Houston for a prospect named Jeff Bagwell. The Red Sox won their division, and Anderson played several more years, but Bagwell went on to become the franchise's greatest star and a surefire future Hall of Famer.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1971, the Astros traded Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke and Joe Morgan to the Cincinnati Reds for Lee May, Tommy Helms, and Jimmy Stewart. Lee May had three solid seasons for the Astros before leaving for Baltimore, and Helms and Stewart accomplished little, while Joe Morgan went on to become one of the greatest second basemen of all time, winning two MVPs and appearing in three World Series for the Reds.
Kansas City
Royals
The Beginning - Apparently undaunted by the failure of the Athletics in Kansas City, Major League Baseball decided to expand to Kansas City with the Royals in 1969 as part of a two team expansion which also included the Seattle Pilots.
Later Developments - The Royals experienced much early success, winning seven division titles and a World Series between their inception and 1985. Success would not be long lived as the Royals would have trouble competing in later years, suffering from a poorly organized franchise and minor league system and from playing in small market Kansas City.
Best Trade in Team History - Late in 1986, the Royals acquired Danny Tartabull and Rick Luecken from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Scott Bankhead, Steve Shields, and Mike Kingery. Of the players they gave up, only Bankhead went on to any sort of major league career, while Tartabull had many successful seasons with the Royals
Worst Trade in Team History -
Just before the 1987 season, the Royals traded away Chris Jelic and pitching prospect David Cone to the New York Mets for Ed Hearn, Rick Anderson, and Mauro Gozzo. Hearn, Anderson, Gozzo, and Jelic went on to do little, while Cone went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 1988 and spent several very good seasons with the Mets before returning to the Royals in 1993.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Beginning - The Los Angeles Angels were founded in 1961, one of the first two AL expansion teams. The Angels shared Los Angeles with the recently relocated Dodgers and played in Dodger Stadium from 1962-1965.
You know, we might make more money if . . . -
Toward the end of the 1965 season, the Los Angeles Angels changed their name to the California Angels in an effort to broaden their fan-base, and the following spring moved into Anaheim Stadium.
Actually, you know we might make more money if . . . -
Following the 1996 season, the California Angels decided to centralize and strengthen their fan base by changing their name to the Anaheim Angels, in honor of their rapidly growing home town.
Hmm, what if we just . . . -
Apparently unsatisfied with being merely the third highest grossing team in the majors, in 2005 the Anaheim Angels re-adopted their origin moniker in order to appeal the second largest media market in the country, much to the chagrin of both the cities of Anaheim and Los Angeles. In order to appease the politicians in their hometown, they affixed the words "of Anaheim" to the end of their name.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1971, the Angels sent Jim Fregosi to the Mets in exchange for Frank Estrada, Don Rose, Leroy Stanton, and Nolan Ryan. Fregosi never played more than 101 games again, while Nolan Ryan went on to have his best seasons with the Angels.
Worst Trade in Team History -
Right before the start of the 2000 season, the Angels sent Jim Edmonds to the St. Louis Cardinals for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy. Jim Edmonds won six straight Gold Gloves from 2000-2005 with the Cardinals, and hit 210 home runs in six seasons. While Kennedy has been a cornerstone of the Angels infield, Bottenfield had a losing record in the only season he spent with the Angels.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Beginning - The Brooklyn Atlantics joined the American Association in 1884. The team was also known as the Grays, the Grooms, and the Bridegrooms during their time in the AA. In 1890, the Bridegrooms joined the National League and won the division in their first year of competition. The Brooklyn franchise became the Dodgers in 1911, though they would be known as the Brooklyn Robins from 1914 to 1931.
The Color Barrier - In 1947, the Dodgers made American history by integrating baseball, bringing Jackie Robinson to the majors from the Negro Leagues. Three of the early Negro League turned Major League stars, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, and Robinson starred for the Dodgers in the 1950s.
Headed West - In 1958, much to the chagrin of their loyal fans in Brooklyn, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Since that move, the Dodgers have been more successful, winning 5 World Series titles in LA after winning only one in Brooklyn.
Best Trade in Team History - In part to satisfy the objections of Dixie Walker, who true to his name wished to not play on the same team with Jackie Robinson, the Dodgers in December 1947 traded Walker along with Hal Gregg and Vic Lombardi to the Pirates for Preacher Roe, Billy Cox, and Gene Mauch. Roe, who had gone 4-15 the year before, went on to 6 very good seasons with the Dodgers, including 22-3 in 1951.
Worst Trade in Team History -
In November of 1993, the Dodgers acquired Expos second baseman Delino Deshields by sending a young pitching prospect named Pedro Martinez to Montreal. Deshields spent three lackluster seasons in LA, managing an astounding .224/.288/.298 in 154 games in 1996. Martinez is a future Hall of Famer with the greatest ERA+ of all time.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Beginning - The Seattle Pilots joined the American League in 1969, and were gone by 1970. After one fleeting season in Seattle, the Pilots set sail for Milwaukee and became the Brewers.
Later Developments - In 1998, as part of the expansion agreement with the new Diamondback and Devil Rays, the Brewers agreed to switch leagues, becoming the first team to switch from one league to another, and joined the National League Central.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1976, the Brewers acquired Cecil Cooper from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for George Scott and Bernie Carbo. Cooper enjoyed a very good decade for the Brewers, while Scott and Carbo did not last in Boston.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1992, the Brewers sent Gary Sheffield along with Geoff Kellogg to the San Diego Padres for Ricky Bones, Jose Valentin, and Matt Mieske.
Minnesota Twins
The Beginning - The Washington Senators were an original member of the American League in 1901, and remained in Washington for 60 years. During their time in Washington, the Senators managed to win only three pennants and only one World Series title.
Twin Cities Bound - In 1961, the Senators began play in Minnesota as the Twins. The team has fared better in Minnesota, having won eight division titles, three in a row after being threatened with contraction, and two World Series titles.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1999, the Twins acquired Johann Santana from the Florida Marlins in exchange for Jared Camp. Santana has been excellent, and no one knows who Jared Camp is.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1934, the Senators sent Joe Cronin to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Lyn Lary and $225,000 cash. Cronin enjoyed several good years with the Red Sox, while Lary amounted to little.
New York Mets
The Beginning - The New York Mets were introduced into the National League in 1962 as part of a two team expansion with the Houston Colt 45s. The 1962 are generally regarded, in both spirit and on paper, as the worst team of all time, with the possible exception of the 1930 Phillies.
Later Developments - As terrible as the 1962 Mets were, that is how fabulous their miracle team of 1969 was in the World Series. The Mets have taken part in two of the most famous World Series - the 1969 Miracle Mets Series, and the 1986 Bill Buckner World Series.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1998, the Mets acquired Mike Piazza from the Florida Marlins for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz. Piazza is one of the all time great catchers, while Wilson has had inconsistent success, and Yarnall and Goetz have acheived little.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1971, the Mets sent Nolan Ryan, Frank Estrada, Don Rose, and Leroy Stanton to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi. Fregosi never played another full season, and Ryan went on to become a Hall of Famer.
New York Yankees
The Beginning - In 1901, the Baltimore Orioles were born as an original member of the American League. They lasted in Baltimore for exactly 2 years before moving to New York and becoming the Yankees.
The Evil Empire - After a mediorce first 17 seasons in New York, the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth from the Red Sox for cash in the off-season before the 1920 season and went on to become the greatest franchise in professional sports history.
Best Trade in Team History - Other than the Ruth deal, which was more of a purchase than a trade, the Yankees deal in 1959 in which they traded Don Larsen, Hank Bauer, Norm Siebern, and Marv Throneberry to the Athletics for Joe DeMaestri, Kent Hadley, and a young underachieving outfielder by the name of Roger Maris ranks as their best. All Maris did was win the next two AL MVPs and break Babe Ruth's single season home run record.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1989, the Yankees sent Rickey Henderson back to the Oakland Athletics for Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk, and Luis Polonia. Polonia, Cadaret, and Plunk did little for the Yanks, while Henderson led the A's to the 1989 World Series Title, and then won the 1990 AL MVP.
Oakland Athletics
The Beginning - The Athletics were an original member of the American League, placed in Philadelphia to challenge the Phillies of the National League. Immediate legal battles ensued when the Athletics lured Nap Lajoie over from the Phils, which eventually led to an injunction from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Despite losing Lajoie, the Athletics remained in Philly until 1954 and had substantially more success than their cross town rivals.
Headed to Missouri - In 1955, the Athletics moved to Kansas City, where they would play 13 uninspired seasons, never finishing higher than sixth, and finishing last 4 times.
On to Oakland - In 1968, the Athletics became the third baseball team in California with a move to Oakland. The change of scenery was good for the A's, who won three World Series and five division titles in their first eight years in Oakland.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1989, the Athletics re-acquired Rickey Henderson from the New York Yankees for Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk, and Luis Polonia. Polonia, Cadaret, and Plunk did little for the Yanks, while Henderson led the A's to the 1989 World Series Title, and then won the 1990 AL MVP.
Worst Trade in Team History - In a series of trades with the Red Sox in the mid-1930's, the Athletics traded away Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx to the Red Sox for Gordon Rhodes, George Savino, Bob Kline, Rabbit Warstler, and $275,000. None of the players they acquired, nor the cash, led to success, and the A's who had won three pennants and two World Series from 1929 to 1931 would not finish higher than fourth again until 1969.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Beginning - The original National League featured a Philadelphia Phillies franchise which folded after one year. The current franchise debuted in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers. The team became the Phillies in 1890.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1972, the Phillies sent Rick Wise to the Cardinals in exchange for Steve Carlton. Carlton would go on to win the Cy Young and Triple Crown in his first season as a Phillie, and he would win three more Cy Youngs with the Phils.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1982, the Phillies acquired Ivan DeJesus from the Cubs in exchange for veteran Larry Bowa and a prospect named Ryne Sandberg.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Beginning - The Pittsburgh Alleghenies joined the American Association in 1882. They joined the National League in 1887 and became the Pirates in 1891.
Later Developments - The early spark for the Pirates organization came with the collapse of their National League rival Louisville Colonels. With the collapse, the Pirates added Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke, and Chief Zimmer, amongst others. The Pirates would win four division titles and a World Series between 1901 and 1909.
Best Trade in Team History -
In the trade that set the course of Pittsburgh Pirates history, in 1899 the Pirates acquired Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke, Rube Waddell, Bert Cunningham, Mike Kelley, Tacks Latimer, Tommy Leach, Tom Messitt, Deacon Phillippe, Claude Ritchey, Jack Wadsworth, and Chief Zimmer from the Louisville Colonels for Jack Chesbro, Paddy Fox, John O'Brien, Art Madison, and $25,000. The Colonels subsequently folded, assigning Chesbro, Fox, O'Brien, and Madision back to the Pirates, while Wagner, Clarke, and Waddell each ended up in the Hall of Fame.
Best Trade in Team History Part Two -
In 1998, 28 year-old Brian Giles posted a .396 OBP in just 112 games; Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove just couldn't find him at bats in an outfield that included Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, David Justice, and Mark Whiten. Pittsburgh GM Cam Bonifay did have room for the man, and in perhasps the only good move during his Pittsburgh tenure, managed to swap lefty specialist Ricardo Rincon for Giles straight up. During the next four seasons with the Pirates, Giles never hit fewer than 35 homers, drove in or scored fewer than 95 runs, posted a BA lower than .298, an OBP lower than .400, or a SLG lower than .590. And in July of 2003, new GM David Littlefield even managed to parlay Giles into Jason Bay and Oliver Perez, now the nucleus of an exciting young team.
Worst Trade in Team History -
Here's a more typical Bonifay Boner: the Pirates gave up on Jason Schmidt in 2001, trading him to the Giants for Armando Rios and a Ryan Vogelsong. Rios injured himself almost immediately and played in just 78 games for the Buccos. Ryan Vogelsong is the worst pitcher in franchise history. But Schmidt became an elite starter immediately after joining San Francisco.
San Diego Padres
The Beginning - The San Diego Padres were born into the National League in 1969 as part of a two team NL expansion which included the Montreal Expos. The Padres have been minimally successful, having won four division titles and been to one World Series in their existence
Best Trade in Team History - In June of 1993, the Padres acquired Trevor Hoffman along with Andres Berumen and Jose Martinez in exchange for Gary Sheffield and Rich Rodriguez. Though Sheffield is a future Hall of Famer, he has stayed with no team for more than four full seasons, while Hoffman went on to become a San Diego legend.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1993, owner Tom Werner was having a fire sale, and the Padres sent Fred McGriff to the Braves for three prospects that you've never heard of. McGriff took the Braves on his back to the top of the NL West in one of the greatest pennant races ever.
San Francisco Giants
The Beginning - The New York Gothams joined the National League in 1883, and survived the American Association/National League merger in 1884. In 1885, the team began playing as the New York Giants.
Headed West - The Giants headed west after the 1957 season, establishing Major League Baseball's presence in California along with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1958. The Giants built their new stadium, Candlestick park, on a former landfill, in a spot prone to dense fog and summer nights so cold fans needed blankets at the ballgame.
Best Trade in Team History - The phrase "know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" comes to mind with respect to Christy Mathewson. Before he had a chance to play a single major league game, the Giants acquired Mathewson from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for veteran Amos Rusie in December of 1900. Rusie played three more games in his career, while Mathewson went on to become one of the top pitchers of all time.
Years later, in 1916, the Giants bundled Mathewson with two other players and sent him back to the Reds in exchange for Buck Herzog and Red Killefer. Mathewson played exactly one more game, pitching a nine inning complete game and giving up eight runs before retiring.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1926, the Giants sent Frankie Frisch and Jimmy Ring to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rogers Hornsby. Hornsby was awesome in his one year with the Giants, while Frankie Frisch became a cornerstone of the Cardinals, leading them to four World Series and winning the NL MVP in 1931.
Seattle Mariners
The Beginning - The Seattle Mariners began play in 1977 as part of the two team expansion which also introduced the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners have enjoyed significantly less success than their expansion-mates, and have been to the playoffs only four times.
We Don't Need No Stinkin' Superstars - In 2001, despite losing future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey, Jr., Randy Johnson, and Alex Rodriguez in the preceding three years, the Mariners posted a surprising 116-46 record, tying the 1906 Chicago Cubs record for wins in a season.
Best Trade in Team History -
In 1988, the Mariners acquired Jay Buhner from the Yankees for Ken Phelps.
In 1989, the Mariners acquired Randy Johnson along with Gene Harris, Brian Holman, and Mike Campbell from the Expos for Mark Langston
In 1996, the Mariners acquired Jamie Moyer from the Red Sox for Darren Bragg
In 1998, the Mariners acquired Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen, and John Halama from the Astros for Randy Johnson
In 2000, the Mariners acquired Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko, Antonio Perez, and Jake Meyer from the Reds for Ken Griffey, Jr.
Worst Trade in Team History -
In 1997, the Mariners sent Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Heathcliff Slocumb. Lowe experience much success with the Red Sox, and Varitek is a Red Sox icon, while Slocumb lasted a season and a half with the Mariners and was unimpressive.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Beginning - The St. Louis Brown Stockings were founded in 1882 as part of the American Association. After one season, they became known as the Browns.
Later Developments - In 1892 the Browns joined the National League. They would later be known as the Perfectos before adopting the Cardinals moniker for good in 1900.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1997, the Cardinals sent Eric Ludwick, T.J. Mathews, and Blake Stein to the Athletics for Mark McGwire. Ludwick, Stein, and Mathews would accomplish little while McGwire had one of the great seasons in baseball history in 1998.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1972, after he won 20 games but had a league average ERA, the Cardinals shipped Steve Carlton to the Philadelphia Phillies for Rick Wise. In '72, Carlton won 27 games, posted a 1.97 ERA, and struck out 310 Ks to win the pitching Triple Crown and the first of four Cy Youngs he would win with the Phillies
Worst Trade in Team History Part Two - In 1980, the Cardinals traded Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons, and Pete Vukovich to the Milwaukee Brewers for Sixto Lezcano, David Green, Lary Sorensen, and Dave LaPoint. The four they got would never amount to anything, while the three they sent would win a combined two Cy Youngs and an MVP over the next two seasons and lead the Brewers to the World Series in 1982, where appropriately enough they would lose to the Cardinals.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
In the Beginning - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the American League East as the AL counterpart to the NL's Arizona Diamondbacks. Unlike the D'Backs, who have experienced immediate success, the D'Rays have been annual cellar dwellars, having suffered by being in the same division as the mighty New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
A Throwback, But to What Era? - In an era in which teams are turning back the clock with old school stadiums, the D'Rays play in Tropicana Field, which is a brilliant homage to the cookie cutter stadiums of the 1960s and 1970s. It has all the charm of the Kingdome and all the character of Riverfront Stadium.
Expel the Devil! - In November of 2007, principal owner Stuart Sternberg dropped the "Devil" from the team nickname, and they are now known only as the "Rays." Ostensibly, this was done to make the team more Disney-friendly.
Best Trade in Team History -
Worst Trade in Team History - In 2002, the Devil Rays sent Randy Winn to the Seattle Mariners for Antonio Perez.
Texas Rangers
Second Verse, Same as the First - After the original Washington Senators split town to become the Minnesota Twins, the District was immediately given a new baseball team, again called the Senators, who played at RFK Stadium. Shockingly, the team left town after 12 lackluster seasons.
The Rangers - The franchise got off to a very slow start, failing to win a division title until the late date of 1996. Now playing in the Ballpark at Arlington, the franchise has come to be known as one of high offense and mediocre pitching.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1988, the Rangers acquired Rafael Palmeiro, along with Drew Hall and Jamie Moyer, in exchange for Mitch Williams, Paul Kilgus, Steve Wilson, Curtis Wilkerson, Luis Benitez, and Pablo Delgado. Of the six Chicago-bound Rangers, only Williams performed well, and even his success while fleeting, while Palmeiro blossomed into a future Hall of Famer.
Worst Trade in Team History - In 1992, the Rangers sent Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt, and Jeff Russell to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jose Canseco. Canseco missed most of 1993, had a solid 1994, and then wore out his welcome and was traded to the Red Sox, but not before getting all of the Texas Rangers hooked on steroids.
Toronto Blue Jays
Baseball In Canada - The Toronto Blue Jays joined the American League in 1977. The Blue Jays have fared better than both their expansion-mates, the Seattle Mariners, and the only other Major League Baseball team to be based on foreign soil, the former Montreal Expos. The Blue Jays have won the World Series twice and have won five division titles.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1990 the Blue Jays traded Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the San Diego Padres for Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar. Carter and Alomar would become central figures in the Blue Jays World Championship teams in 1992 and 1993, the latter of which was won on Joe Carter's walkoff homerun.
Worst Trade in Team History - After the 1999 season, the Blue Jays sent Shawn Green to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Jorge Nunez for Pedro Borbon and Raul Mondesi. Shawn Green would follow the trade with three excellent seasons, while Borbon and Mondesi did little for the Blue Jays.
Washington Nationals
Baseball in Canada - The Montreal Expos were born in 1969, as baseball expanded into Canada for the first time. The Expos spent the late seventies, the eighties, and the early nineties being routinely solid but not quite good enough to get over the hump.
1994 - What Could Have Been - In a sad twist of fate, the Expos only division title came in 1994 - the strike year - and so the division title was awarded post mortem. When the strike ended the season, the Expos were 6 games up on the Braves and looking solid.
Post-1994 - After 1994, the Expos never recovered. Years of supplying the rest of the league with young, big named talent took its toll, and in the end, the Expos could barely draw 10,000 fans to see a game. After famously splitting time between Montreal and Puerto Rico in 2003 and 2004, the Expos finally and mercifully relocated to Washington in 2005 and became the Nationals.
Best Trade in Team History - In late 1993, the Expos sent hotshot second baseman Delino Deshields to the Dodgers in exchange for pitching prospect Pedro Martinez. Deshields was essentially done with the productive part of his career, while Pedro was just getting going.
Worst Trade in Team History - Though his loss to free agency was probably inevitable, the Expos traded Pedro Martinez to the Boston Red Sox for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr. in 1997. Armas and Pavano have had scattered success, while Pedro went on to three of the most dominant pitching seasons ever.