The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers went 104-58 to finish with the best record in baseball and two games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. This year’s team broke the Los Angeles franchise record for most wins — then extended it by defeating the Colorado Rockies in Sunday’s season finale.
From 1958 until this year, no team had won more than the 102 games the 1962 and 1974 clubs did since the move from Brooklyn. The Dodgers’ 104 wins are tied with the 1942 Brooklyn team for second-most in franchise history.
The 2017 club was on pace to shatter the franchise mark and threaten the MLB all-time record of 116 wins, which is shared by 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners. Neither of those teams won the World Series.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manger Farhan Zaidi and manager Dave Roberts each downplayed the importance or significance of reaching or exceeding 116 wins. The trio collectively stressed the bigger picture and success in the postseason.
“Beating 116 would be incredible, but that’s not what the overarching focus is. The overarching focus, the thing that drives us, is winning those 11 games in October,” Friedman said.
While potentially making MLB history ultimately was washed away by a 1-16 stretch, the Dodgers did become the first team since the 1912 New York Giants to go on a 43-7 stretch. That bested a remarkable 42-8 run during the 2013 season that led to what became the first of five straight National League West titles.
In addition to breaking the Los Angeles mark for overall wins, a 57-24 record at Dodger Stadium also set a new franchise record. The 1953 Brooklyn team, which won the National League pennant, holds the organization’s all-time record with 60 home wins.
The 1980 and 2015 Dodgers each won 55 games at Dodger Stadium. They franchise had teams win 54 home games in 1962, 1978 and 1991. None of the aforementioned clubs won the World Series.
