Earlier this week the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team in franchise history to improve to 50 games over .500 since the 1953 Brooklyn club. It was another accomplishment in what’s been a historic 2017 season.
By going on a 43-7 run, the Dodgers surpassed their remarkable 42-8 stretch from the 2013 season, and became the first team to win 43 of 50 games since the 1912 New York Giants. When the Dodgers held an 18-game in the National League West it marked the largest in franchise history.
That’s since grown to 20 games. The success has led to many proclaiming this rendition of the Dodgers not only the best in franchise history but of all-time. Of course, October figures to bring final judgment.
When asked for his opinion of the 2017 Dodgers, Vin Scully told David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio he believes they are primed to go into the record books as the top team:
“I think it’s a marvelous collection of superb athletes under the direction of a favorite player of mine, Dave Roberts. I believe in this team very much. I was privileged to be with some other good Dodger ballclubs, but I have a feeling this one might turn out to be the best of all.”
Scully cited changes in the sport and the way the game is played as reason it’s difficult to compare teams across multiple decades and eras. Even with that, Scully said he liked this year’s Dodgers team “better” than the 1953 club.
The Dodgers are on pace to threaten the all-time MLB record of 116 wins in a single season, which the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners currently lay claim to.
While potentially matching that or setting a new record remains in question, what should come to fruition is a franchise best in wins. That belongs to the aforementioned ’53 Brooklyn team that won 105 games. They fell to the New York Yankees in six games in the World Series.
