Which Red Sox Clubs Made Baseball's Greatest Teams List?

Which Red Sox Clubs Made Baseball’s Greatest Teams List? originally appeared on NESN.
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Comparing and ranking teams from different eras is never an easy task, but it’s a topic fans always have fun debating.

The Sporting News ranked the top 25 baseball teams dating back to 1886, enlisting a panel of experts to make the selections.

Among the 25, three Red Sox teams made the list — including a team that dates back to the first part of the 20th century. 

Let’s take a look at each of those teams, and why they’re considered among the greatest of all time.

No. 8: 2018 Red Sox

The 2018 Red Sox are the top Boston team on the list, coming in at No. 8. That year’s club had a 108-54 record and defeated the Dodgers in five games in the World Series.

The Sporting News says: “A deep, deep lineup, elite pitching and arguably the best defensive outfield (Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr.) in MLB put the Red Sox head and shoulders above the rest of baseball in 2018. They started the season 17-2 and held off a 100-win Yankees team to capture the AL East.”

No. 20: 2004 Red Sox

It shouldn’t be a surprise that this team is on the list. The 2004 Red Sox were one of the most memorable in MLB history, rallying to beat the Yankees in the ALCS and finally ending their World Series drought by sweeping the Cardinals for the title.

The Sporting News says: “Yes, they had a 4.18 ERA and finished in second place. But this team battled franchise demons both ancient and recent, overcame an unprecedented 0-3 deficit in the ALCS, hit like crazy and featured Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling at the top of the rotation. By the end, with an eight-game win streak to clinch the title, this group had no weaknesses — and no fear.”

No. 23: 1912 Red Sox

We have to go way back in time for the third team on the list — to the first season of Fenway Park. The 1912 Red Sox finished 105-47-2 and defeated the Giants 4-3-1 in the World Series.

The Sporting News says: “Smoky Joe Wood, 22, went 34-5 with — get this — 35 complete games, and MVP Tris Speaker (10.1 WAR) slashed a stunning .383/.464/.567 for a team that went 105-47-2 (.688, a winning percentage that remains a franchise record more than a century later). A World Series win over the Giants capped quite a first season playing at Fenway Park.”

Which Red Sox Clubs Made Baseball's to see the full list, including the members that made up the panel.