The Greatest Teams (according to TCMA) - 1934 Cardinals

 

Edit: This is a series of posts about TCMA's set from 1987 highlighting some of the best ever teams in MLB history.

The 1934 Cardinals finished the season with a 95-58-1 record and won the World Series.  But is it really one of the greatest teams ever?  That winning percentage doesn't get them close to the top 10, but I suppose this can be debated.  The Cardinals ranked first in several offensive categories including runs, hits, doubles and stolen bases.  The team also finished second in triples and home runs.

Leo Durocher might be the most familiar name in the lineup, but Ripper Collins led the team with .333 BA and 35 HR's. 

The pitching staff was anchored by Dizzy Dean, who won 30 games with a 2.66 ERA.  Not bad.

If you're going to call this one of the greatest teams ever, I would certainly give it my vote if you're only going by names.  You've got a Dizzy, Daffy, Ducky, Ripper, Spud and Pepper.  Colorful names and perhaps that's why TCMA included this team (over perhaps the 1909 Pirates or the '54 Cleveland team). It's too bad TCMA didn't make the card design as colorful. I think the design is rather boring, and did we need to be reminded this is the '34 Cardinals?  Next up is the 1945 Red Sox.