The worst MLB teams of the modern era

The 1916 Athletics have the worst winning percentage ever (.235) after going 36-117. They finished 54.5 games out of first place and had 24 fewer wins than any other team.

The Boston Braves of 1935 went 38-115 (.248), 61.5 games back. They had a horrendous 7-31 record in one-run games. The team also included Babe Ruth in the final season of his career.

The legendary 1962 Mets hold the record for the most losses, after going 40-120 (.250). Their pitching staff had four members with 17-plus losses.

The Senators finished 38-113 (.252) and 55.5 games back. The entire team hit 10 home runs for the season.

Three years after setting what's still the lowest winning percentage ever, the Athletics went 36-104 (.257). They were led by "ace" Rollie Naylor, who went went 5-18.

The worst team in recent memory, the Tigers went 43-119 (.265). Despite their horrible record, Detroit still had a winning record in one-run games (19-18). The Tigers had only one regular starting pitcher who finished with an ERA below 5.00.

The Pirates were 42-112 (.273). The team was particularly terrible vs. left-handed starters (7-26) and scored only 515 runs despite Ralph Kiner's 37 homers.

Just five seasons after the Senators' worst year ever, they finished 42-110 (.276). The team scored only 382 runs.

Following up a season in which they had 43 wins, the Phils were even worse in 1942, going 42-109 (.278). They finished 62.5 games back.

The Red Sox went 43-111 (.279), finishing 64 games behind the Yankees. Ace Bob Weiland went 6-16. The team still had one great performance, from Dale Alexander who hit .372.

The Browns had only two fewer losses than the Phillies, finishing 43-111 (.279). They were 18-59 at home.

The Phillies finished 43-111 (.279). They had seven pitchers with double-digit losses.

Finishing 43-109 (.283), the Phils had a team ERA of 5.61.

The A's finished 43-109 (.283) and only 19-53 at home. Ace Weldon Wyckoff threw 20 complete games but finished with a 10-22 record.

The Rustlers were 44-107 (.291), just one-half game behind the Browns. Ace Buster Brown finished the season with 18 losses.

The Doves finished the season an eye-shattering 65.5 games back after going 45-108 (.294). Only one Doves hitter had more than two home runs, and they had two pitchers with more than 20 losses.

The Browns weren't even the worst team in baseball during 1911, finishing with one more win than the Rustlers at 45-107 (.296). 

The 1939 season was another dreadful one for the Phillies, finishing 45-106 (.298). That put them 50.5 games back, with not a single pitcher posting a winning record.

With a 46-108 record (.299), the Browns finished 56 games back. This came despite some strong offensive campaigns, including five players hitting over .300. However, the pitching let the offense down. Not a single pitcher came close to a winning record, and the staff finished with a 6.00 ERA.

Three years after their worst season in franchise history, the Phillies went 46-108 (.299). Outfielder Vince DiMaggio (Joe's brother) had 19 homers, but no other hitter on the team had more than seven. The team also included Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx in his final season.

The 1938 Phils finished 45-105 (.300), led by Hugh Mulcahy's 20 losses.

Just three years after their World Series championship, the Diamondbacks went 51-111 (.315). Incredibly, Randy Johnson still managed to finish second in the NL Cy Young voting after going 16-14 with a 2.60 ERA in 35 starts.

The Astros' fire sale led them to a 55-111 (.315) record. They had only one starting pitcher (Bud Norris) with an ERA below 4.00.

The O's finished 54-107 (.335) in 1988 in large part due to their awful pitching. The team finished with a 4.54 ERA. Of course, their 2018 counterpart was even worse, finishing with a 47-115 record (.290) and a team ERA of 5.19.