Since 1969, Team With Most Wins Has Won World Series 12 of 54 Times (22%)

This chart states that the team with baseball's best record has won the World Series only 25% of the time. It's worse that that. In some seasons, two teams tied for the most wins, so it's actually 12 of 54 "seasons" - or 22%. (I did not include 1994.)

The performance (or non-performance) of any of those 54 teams has zee-ro effect on how the Red Sox will do this month, but it does show that shit can - and quite often does - happen. I think Billy Beane would concur.

Which is why I think it's important to feel that this season has been enormously successful (and a ton of fun), no matter what happens in the postseason. To claim that 2018 will be for naught if the Red Sox do not win the World Series is to succumb to the nonsensical Steinbrennerian dictum that a season without a championship is by definition worthless.

Teams With MLB's Best Record

1969 Orioles     109-53 - Lost World Series 
1970 Orioles     108-54 - Won World Series
1971 Orioles     101-57 - Lost World Series
     Athletics   101-60 - Lost ALCS
1972 Pirates      96-59 - Lost NLCS
1973 Reds         99-63 - Lost NLCS
1974 Dodgers     102-60 - Lost World Series
1975 Reds        108-54 - Won World Series
1976 Reds        102-60 - Won World Series
1977 Royals      102-60 - Lost ALCS
1978 Yankees     100-63 - Won World Series
1979 Orioles     102-57 - Lost World Series
1980 Yankees     103-59 - Lost ALCS
1981 Reds         66-42 - Did Not Make Playoffs
1982 Brewers      95-67 - lost World Series
1983 White Sox    99-63 - Lost ALCS
1984 Tigers      104-58 - Won World Series

[ALCS expanded from best-of-5 to best-of-7]

1985 Cardinals   101-61 - lost World Series
1986 Mets        108-54 - Won World Series
1987 Tigers       98-64 - Lost ALCS
1988 Athletics   104-58 - Lost World Series
1989 Athletics    99-63 - Won World Series
1990 Atheltics   103-59 - Lost World Series
1991 Pirates      98-64 - Lost NLCS
1992 Atlanta      98-64 - Lost World Series
1993 Atlanta     104-58 - Lost NLCS
1994 Expos        74-40 - No Postseason

[ALDS (best-of-5) and Wild Card team introduced]

1995 Cleveland   100-44 - Lost World Series
1996 Cleveland    99-62 - Lost ALDS
1997 Atlanta     101-61 - Lost NLCS
1998 Yankees     114-48 - Won World Series
1999 Atlanta     103-59 - Lost World Series
2000 Giants       97-65 - Lost NLDS
2001 Mariners    116-46 - Lost ALCS
2002 Yankees     103-58 - Lost World Series
     Athletics   103-59 - Lost ALDS
2003 Yankees     101-61 - Lost World Series
     Atlanta     101-61 - Lost NLDS
2004 Cardinals   105-57 - Lost World Series
2005 Cardinals   100-62 - Lost NLCS
2006 Yankees      97-65 - Lost ALDS
     Mets         97-65 - Lost NLCS
2007 Red Sox      96-66 - Won World Series
     Cleveland    96-66 - Lost ALCS
2008 Angels      100-62 - Lost ALDS
2009 Yankees     103-59 - Won World Series
2010 Phillies     97-65 - Lost NLCS
2011 Phillies    102-60 - Lost NLDS

[Wild Card Game introduced]

2012 Nationals    98-64 - Lost NLDS 
2013 Red Sox      97-65 - Won World Series
     Cardinals    97-65 - Lost World Series
2014 Angels       98-64 - Lost ALDS
2015 Cardinals   100-62 - Lost NLDS
2016 Cubs        103-58 - Won World Series
2017 Dodgers     104-58 - Lost World Series
2018 Red Sox     108-54 - ???