Can You Name the Only MLB Team That Has Had a Cumulative Winning Record Since the Very First Game in Franchise History?

edit:
Meaning there is only one team in MLB that has never had a single day in their franchise history in which their franchise's cumulative record wasn't above .500.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

DragonFruit · 61-69, M

There are actually a number of MLB teams with cumulative winning records.
The NY Yankees have the highest winning percentage, but 12 other teams (13 of 30 MLB teams) have a cumulative winning record, including the SF Giants...who have won more games than any other team and have the 2nd highest winning percentage.

Perhaps you meant the only expansion team with a cumulative winning record...that would be the Houston Astros.

View 11 more replies »

DragonFruit · 61-69, M

@beckyromero Yes, many teams (13) have overall cumulative winning records, but apparently the Yankees, Giants and Astros are not the one team who has never had a day where the cumulative record was above .500. That narrows it to 10....I’ll hazard a guess in a little while.

DragonFruit · 61-69, M

@DragonFruit The Chicago Cubs were a powerhouse for most of their early seasons and, despite having had several poor seasons during my lifetime, still have one of the better overall cumulative winning percentages.
Perhaps it’s the Cubs?

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@DragonFruit

Perhaps it’s the Cubs?

That's the best answer and the correct answer.

(I'd mark it as the best answer, too, but I guess one can only do that to a direct response instead of in the sub-threads of a response.)

2ndtimeguy · 61-69, M

LA Dodgers and Atlanta/Milwaukee Braves , St Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Senators/ Minnesota Twins , Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox so many teams were good in the 1900s but arent now but may have a total winning record Detroit comes to mind.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@2ndtimeguy

None of the above have had a cumulative winning record ever since their first game.

Brooklyn (Dodgers franchise) lost their first game, to Washington, on May 1, 1884.
Boston (Braves franchise) dropped to .500 after playing their 2nd game in 1876.
St. Louis (Cardinals franchise in AA b/f moving to NL) were 3-4 after 7 games in their inaugural season in 1882.
Cincinnati (Reds franchise) lost their first game in their inaugural season in 1882 in the AA before moving to NL.
Washington (Twins franchise) won their first four games in franchise history in 1901. But were 5-6 by May 8th.
Milwaukee (Mil->StL->Baltimore Orioles franchise) lost their inaugural opening 14-13 to Detroit in 1901.
Boston lost their inaugural opening 10-6 to Baltimore in 1901.

Deroit started their inaugural season (1901) at 5-0 and never dropped to .500, finishing at 74-61. That's 13 games above .500. But an 8-1 loss to Boston on July 28th, 1902 put them at 31-45 on the season and a cumulative franchise record of 105-106.

So, no. Detroit isn't the correct answer, either.

SW-User

I'm guessing the TB Rays?

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@SW-User

I'm guessing the TB Rays?

That chance went out the window in their very first game, losing to Detroit 11-6 on March 31, 1998.

DragonFruit · 61-69, M

@SW-User The Tampa Bay Rays have an overall cumulative losing record.

Jimmy2016 · 61-69, M

🤔........Yankees.......?

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@Jimmy2016

........Yankees.......?

Nope. Washington beat them, 3-1, on April 22, 1903. That gave them a record of 0-1.

Add a comment...