11-13-2008, 09:41 AM
Analysis ranks Red Sox as the No. 1 franchise in the majors
The Red Sox have capitalized on the allure of Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in the majors, and made renovations that have included increasing its capactity to nearly 40,000.
MEASURING SUCCESS
Franshise rankings: Red Sox set standard of excellence | How we compiled the list
FRANCHISE RANKINGS
Team, Points
1. Boston Red Sox 122
2. Los Angeles Angels 113
3. St. Louis Cardinals 106
4. New York Yankees 104
5. Los Angeles Dodgers 94
6. Chicago White Sox 92
7. Philadelphia Phillies 91
8. Houston Astros 82
9. Cleveland Indians 81
T10. Milwaukee Brewers 80
T10. Atlanta Braves 80
T10. Minnesota Twins 80
T10. New York Mets 80
14. Oakland Athletics 78
15. Chicago Cubs 77
T16. San Francisco Giants 76
T16. San Diego Padres 76
18. Detroit Tigers 74
T19. Tampa Bay Rays 69
T19. Texas Rangers 69
21. Arizona Diamondbacks 68
22. Colorado Rockies 67
23. Toronto Blue Jays 60
24. Florida Marlins 58
25. Washington Nationals 49
26. Cincinnati Reds 48
27. Seattle Mariners 46
T28. Baltimore Orioles 44
T28. Pittsburgh Pirates 44
T28. Kansas City Royals 44
BOSTON — Combining a resilience the field and a vision for excellence in the front office, the Boston Red Sox have brought unbridled joy to the ever-growing population of Red Sox Nation in the past five seasons.
In 2004, there was literally dancing in the streets of Boston when the franchise stunned the New York Yankees by rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series on the way to its first World Series title in 86 years. Three years later, a second generation of champions, led by high-stepping closer Jonathan Papelbon, danced in celebration on the Fenway green.
This year, after the Red Sox disposed of the Los Angeles Angels in the AL Division Series and the crowd had gone home, team owners John Henry and Tom Werner took a celebratory run around the basepaths.
The Red Sox have become winners on the field and in the community, and they've had a measure of fun doing it.
And when USA TODAY Sports Weekly ranked the performance of 30 Major League Baseball franchises in nine categories during the past five years, the Red Sox, who reached Game 7 of the ALCS this year, came out No. 1 overall.
The Red Sox have capitalized on the allure of Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in the majors, and made renovations that have included increasing its capactity to nearly 40,000.
MEASURING SUCCESS
Franshise rankings: Red Sox set standard of excellence | How we compiled the list
FRANCHISE RANKINGS
Team, Points
1. Boston Red Sox 122
2. Los Angeles Angels 113
3. St. Louis Cardinals 106
4. New York Yankees 104
5. Los Angeles Dodgers 94
6. Chicago White Sox 92
7. Philadelphia Phillies 91
8. Houston Astros 82
9. Cleveland Indians 81
T10. Milwaukee Brewers 80
T10. Atlanta Braves 80
T10. Minnesota Twins 80
T10. New York Mets 80
14. Oakland Athletics 78
15. Chicago Cubs 77
T16. San Francisco Giants 76
T16. San Diego Padres 76
18. Detroit Tigers 74
T19. Tampa Bay Rays 69
T19. Texas Rangers 69
21. Arizona Diamondbacks 68
22. Colorado Rockies 67
23. Toronto Blue Jays 60
24. Florida Marlins 58
25. Washington Nationals 49
26. Cincinnati Reds 48
27. Seattle Mariners 46
T28. Baltimore Orioles 44
T28. Pittsburgh Pirates 44
T28. Kansas City Royals 44
BOSTON — Combining a resilience the field and a vision for excellence in the front office, the Boston Red Sox have brought unbridled joy to the ever-growing population of Red Sox Nation in the past five seasons.
In 2004, there was literally dancing in the streets of Boston when the franchise stunned the New York Yankees by rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series on the way to its first World Series title in 86 years. Three years later, a second generation of champions, led by high-stepping closer Jonathan Papelbon, danced in celebration on the Fenway green.
This year, after the Red Sox disposed of the Los Angeles Angels in the AL Division Series and the crowd had gone home, team owners John Henry and Tom Werner took a celebratory run around the basepaths.
The Red Sox have become winners on the field and in the community, and they've had a measure of fun doing it.
And when USA TODAY Sports Weekly ranked the performance of 30 Major League Baseball franchises in nine categories during the past five years, the Red Sox, who reached Game 7 of the ALCS this year, came out No. 1 overall.