Key takeaways
- The most wins in an MLB season is 116, by the 1906 Cubs and the 2001 Mariners.
- The 2001 Mariners went 116-46, the most wins in a 162-game season.
- The 1998 Yankees won 114, then won the World Series.
- In DreamDraft’s baseball game, the best possible roster goes 152-10.
What is the most wins in an MLB season?
116. The 1906 Cubs went 116-36 on the National League’s 154-game schedule, a .763 winning percentage. The 2001 Mariners matched the 116 in a 162-game season and finished 116-46.
Both teams lost in October. The Cubs fell to the crosstown White Sox in the World Series, and the Mariners lost the American League Championship Series to the Yankees in five games. The most wins by a champion belongs to the 1998 Yankees, who won 114 and swept the World Series.
| Team | Record | How it ended |
|---|---|---|
| 1906 Chicago Cubs | 116-36 | Lost the World Series to the White Sox |
| 2001 Seattle Mariners | 116-46 | Lost the ALCS to the Yankees |
| 1998 New York Yankees | 114-48 | Won the World Series |
| 1954 Cleveland Indians | 111-43 | Lost the World Series to the Giants |
| 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers | 111-51 | Lost the NLDS to the Padres |
| 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates | 110-42 | Won the World Series |
| 1927 New York Yankees | 110-44 | Won the World Series |
Why has no team come close to 162-0?
Baseball’s best teams still lose often. The 2001 Mariners, the winningest 162-game team ever, lost 46 times, about once every three and a half games. A 162-0 season would mean six months without a single loss.
How close can a DreamDraft roster get?
DreamDraft’s baseball game lets you draft 13 players from any MLB season since 1876 and turns the roster into a 162-game record. The best roster the game allows goes 152-10, so 162-0 is out of reach there too. A strong all-time lineup still wins far more than any real team did. The 162-0 baseball draft page explains how the record works.
The best baseball rosters on DreamDraft right now
LiveTime Machine leaders from the live leaderboard. Each record is the game’s estimate for an all-time roster.
- Rank 1ScottyDucatiPro125–37162-game record
- Rank 2JimBytesPro112–50162-game record
- Rank 3jimPro109–53162-game record
More questions
When did MLB start playing 162 games?
The American League went to 162 games in 1961, and the National League followed in 1962. Both leagues played 154 games before that.
Which team has the best record in a 162-game season?
The 2001 Seattle Mariners, at 116-46.
Did a 116-win team ever win the World Series?
No. The 1906 Cubs lost the World Series to the White Sox, and the 2001 Mariners lost the ALCS to the Yankees.
Draft your own roster
A solo draft is free in your browser and needs no account.
Draft baseballSources
- MLB.com: Which teams won the most games in a season?
- Baseball-Reference: 1906 Chicago Cubs
- Baseball-Reference: 2001 Seattle Mariners
- Wikipedia: 1962 Major League Baseball season
Records checked October 27, 2026. DreamDraft records are game estimates from real season stats.