Happy 49 Day!

 

Yep, it's that time of year again. 

Every single major-league baseball team has now lost at least 49 games.

Why is this day different than all other days, you ask?

Because it means that no team can possibly break the all-time record set by the 1998 New York Yankees—the greatest team in baseball history—of 125, combined regular- and postseason wins.

No team can win more than 113 games, and therefore the maximum 11 postseason wins possible will only get them to 124 wins.

[Checks math]

Yes, that's correct.  

What's that you say? A team could theoretically win 112 or 113 games, still finish second in their incredible division, and then have to win 13 games to take a World Series?

Yes, that's theoretically possible. But as Bob Dole would say, you know and I know and the American people know that ain't happenin'. 

And besides, that would mean the "greatest team ever" is not a first-place team. Impossible!

The 1998 team it is. And yes, they really are the greatest ever.

First, take out every team before the color line was finally broken.  You can't be the greatest ever if everybody isn't allowed to play.

Next, consider the fact that the 1998 Yanks went 13-3 in inter-league play, including a 3-1 pasting of the Atlanta Braves, who had the best record in the NL. (And no, I'm still not over that blown call that cost the Yanks a sweep of the Mets, which would've put them at 14-2.) 

Add the four-game sweep of the Padres in the World Series, and they played 17-3, .850 ball against the Senior Circuit (really, 18-2, .900 ball).

Finally there's the fact that, while juicing was already widespread in baseball—this was the year of the McGuire-Sosa Race of the Chemically Abetted—there was no known juicer (at the time!) on the Yanks.

So...they played unjuiced against juiced and still won a record number of game.

Case closed. Enjoy 49 Day, a full 11 days before the end of August. Is that great or what?