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I read a statement from Rick Dempsey about being on the "worst team on paper" to win a World Series. I thought he was referring to the 1983 Orioles and was maybe talking a little out of his butt, but then I remembered that he was the backup catcher on the 1988 Dodgers, and he was likely referring to them.
I don't know if "wtop" refers to the team's outlook going into the season, the outlook going into the post-season, or the outlook going into the series, but he may have a case about 1988. Before the season, you'd say they had good-but-iffy pitching and looked average or worse at most positions around the diamond. But seemingly everybody on that staff had a career year, with Hershiser having the best year in the league, and while the offense had to scratch out what they could, Dempsey of all people had his best season.
Of course, some of those guys may have had more good years in them if Lasorda didn't ride them so hard.
The other candidates for the world championships WTOP that jump to mind are:
[list][*]the 1959 Dodgers, when the remains of the dynastic offense were all over the hill and Koufax and Drysdale weren't yet Koufax and Drysdale,
[*]the two turn-of-the-century wild card Marlins teams that won.[/list]
So, yeah, who is your worst team team on paper to get all the marbles?
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