2001 Seattle Mariners

After posting the 1998 Yankees, we had to follow them up with the 2001 Mariners. Seattle's 2001 squad had the greatest regular season (purely from a "racking up the wins" perspective), setting a still-standing record with 116 victories. However, their dominate regular season did not end in a title, as the Mariners were knocked off by the dynastic Yankees in the ALCS.

This team is very good, although they lack any superstar cards. Sure, Ichiro won the MVP this season (and Freddy Garcia should have won the AL Cy Young), but they have pretty lackluster cards. Rather than stars, this team benefits from solid depth at every level. Perhaps not so coincidentally, this is the strength of the 1998 Yankees and, to an extent, the 2016 Cubs. Top heavy rotations and lineups can carry a team in a series or two, but serious depth and consistency wins out over the grinding 162 game MLB season. Enjoy this team, one of the most memorable "how did they not win it all" teams in recent memory.