In the modern era of baseball, a team ERA under 4.00 is considered good.
Under 3.50? Elite.
Under 2.00? Unheard of.
But in 1907, the Chicago Cubs did the impossible: they posted a team ERA of 1.73 — the lowest in Major League Baseball history. Over 155 games, their pitching staff allowed only 390 runs while striking fear into every opposing lineup.
That record has stood for 119 years. And it will likely never be broken.
Here's the complete story of the greatest pitching staffs in baseball history — ranked by single-season team ERA.
The All-Time Lowest Team ERAs in MLB History
| Rank | Team | Season | ERA | W-L | Runs Allowed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Cubs | 1907 | 1.73 | 107-45 | 390 | All-time record |
| 2 | Chicago Cubs | 1906 | 1.76 | 116-36 | 381 | Best W-L record ever |
| 3 | Philadelphia Athletics | 1910 | 1.79 | 102-48 | 423 | Dead-ball era |
| 4 | Chicago Cubs | 1909 | 1.75 | 104-49 | 390 | 3rd Cubs team in top 10 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1909 | 2.07 | 110-42 | 447 | Won World Series |
| 6 | Chicago White Sox | 1967 | 2.45 | 89-73 | 531 | Modern era record |
| 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1968 | 2.49 | 97-65 | 472 | Year of the Pitcher |
| 8 | Baltimore Orioles | 1972 | 2.53 | 80-74 | 532 | Last sub-2.60 team |
| 9 | Baltimore Orioles | 1969 | 2.83 | 109-53 | 517 | Post-mound lowering |
| 10 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1988 | 2.96 | 94-67 | 544 | Won World Series |
Important Context
Dead-ball era (1900-1919) vs Modern era (1920-present)
The top 5 teams all played in the dead-ball era when offense was drastically lower. The 1967 White Sox hold the modern era record at 2.45 ERA — a mark that's stood for 59 years.
Why the difference? Dead-ball era featured: softer baseballs, larger strike zones, no home run power, aggressive small-ball tactics, and pitchers who threw complete games routinely.
#1: The 1907 Chicago Cubs — 1.73 ERA
The Greatest Pitching Staff in MLB History
Final record: 107-45 (.704 winning percentage)
Team ERA: 1.73 (MLB all-time record)
Runs allowed: 390 in 155 games
Margin over 2nd place: 86 runs fewer than Philadelphia Phillies
The Pitching Staff:
- Jack Pfiester: 1.15 ERA (led NL)
- Carl Lundgren: 1.17 ERA
- Orval Overall: 1.68 ERA
- Ed Reulbach: 1.69 ERA
- Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown: 1.39 ERA
Historic achievement: Four of the top five ERA leaders in the NL were Cubs pitchers — all with ERAs under 1.70.
World Series result: Cubs defeated Detroit Tigers 4-1 (including one tie), allowing only 6 runs in the entire series. Ty Cobb went 4-for-20.
Why it will never be broken: Modern MLB team ERAs average 4.20. Even elite staffs rarely break 3.50. The 1907 Cubs would need to improve on today's best teams by nearly 2 full runs per game.
#2: The 1906 Chicago Cubs — 1.76 ERA
The Best Record in MLB History
Final record: 116-36 (.763 winning percentage) — best in MLB history
Team ERA: 1.76
Runs allowed: 381 in 152 games
Margin over 2nd place: 89 runs fewer than Pittsburgh Pirates
The Ace:
Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown: 1.04 ERA — still the National League record for a single season (minimum 200 IP)
What made them dominant:
- Led MLB in runs scored (704) AND fewest runs allowed (381)
- Finished 20 games ahead of 2nd-place New York Giants
- Four future Hall of Famers: Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker, Mordecai Brown
- Immortalized in poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" (Tinker to Evers to Chance)
The upset: Despite the best regular season ever, the Cubs lost the World Series 4-2 to the crosstown Chicago White Sox ("The Hitless Wonders").
Historic context: The 116-36 record stood alone for 95 years until the 2001 Seattle Mariners tied it (116-46 in a 162-game season).
The Dead-Ball Era Dominance (1900-1919)
Why were ERAs so low in the dead-ball era?
- Softer baseballs: Balls became soft and misshapen during games, making home runs nearly impossible
- Same ball used all game: No new balls introduced except when lost
- Larger strike zones: Umpires called strikes from knees to shoulders
- Spitball was legal: Pitchers could doctor the ball with saliva, tobacco juice, dirt
- No power hitters: Teams relied on bunts, stolen bases, hit-and-run plays
- Complete games were standard: Starters pitched 9 innings routinely
The Cubs dynasty (1906-1910):
The Cubs appeared in four World Series in five years, winning two (1907, 1908). They led the NL in fewest runs allowed four times during this span:
- 1906: 381 runs allowed (89 fewer than 2nd place)
- 1907: 390 runs allowed (86 fewer than 2nd place)
- 1909: 390 runs allowed (57 fewer than 2nd place)
- 1910: 438 runs allowed (56 fewer than 2nd place)
No team has dominated run prevention like the 1906-1910 Cubs. Ever.
#6: The 1967 White Sox — 2.45 ERA (Modern Era Record)
The Last Great Pitching-First Team
Final record: 89-73 (4th in AL)
Team ERA: 2.45 — lowest since 1919
Runs allowed: 531 in 162 games
Runs scored: 531 (dead last in AL)
The Pitching Staff:
- Hoyt Wilhelm: 1.31 ERA (reliever, 49 games)
- Don McMahon: 1.67 ERA (reliever, 52 games)
- Joe Horlen: 2.06 ERA, 19-7 record
- Gary Peters: 2.28 ERA, 16-11 record, 215 K
- Tommy John: 2.47 ERA, 10-13 record
The problem: White Sox scored EXACTLY as many runs as they allowed (531). Their offense was dead last in the AL.
Why this is the modern record: No team has posted a sub-2.50 ERA in the 59 years since. Even the greatest pitching staffs of the 1990s-2020s don't come close.
Historic significance: This was the last gasp of "small ball" before MLB lowered the mound in 1969.
#7: The 1968 Cardinals — 2.49 ERA ("Year of the Pitcher")
Bob Gibson's Masterpiece Season
Final record: 97-65 (NL pennant winners)
Team ERA: 2.49
MLB league average ERA: 2.98 (lowest in modern era)
The Ace:
Bob Gibson: 1.12 ERA, 22-9 record, 13 shutouts, 28 complete games
Gibson's dominance:
- Lowest ERA in modern era (since 1920)
- Won NL Cy Young Award unanimously
- Won NL MVP Award
- Threw one 10-inning, two 11-inning, and one 12-inning complete games
- His 1.12 ERA is why MLB lowered the mound in 1969
What happened next: MLB lowered the pitching mound from 15 inches to 10 inches for the 1969 season. Offense immediately increased.
League-wide impact: The 1968 season saw:
- Carl Yastrzemski won AL batting title with .301 average (lowest ever)
- Denny McLain won 31 games (last 30-game winner)
- 21 pitchers threw 250+ innings
- Only 1,995 home runs hit league-wide
The Baltimore Orioles Dynasty (1969-1972)
The Orioles placed two teams in the top 10 for lowest ERA:
#8: 1972 Orioles — 2.53 ERA
Record: 80-74 (3rd in AL East)
Led by: Jim Palmer (2.07 ERA, 21-10), Mike Cuellar (2.57 ERA)
Last sub-2.60 team ever. No team has broken 2.60 ERA in 54 years.
#9: 1969 Orioles — 2.83 ERA
Record: 109-53 (AL pennant winners)
Led by: Jim Palmer (2.34 ERA, 16-4), Dave McNally (3.22 ERA, 20-7)
First season after mound was lowered. Still dominant.
Notable: Lost World Series to "Miracle Mets" despite 109 wins and 2.83 ERA.
Why Team ERAs Will Never Be This Low Again
1. Modern offense is too powerful
- Players are bigger, stronger, faster
- Launch angle revolution increased home runs
- Advanced scouting and video analysis
- Bat technology improvements
2. Pitch count limits
- Starters rarely pitch past 100 pitches
- Bullpens pitch 40%+ of innings (vs 20% historically)
- Relievers have higher ERAs than starters on average
3. Three true outcomes (HR, K, BB) dominate
- More home runs = more runs scored
- Less small ball = more big innings
- Strikeouts don't prevent runs as well as contact outs
4. Rules favor offense
- Smaller strike zone than dead-ball era
- Standardized baseballs
- DH in both leagues (since 2022)
- Pitch clock speeds up game (fatigue factor)
Best Team ERAs in Recent History (2000-2025)
Since 2000, only ONE team posted sub-3.00 team ERA:
2014 Washington Nationals: 2.99 ERA (96-66 record)
- Jordan Zimmermann: 2.66 ERA, 14-5
- Doug Fister: 2.41 ERA, 16-6
- Stephen Strasburg: 3.14 ERA, 14-11
- Tanner Roark: 2.85 ERA, 15-10
Other notable modern staffs:
- 2011 Philadelphia Phillies: 3.02 ERA (led by Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt)
- 2003 Los Angeles Dodgers: 3.16 ERA (led by Gagne, Brown, Nomo)
- 2015 St. Louis Cardinals: 2.94 ERA (Carlos Martinez, John Lackey)
The takeaway: A sub-3.00 team ERA is now considered historically great. The 1907 Cubs' 1.73 ERA is 1.27 runs lower than the best modern teams.
Quick Comparison: Then vs Now
| Category | 1907 Cubs | 2025 MLB Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team ERA | 1.73 | 4.20 | +2.47 runs/game |
| Complete games | 110 (of 152 games) | ~30 league-wide | 72% vs 0.5% |
| Home runs allowed | ~20 all season | ~200+ per team | 10x more |
| Innings per starter | ~7.5 innings | ~5.0 innings | 50% reduction |
Final Takeaways
The 1907 Cubs' 1.73 ERA is the most unbreakable team record in baseball.
- Stood for 119 years and counting
- Modern teams would need to improve by 2.5 runs per game to match it
- The 1967 White Sox' 2.45 ERA modern record has stood for 59 years
- Only 1 team since 2000 has broken 3.00 ERA (2014 Nationals, 2.99)
- Dead-ball era teams occupy the top 5 spots all-time
Why it matters:
The 1907 Cubs represent a different era of baseball — when pitching was king, offense was manufactured one base at a time, and complete games were the norm. Modern baseball has evolved into a power game where home runs, strikeouts, and bullpens dominate.
We'll never see a 1.73 team ERA again. And that makes the 1907 Cubs' achievement even more legendary.
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