

... wasn't the 2016 Cubs. They weren't far off, though.

I've watched that glorious Game 7 many times, and am amazed each time at the youth of that group that kept it's composure, not only during the great beginnings, but the scary late Cleveland comeback, and - most importantly - through the critical tenth inning. It got me wondering - how does that starting lineup compare to other youthful world series clinching starting lineups through history?

I've had some rare "me" time this week, and took the chance to crunch the numbers (with the help of Baseball-Reference.com's database) to figure out which world series clinching starting lineups (WSCSL) were the youngest, and what happened to the franchise AFTER those wins?

The results ...

10 11 youngest WSCSL in MLB history:

1942 St. Louis Cardinals – Average age: 26.65; next title in 2 years (1944) (won 2 of next 4 WS titles)

1912 Boston Red Sox – Average age: 26.71; next title in 3 years (1915) (won 3 of next 6 WS titles)

2016 Chicago Cubs – Average age: 26.73

1935 Detroit Tigers – Average age: 26.81; next title in 10 years (1945)

1913 Philadelphia Athletics – Average age: 26.98; next title in 15 years (1929)

1957 Braves – Average age: 27.01; next title in 37 years (1995)

1966 Orioles – Average age: 27.19; next title in 4 years (1970)

1916 Red Sox – Average age: 27.21; next title in 2 years (1918)

1990 Reds – Average age: 27.30; next title … (still waiting)

1914 Braves – Average age: 27.31; next title in 43 years (1957)

1915 Red Sox – Average age: 27.39; next title in 3 years (1918)

So, of the (other) top 10 youngest WSCSL in history:

- None repeated

- 2 teams had another title within 2 years

- 2 teams had another title within 3 years

- 1 team had another title within 4 years

- After that, the wait was: 10, 15, 37, 43, and still waiting (26 years so far)

Average age of WSCSLs throughout history:

29.44

The oldest WSCSL :

1945 Detroit Tigers (33.86)

Other facts:

The last time before 2016 that a WSCSL average age was under 29 years old - which was also the last time it was under 28 - was 2003 (Marlins, 27.98 years)

The last time a WSCSL average age was under 27 years old was 1942 (Cardinals, 26.65)

If Jorge Soler had started in left field instead of the eventual world series MVP Ben Zobrist, two things would have been likely to happen: 1) The Cubs wouldn't have won, and I wouldn't be writing this post, and 2) the Cubs starting lineup average age for this game would have been 25.65, a full YEAR younger than the 1942 Cardinals, who currently stand as the youngest starting lineup to ever clinch the world series.