I'm going to provide my picks for the best teams in the 1960s. I'm factoring in championships, playoff appearances, amount of winning and losing seasons, and overall consistency throughout the decade. This isn't a list of the best teams in an individual year, and it is of who I think were the best franchises/programs throughout the decade.
Note: In order to make the top 10, a team had to have won at least one championship in their respective sport. Also, the NBA, NHL, and college basketball seasons start in 1959-60 and end in 1968-69. College football and NFL includes the bowl games played in January 1970 which determined the 1969 champions in each sport. Here are my top ten teams for the 1960s starting with No. 10:
No. 10.....
New York Yankees: The Yankees began the 1960s where they left in the 1950s by appearing in the first five World Series playoffs winning two of them(1961-62) in the 1960s. But between 1965-69, they missed the playoffs every year and had only one winning season. Legends such as Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Whitey Ford were the stars that led the franchise in the decade, but all were gone by the time the 1960s came to a close. In the 1970s, changes were coming as new ownership took over and the team would return to its winning ways.
No. 9.....
USC Trojans football: Head coach John McKay became head coach for the Trojans to start the decade and they proceeded to win two national championships in the 1960s. In 1962, USC won the national championship and the Rose Bowl by defeating Wisconsin. They won another national championship in 1967 finishing 10-1 when the final regular season poll was released, but they defeated Indiana in the Rose Bowl anyway. Great players such as Heisman Trophy winners Mike Garrett in 1965 as well as O.J. Simpson in 1968 came through Southern California in the 1960s, too. Overall, they finished 3-2 in bowl games and had five AP Top 10 finishes in the 1970s. USC would continue to contend for national titles in the 1970s under McKay and later John Robinson.
No. 8.....
Texas Longhorns football: After Texas hit rock bottom as a program in 1956 going 1-9, it was head coach Darrell Royal that turned the program around as he never had a losing season in 20 years there. His mentor was Oklahoma head coach Bud Wilkinson, and they would face one another many times in the Red River Rivalry. The Longhorns won the national title in 1963 going 11-0 beating Navy in the Cotton Bowl that were led by Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach. They also beat Alabama in the Orange Bowl after they were voted national champions in the 1964 season. And they ended the decade in style winning the national title while beating Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Overall, Texas went 6-1-1 in bowl games and six AP Top 10 finishes with no losing seasons in the 1960s.
No. 7(tie).....
Arizona State Sun Devils baseball: Coach Bobby Winkles took over for Arizona State in 1959, and built a legacy of a rock-solid program with future Major League stars. They won three College World Series titles in 1965, 1967, and 1969 in the decade. Future big league stars Sal Bando, Rick Monday, and future Hall of Famer and World Series hero Reggie Jackson played for Winkles during the 1960s. Winkles was also named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1965 and 1969. The foundation was set for the program as many other stars such as Barry Bonds would later play their collegiate ball at Arizona State.
USC Trojans baseball: The legendary Rod Dedeaux had already won the College World Series in 1958, and would win three more in the 1960s doing so in 1961, 1963, and 1968. But more than that, it was the great players and future big league stars that he also coached. Slugger Dave Kingman as well as future Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver played for Dedeaux in the 1970s as did future baseball GM Larry Himes. His program would win six CWS in the 1970s and he would remain in his position until 1986 as more future stars such as outfielder Fred Lynn, pitcher Randy Johnson, and first baseman Mark McGwire would play at USC during his tenure there. Dedeaux is the most successful collegiate baseball coach in history.
No. 6.....
Alabama Crimson Tide football: When Paul "Bear" Bryant took over as Alabama coach in 1958, it was only a matter of time before they became a national powerhouse program. In 1961, Alabama claimed the national championship with an 11-0 record. In 1964, Bryant won his second national title despite losing the Orange Bowl to Texas as future Super Bowl legend Joe Namath was their quarterback on that team. They won another title in 1965 after defeating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. All in all, they finished in the AP Top 10 eight straight seasons(1960-67) and went 5-3-1 in bowl games. Bryant would win three national titles in the 1970s before stepping down after winning a bowl game during the 1982 season. Bryant's dominance as coach at Alabama is why he's one of the greatest American coaches ever and why the program is one of the best of all-time.
No. 5.....
Toronto Maple Leafs: As winners of four Stanley Cup titles in the 1960s including a three-peat(1962-64), the Maple Leafs easily make the top 10 list for this decade. They made five Stanley Cup appearances with their lone loss in the finals to the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens. But Toronto would gain a measure of revenge in 1967 by beating the Canadiens to prevent a three-peat by Montreal. Under new ownership in the earlu 1960s, the team was led by head coach Punch Imlach and Hall of Famer Frank Mahovlich, who won a total of six Stanley Cups in his career. The 1967 title remains as the last one they've won to date and the last appearance in a Stanley Cup final.
No. 4.....
UCLA Bruins men's basketball: What many may not know is that John Wooden's UCLA squad had failed to ever make a Final Four appearance in his first 14 seasons as coach. But in 1962, things turned in the program's favor after UCLA made it to the Final Four. Two years later, college basketball's most storied dynasty began as they won their first national championship. They would win ten national championships in 12 seasons beginning in 1964 including five in the 1960s. Wooden's dynasty included players such as Lew Alcindor(legal name is now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Gail Goodrich. He's considered by many to be the greatest coach in American sports history and not just in college basketball.
No. 3.....
Montreal Canadiens: Continuing right where they left off in the 1950s, the Canadiens won their 5th Stanley Cup in a row in 1960. By the end of the 1960s, they would have five Stanley Cup titles having won them in 1965-66 and 1968-69. Their rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs reached its peak during the sixties as both of them combined to win all but one of the Stanley Cup Championships in the 1960s. Toe Blake won a total of eight Stanley Cups as head coach, and Claude Ruel won one in 1969. Maurice "Rocket" Richard led the Canadiens in the 1940s and into the 1950s last winning a title in 1960. A new generation of Canadiens led by Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau helped keep the winning tradition alive in Montreal. In fact, Beliveau is the all-time individual record holder with 10 Stanley Cup trophies(1956-1960, 1965-66, 1968-69).
No. 2.....
Green Bay Packers: When Vince Lombardi took over as head coach in 1959, it was the beginning of a dynasty that would dominate the NFL in the 1960s. His team lost the NFL Championship in the first year of the decade to the Philadelphia Eagles, but he wouldn't lose another playoff game as head coach the rest of his career. Lombardi's Packers won three NFL titles(1961, 1962, 1965) and the first two Super Bowls(1966-67). The Packers as a franchise fell back to mediocrity until the mid-1990s after he left his position as coach. Lombardi is one of the greatest coaches in American sports history and the Super Bowl Trophy is named his honor. With five total championships and one of history's most legendary coaches, the Packers easily make this list.
And my No. 1 team for the 1960s is.....
Boston Celtics: The dynasty of this franchise began in the late 1950s, and they continued to dominate like no other in the 1960s. They won nine championships in ten seasons during the decade including the first seven years in the 1960s. Red Auerbach, as he always did, built the Celtics team into a dynasty led players Bill Russell and Bob Cousy. Russell won 11 NBA titles including his final season in 1969 while Cousy won six overall. Auerbach orchestrated this dynasty by emphasizing defense, team work, and of course the fast break offense that Russell excelled at doing. The franchise rebuilt themselves again in the 1970s and in the 1980s. They won their 17th(and to date last) NBA Championship in 2008. There's no doubt they are the clear cut choice of as the top franchise in the 1960s!
Here are the other teams I considered for the list:
Los Angeles Dodgers: A case can be made for the Dodgers since they won two titles in three World Series appearances in the 1960s, and had three losing seasons in the decade.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Cards won two World Series in 1964 and 1967 with ace starter Bob Gibson on the mound. They also the lost 1968 World Series to Detroit. They have a case to make the list.
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles won a World Series, but famously lost the 1969 World Series to the Miracle New York Mets. However, they would be a consistent contender through most of the 1970s.
Detroit Tigers: They won the 1968 World Series, but never made another post-season appearance in the 1960s.
Pittsburgh Pirates: They won the decade's first World Series, but it wouldn't be until the following decade before they finally made it back to the playoffs.
New York Mets: The Miracle Mets won the 1969 World Series, but were absolutely dreadful up to that point as a franchise after they came into the league in 1962.
Philadelphia 76ers/Syracuse Nationals: Philadelphia was the only other NBA team to win a championship besides the Boston Celtics in the 1960s. But other franchises/programs are more deserving.
Houston Oilers: The team won the first two AFL titles in 1960-61 with a powerful offense led by quarterback George Blanda and lost a chance at a third in a row against the Dallas Texans who later became the Kansas City Chiefs.
San Diego Chargers: Sid Gillman put together great Chargers teams in the early 1960s in the AFL winning a league title in 1963. But it's not enough to make this list.
Buffalo Bills: Yes, long before their Super Bowl disappoints in the early 1990s, the Bills did win two consecutive AFL titles in 1964-65. However, others are more deserving of making the list.
Kansas City Chiefs/Dallas Texans: As the Dallas Texans, they won the AFL title in 1962. Later as the Chiefs, they appeared in the first Super Bowl losing to Green Bay before winning Super Bowl IV(4) against the Minnesota Vikings following the 1969 season.
Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball: The Bearcats won consecutive NCAA tournaments in 1961-62 as well as runner-up in 1963, but that was overshadowed by the emergence of UCLA in college basketball.
Texas Western men's basketball: As winners of what many consider a major breaking point in equality in sports, Texas Western, with a starting five consisting of all African-American players, defeated the all-white Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament Championship in 1966. They get a mention here.
Ohio State men's basketball: They won the decade's first NCAA Tournament, but as with the case with Cincinnati, that is largely overshadowed by UCLA as well as other dominant teams in the 1960s.
Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball: The Gophers won two College World Series titles in the 1960s under Dick Siebert.
Ohio State Buckeyes football: Woody Hayes' team won an AP National Title in 1968, but other NCAA football teams were a little better for them to make the list.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football: The Irish won the national title in 1966, but that was their only one in the decade.
Chicago Blackhawks: They were the only other team to win the Stanley Cup in the 1960s besides Montreal and Toronto doing so in 1961. Others are clearly more deserving to make the list.
Philadelphia Eagles: They won the decade's first NFL title by handing Vince Lombardi his only loss in post-season play in 1960. But it was downhill from there for the Eagles for the rest of decade.
Chicago Bears: George Halas won his last NFL title as coach in 1963, and despite future Hall of Fame legends Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers being drafted in 1965, the team would falter by the end of the decade.
Cleveland Browns: The franchise did win the NFL title in 1964 behind the legendary Jim Brown, but the team would fall after he retired the following season.
Top 10 by sport in the 1960s:College football: 3
College baseball: 2
NHL: 2
MLB: 1
NFL/AFL: 1
College basketball: 1
NBA: 1
Here are the number of different teams that won a championship in their sports for the decade of the 1960s:
MLB: 7(Yankees, Dodgers, and Cardinals each had two)
NBA: 2(Celtics had the most with nine)
NFL/AFL: 10(Packers had the most with five)*
NHL: 3(Canadiens had the most with five)
College basketball: 5(UCLA had the most with five)
College football: 7(Alabama had the most with three)**
College baseball: 5(USC and Arizona State each had three)
*-The list includes NFL/AFL Champions in the seasons from 1960-65. From 1966-69, only Super Bowl Champions are counted in the list.
**-The list only includes AP and UPI winners as there were split national champions one time in the 1960s.
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Caroline May Ling
Bluedreamer
Bill V
