The sports world had a lot to celebrate in the year 2009, and it will go down as a year that had a lot of surprising teams come out of nowhere to contend for titles. While some of the best teams of 2009 were contenders all the way through their respective seasons, two teams came from out of nowhere even if they did fall just short of the championship.

Best MLB Teams of 2009: Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies

The Rays dropped the devil from their name, and became one of the best teams in baseball during the 2008 season. They followed a 2008 World Series appearance with a 3rd place finish in the AL East in 2009, but they still won 84 games in what was the toughest division in baseball. The team that they lost to was the Philadelphia Philles, who followed up a 2008 NL East and World Championship season with a repeat in 2009. Currently battling the Yankees for the 2009 title, they are trying to be the first back to back champs in several years.

Best NHL Teams of 2009: Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings

Several other teams had great regular seasons such as the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks who both managed to have 100 point regular seasons, but neither advanced past the first round. However, the Red Wings and Penguins followed up a Stanley Cup appearance in 2008 with another one in 2009, each winning one Stanley Cup. Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin became huge stars, and Marion Hossa must have regretted his leaving Pittsburgh after 2008 to join Detroit in 2009.

Best NBA Teams of 2009: Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers

The Cavaliers had all-star LeBron James, but it wasn't enough to overcome great three point shooting from the Magic who had stopped the team who Nike was banking millions on to play Kobe Byrant and the Lakers. 60+ wins in the regular season wasn't good enough though, but there was a silver lining. The Lakers beat the Magic in the NBA finals to capture coach Phil Jackson's 10th NBA title, which is the most in NBA history.

Best NFL Teams of 2009: Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots

While the Steelers defeated the Cardinals in the Super Bowl, you can't overlook the Cardinals or the Patriots. Despite losing Tom Brady, the Patriots rode untested backup Matt Cassel to a 11-5 record, but just missed the playoffs. The Cardinals finished the season 9-7 and had lost by 40+ points to the Patriots in the final weeks of the season, but that didn't matter come playoff time. The Cardinals got hot, and rode the play of Kurt Warner, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald to the Super Bowl. The Steelers wound up winning their sixth Super Bowl, which is an NFL record.

The sports world had plenty of drama, and great moments in 2009. There will no doubt be more in the final months of 2009, and plenty of new memories to be made for 2010. This is what makes sports so great, they never get old no matter how long you have watched the game.

Learn more about this author, Cody Hodge.
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