Ok, let’s put this in context. The hottest year in recorded history would be the hottest year in the last 134 years. The earth is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. So, we’re supposed to get into a twist over a year that was nominally warmer than the rest of the years in a sample that is .00000297778% of the total number of years the earth has existed.
We’re doomed.
The most accurate measurement method (satellite) has only existed 35 years.
Even today, I have little faith that we are getting accurate ground level measurements across the globe - to include deserts and oceans. I have even less faith in getting good measurements 100 years ago.
The best measurements are satellite...and out of the billions of years this rock has circled the sun, our knowledge base goes back less than a generation.