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Postseason Playoffs

In 1969, both the American and National League split into two divisions and the League Championship was created setting the stage for some thrilling postseason moments (outside of the World Series). The best-of-five League Championship Series switched to a best-of-seven series in 1985 to increase revenue and match the length of the World Series.

The 1981 season was a separate case. A mid-season player's strike split the season in half and upset fans - some of which still remain discontent with our national pastime. Major League Baseball hoped to recoup some of the lost revenue and win back the disinterested fans so an extra level of playoff games were played.

Three divisions were created in 1993 to make room for the expansion teams. East, Central, and West divisions are the most recent major alignment changes. Club owners voted on divisional team placements - though nobody truly understands why & how certain decisions were made — and in 1995 the playoffs introduced the Division Series.

A best-of-five series would determine who would play for the pennant and the three division champions would face off with a fourth "wildcard" determined by the second-place team with the best record from any of the three divisions.
Postseason At-A-Glance
1969 - 1980 : Best of Five Format

Year-by-Year Playoff Charts

A.L.C.S.

World Series

N.L.C.S.

Baltimore
     3 Wins (East)

1969

New York
     3 Wins (East)

Minnesota
     0 Wins (West)

Atlanta
     0 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     3 Wins (East)

1970

Pittsburgh
     0 Wins (East)

Minnesota
     0 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     3 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     3 Wins (East)

1971

Pittsburgh
     3 Wins (East)

Oakland
     0 Wins (West)

San Francisco
     1 Win (West)

Detroit
     2 Wins (East)

1972

Pittsburgh
     2 Win (East)

Oakland
     3 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     3 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     2 Wins (East)

1973

New York
     3 Wins (East)

Oakland
     3 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     2 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     1 Win (East)

1974

Pittsburgh
     1 Win (East)

Oakland
     3 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     3 Wins (West)

Boston
     3 Wins (East)

1975

Pittsburgh
     0 Wins (East)

Oakland
     0 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     3 Wins (West)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

1976

Philadelphia
     0 Wins (East)

Kansas City
     2 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     3 Wins (West)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

1977

Philadelphia
     1 Win (East)

Kansas City
     2 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     3 Wins (West)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

1978

Philadelphia
     1 Win (East)

Kansas City
     1 Win (West)

Los Angeles
     3 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     3 Wins (East)

1979

Pittsburgh
     3 Wins (East)

California
     1 Win (West)

Cincinnati
     0 Wins (West)

New York
     0 Wins (East)

1980

Philadelphia
     3 Wins (East)

Kansas City
     3 Wins (West)

Houston
     2 Wins (West)
Postseason At-A-Glance
1981 - 1981 : Extra Round "Strike" Test

Year-by-Year Playoff Charts

A.L. Playoff

A.L.C.S.

World Series

N.L.C.S.

N.L. Playoff

New York
     3 Wins (East)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

1981

Montreal
     2 Wins (East)

Montreal
     3 Wins (East)

Milwaukee
     2 Wins (East)

Philadelphia
     2 Wins (East)

Oakland
     3 Wins (West)

Oakland
     0 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     3 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     3 Wins (West)

Kansas City
     0 Wins (West)

Houston
     2 Wins (West)
Postseason At-A-Glance
1982 - 1984 : Best of Five Format

Year-by-Year Playoff Charts

A.L.C.S.

World Series

N.L.C.S.

Milwaukee
     3 Wins (East)

1982

St. Louis
     3 Wins (East)

California
     2 Wins (West)

Atlanta
     0 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     3 Wins (East)

1983

Philadelphia
     3 Wins (East)

Chicago
     1 Win (West)

Los Angeles
     1 Win (West)

Detroit
     3 Wins (East)

1984

Chicago
     2 Wins (East)

Kansas City
     0 Wins (West)

San Diego
     3 Wins (West)
Postseason At-A-Glance
1985 - 1994 : Best of Seven Format

Year-by-Year Playoff Charts

A.L.C.S.

World Series

N.L.C.S.

Toronto
     3 Wins (East)

1985

St. Louis
     4 Wins (East)

Kansas City
     4 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     2 Wins (West)

Boston
     4 Wins (East)

1986

New York
     4 Wins (East)

California
     3 Wins (West)

Houston
     2 Wins (West)

Detroit
     1 Win (East)

1987

St. Louis
     4 Wins (East)

Minnesota
     4 Wins (West)

San Francisco
     3 Wins (West)

Boston
     0 Wins (East)

1988

New York
     3 Wins (East)

Oakland
     4 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     4 Wins (West)

Toronto
     1 Win (East)

1989

Chicago
     1 Win (East)

Oakland
     4 Wins (West)

San Francisco
     4 Wins (West)

Boston
     0 Wins (East)

1990

Pittsburgh
     2 Wins (East)

Oakland
     4 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     4 Wins (West)

Toronto
     1 Win (East)

1991

Pittsburgh
     3 Wins (East)

Minnesota
     4 Wins (West)

Atlanta
     4 Wins (West)

Toronto
     4 Wins (East)

1992

Pittsburgh
     3 Wins (East)

Oakland
     2 Wins (West)

Atlanta
     4 Wins (West)

Toronto
     4 Wins (East)

1993

Philadelphia
     4 Wins (East)

Chicago
     2 Wins (West)

Atlanta
     2 Wins (West)

Strike Season
     x Wins (East)

1994

Strike Season
     x Wins (East)

Strike Season
     x Wins (West)

Strike Season
     x Wins (West)
Postseason At-A-Glance
1995 - 2002 : Wildcard & Modern Playoffs

Year-by-Year Playoff Charts

A.L.D.S.

A.L.C.S.

World Series

N.L.C.S.

N.L.D.S.

Cleveland
     3 Wins (Central)

Cleveland
     4 Wins (Central)

1995

Atlanta
     4 Wins (East)

Atlanta
     3 Wins (East)

Boston
     0 Wins (East)

Colorado
     1 Win (Wildcard)

Seattle
     3 Wins (West)

Seattle
     2 Wins (West)

Cincinnati
     0 Wins (Central)

Cincinnati
     3 Wins (Central)

New York
     2 Wins (Wildcard)

Los Angeles
     0 Wins (West)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

New York
     4 Wins (East)

1996

Atlanta
     4 Wins (East)

Atlanta
     3 Wins (East)

Texas
     1 Wins (West)

Los Angeles
     0 Wins (Wildcard)

Baltimore
     3 Wins (Wildcard)

Baltimore
     1 Win (Wildcard)

St. Louis
     3 Wins (Central)

St. Louis
     3 Wins (Central)

Cleveland
     1 Win (Central)

San Diego
     0 Wins (West)

Cleveland
     3 Wins (Central)

Cleveland
     4 Wins (Central)

1997

Florida
     4 Wins (Wildcard)

Florida
     3 Wins (Wildcard)

New York
     2 Wins (Wildcard)

San Francisco
     0 Wins (West)

Baltimore
     3 Wins (East)

Baltimore
     2 Win (East)

Atlanta
     2 Wins (East)

Atlanta
     3 Wins (East)

Seattle
     1 Win (West)

Houston
     0 Wins (Central)

Cleveland
     3 Wins (Central)

Cleveland
     2 Wins (Central)

1998

San Diego
     4 Wins (West)

San Diego
     3 Wins (West)

Boston
     1 Wins (Wildcard)

Houston
     1 Win (Central)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

New York
     4 Wins (East)

Atlanta
     2 Wins (East)

Atlanta
     3 Wins (East)

Texas
     0 Wins (West)

Chicago
     0 Wins (Wildcard)

New York
     3 Wins (East)

New York
     4 Wins (East)

1999

Atlanta