The Wild Card, while it may or may not have been good for the game, has made many pennant races less interesting. In this diary, we take a look at the standings at the end of September 9, and see what they would have meant under past systems.
Pre-1969:
AL:
|
Team |
W |
L |
GB |
|
New York |
87 |
53 |
0 |
|
Tampa Bay |
84 |
55 |
2½ |
|
Minnesota |
83 |
57 |
4 |
|
Boston |
78 |
62 |
9 |
|
Texas |
77 |
63 |
10 |
|
Chicago |
77 |
63 |
10 |
|
Toronto |
72 |
68 |
15 |
|
Detroit |
71 |
70 |
16½ |
|
Oakland |
69 |
70 |
17½ |
|
Los Angeles |
67 |
73 |
20 |
|
Kansas City |
57 |
82 |
29½ |
|
Cleveland |
57 |
83 |
30 |
|
Seattle |
55 |
85 |
32 |
|
Baltimore |
53 |
87 |
34 |
NL:
|
Team |
W |
L |
GB |
|
Philadelphia |
81 |
60 |
0 |
|
San Diego |
79 |
60 |
1 |
|
Atlanta |
80 |
61 |
1 |
|
Cincinnati |
79 |
61 |
1½ |
|
San Francisco |
79 |
62 |
2 |
|
Colorado |
76 |
64 |
4½ |
|
St. Louis |
73 |
65 |
6½ |
|
Florida |
70 |
69 |
10 |
|
New York |
69 |
71 |
11½ |
|
Los Angeles |
69 |
72 |
12 |
|
Houston |
67 |
73 |
13½ |
|
Milwaukee |
65 |
74 |
15 |
|
Washington |
60 |
80 |
20½ |
|
Chicago |
60 |
80 |
20½ |
|
Arizona |
57 |
83 |
23½ |
|
Pittsburgh |
47 |
92 |
33 |
1969-1993:
AL East:
|
Team |
W |
L |
GB |
|
New York |
87 |
53 |
0 |
|
Tampa Bay |
84 |
55 |
2½ |
|
Boston |
78 |
62 |
9 |
|
Toronto |
72 |
68 |
15 |
|
Detroit |
71 |
70 |
16½ |
|
Cleveland |
57 |
83 |
30 |
|
Baltimore |
53 |
87 |
34 |
AL West:
|
Team |
W |
L |
GB |
|
Minnesota |
83 |
57 |
0 |
|
Texas |
77 |
63 |
6 |
|
Chicago |
77 |
63 |
6 |
|
Oakland |
69 |
70 |
13½ |
|
Los Angeles |
67 |
73 |
16 |
|
Kansas City |
57 |
82 |
25½ |
|
Seattle |
55 |
85 |
28 |
NL East:
|
Team |
W |
L |
GB |
|
Philadelphia |
81 |
60 |
0 |
|
St. Louis |
73 |
65 |
6½ |
|
Florida |
70 |
69 |
10 |
|
New York |
69 |
71 |
11½ |
|
Milwaukee |
65 |
74 |
15 |
|
Washington |
60 |
80 |
20½ |
|
Chicago |
60 |
80 |
20½ |
|
Pittsburgh |
47 |
92 |
33 |
NL West:
|
Team |
W |
L |
GB |
|
San Diego |
79 |
60 |
0 |
|
Atlanta |
80 |
61 |
0 |
|
Cincinnati |
79 |
61 |
½ |
|
San Francisco |
79 |
62 |
1 |
|
Colorado |
76 |
64 |
3½ |
|
Los Angeles |
69 |
72 |
11 |
|
Houston |
67 |
73 |
12½ |
|
Arizona |
57 |
83 |
22½ |
The AL would be quite competitive, with the Rays just behind the Yankees and the Twins with an outside shot. The NL, on the other hand, would be having quite possibly the greatest pennant race ever, with five teams within two games and Colorado not far behind. The NL West would have four teams within one game.
2010 has been a great year for baseball.
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