Fixing (one of) Selig's Mistakes

In 1994, when MLB switched to 3 divisions per league and added the Wild Card team, Bud Selig couldn't be prouder of his invention, and me, as a wide-eyed 11-year-old, didn't think anything of it either way. Neither of us could've foresaw the ramifications that would manifest themself in the coming years.
The strike in 1994 robbed us of a chance to see who would win the World Series, but in the next 25 or so years, we would see many teams win the World Series who weren't exactly the best team in baseball that year, only the hottest team. Looking back on it, yeah, it sometimes sucks that in the old format there were only 2 teams from each league who would be in the playoffs. Many times, my favorite teams didn't have a shot at the playoffs unless they made the Wild Card, but that extra playoff slot, the extra one because of the extra division, and now the extra one with the 2nd Wild Card have watered down the playoffs. The AL/NL East/West winners now have to go through an extra round, and risk losing a 3-game opening series, which isn't hard to do if you face a team with good starting pitching. How many times has a Wild-Card winning team that won the World Series actually been the best team in baseball?  Were the '97 Marlins, '03 Marlins, '05 White Sox, and any of the '10, '12, and '14 Giants teams really the best team in baseball?  I think not.
I am going to list all of the teams who really won the World Series from the 1995-2018 seasons, and then imagine that the AL and NL still had 2 divisions and only 1 playoff round before the World Series. Once we get our new playoff teams, I will pick who I think will win the World Series given the new criteria. For each season, I will try to post a custom I have made of one of the playoff teams (if I have one).

1995: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Atlanta Braves
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Cleveland Indians

For this one, it's really a wash for me. The Indians and Mariners were the best teams in the East and West, and I think it would've been a similar ALCS, with the Indians winning in 6. For the NL, it was a lot different than the regular season. The Braves won the West, but the best team in the East was the 73-71 Cubs. I have the Braves sweeping the Cubs, and rightly so. The Indians and Braves were almost equally matched for this re-do of the '95 World Series. Both teams had a great leadoff hitter, great HR hitters, great starting pitching, and a great closer. In this one, the Indians get the nod in 7 games.

1996: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Cleveland Indians (2nd since '95)

I think the Yankees got a real boost from their ALDS performance, which was helped by a bad call, which helped the Yankees steal a game from the Orioles. I think the Indians were ultimately a better club, and if it were only the AL East and West winners in the ALCS, they wouldn't have even had to play the Yankees, just a weaker 90-win Rangers team, whom they would beat in 5.  The Braves would've won the West, and the Expos and Cardinals would've tied for the East. I think the Cards would've beat the Expos in a 1-game playoff, and the Braves would've beat them in 6.  I think that the Indians could've matched the Braves that year and won the World Series in 6 to get their 2nd straight title.

1997: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Florida Marlins
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Atlanta Braves

I feel like the Indians were certainly a good team, but they got hot in the postseason. The Orioles would've won the East, and faced a 90-win Mariners team in the ALCS, beating them in 5 games. The Marlins should've never beat the Braves in the NLCS, and the Braves would've won the West, the Marlins, the East, creating an NLCS like the real one. This time, I think the Braves would've won, then beating the Orioles in a 5 game World Series.

1998: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees

This one kind of sucks for me. The Yankees won the East, and the closest competition in the West was the 88-win Rangers. The Yankees easily dispose of them in 5. I have never believed for once that the '98 Padres were better than the '98 Braves. In my mind, the Braves won the West, and the best team in the East was the 90-73 Cubs. Even with Sammy Sosa in his prime, the Cubs were overmatched, and the Braves win this one in 5. I hate the Yankees with everything I have, but I think at this point in the Yankee monopoly dynasty, they beat the Braves in 6.

1999: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees (2nd)

Again, the Yankees won the East, and the Rangers won the West. Again, they were no match for the Yankees, being swept. The NL was a little tricky. Even though the Diamondbacks won 100 games, with the 2 divisions staying, and the Braves somehow being in the West, their 103 wins was enough to take the division and leave Arizona high and dry. The Mets got the best record in the East, but lost to Atlanta in 5. In the World Series, the Yankees win their 2nd in a row, beating the Braves in 5.

2000: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Cleveland Indians (2nd)

This year, the Yankees wouldn't get the 3-peat, as the Indians bested them in the East with 90 wins over New York's 87. Take that, Jeter!  The White Sox won the West with 95 wins. Cleveland takes the ALCS with their experience, winning in 5 games. The Giants won the NL West over the Braves, and in the East, and the Cardinals took the division with 95 wins. The Cardinals beat the Giants in 6, on the strength of a 3-HR Game 6 by McGwire. The World Series was won by the Indians, beating the Cardinals in 6 games. Mr. Pole gets a ring!!!

2001: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Arizona Diamondbacks
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Seattle Mariners

Nothing changes here in the AL. The Mariners won the West, and the Yankees won the East, but this time, the better team DOES win, and Ichiro and the Mariners win in 6. In real life, the Astros and Cardinals tied for the NL Central lead with 93 wins. In my version, the 93 wins would give the Cardinals the East and the Astros the West. This would turn out to be a close series in my mind, with it going back and forth, with the Astros winning Game 7 on a walkoff HR by Jeff Bagwell, but it could've went either way. The Mariners easily win the World Series in 5 games.  Note: I'm going to keep trying to post customs of the World Series or playoff teams as long as I can, but the pickins are getting pretty lean. This might not last much longer.

2002: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Anaheim Angels
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees (3rd)

Both the Yankees and A's won 103 games, clinching the AL East and West. The A's gave the Yankees a handful, but ultimately lost to them in a 6-game ALCS. The Braves and Cardinals won their divisions in the NL, and the Braves beat the Cards in 6 games. I am beginning to hate this experiment, and I can't see the Braves beating the Yankees, and I figure the Yankees beat them in 5.

2003: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Florida Marlins
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees (4th)

Again the Yankees win the East. The Mariners win the West, and get beat by the Yankees in 5. The Braves 101 wins gives them the NL West over a 100-win Giants team. The Marlins 91 wins gives them the NL East instead of the Wild Card. Somehow, they STILL get in the playoffs!  They do not, however, get past the Braves, and get beat in 6 games. Do we really have to do this again??  Yankees over Braves in 6.

2004: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: St. Louis Cardinals

Dang. Yankees win the East, and the Red Sox don't get in the playoffs because of no Wild Card. The Twins and Angels tie for the most wins in the West with 92. The Angels beat the Twins in a 1-game playoff, and gosh, I don't know how this one would go. Could the Angels beat the Yankees 2 seasons after they did in real life with Vlad and Bartolo on the team? I still think they are just a tad behind the Yankees and lose the ALCS in 7. This kills me. In the NL, the Braves and the Cardinals take the West and East (again). I think the Cards beat the Braves in 6, and I think they have the firepower to beat the Yankees in 7 on a Chris Carpenter shutout, giving Larry Walker his ring.

2005: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Chicago White Sox
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: St. Louis Cardinals (2nd)

Another version of where the division allignments are jacked up, and the Chicago White Sox win the AL West. Had they been in the East, the Yankees would've came in 2nd. I really don't think the White Sox could've beat the Yankees like they did in real life, and I think the Yankees beat them in 6. Probably 5, but I'll be generous. In the NL, the Cardinals and Braves won the East and West again. The Cardinals beat the Braves in 5, and beat the Yankees again, this time in 6.

2006: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: St. Louis Cardinals
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees (5th)

I really hope this one turns out good. I have never felt that the Cardinals were better than my Detroit Tigers in 2006. Well, it didn't happen. The Yankees won the East, and the Twins won the West. Yankees wipe the floor with the Twins in 5. The Mets won the NL East, and the Padres and Dodgers tied for the West title. I give the Dodgers the 1-game playoff on the strength of their hitting. In a tight series, the Mets take the NL pennant in 7 games on a Pedro Martinez shutout. In a 6-years-too late Subway Series, it's a little closer this time, but the Yankees win again in 6 games.

2007: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox

The Indians and Red Sox tied for the best record in the AL East, forcing a 1-game playoff. This one could go either way, but I give it to the Red Sox on the strength of a 2 HR game by David Ortiz. The Angels won the West, but fall to the Sox in the ALCS in 5 games.  The Phillies won the NL East, and the Diamondbacks and Rockies tied for the West title, giving us 2 1-game playoff games in a season. I think it is close, but the Rockies win it. Looks like we get the same matchup as in real life, and I see the Red Sox taking it in 5, and the Red Sox finally break the curse!!!

2008: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Philadelphia Phillies
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Tampa Bay Rays

I hope this one turns out different. I don't feel like the Phillies were better than my team, the Rays. I saw the team play in person once, and on TV many times that season, and the Rays just had a special team. The Phillies were good, but I don't think they could match with the Rays in a series. The Rays clinch the East, and the Angels clinch the West in '08. I think the Angels were a bit overrated, and the Rays beat them in 6 games. Justice is done, and the Cubs win the NL East over the Phillies, and the NL West is a little tricky. Since the leagues only have 2 divisions, I am acting as if the Brewers stayed in the AL. They had 90 wins, enough to make the playoffs (perhaps) in the NL, but not the AL. The most wins in the NL West goes to the Houston Astros, with 86. The Cubs had a good team, and I think they could take the Astros in 6 games. I still think the Rays were a better team than the Cubs, and the Tampa Bay Rays win thier first World Series title in 6 games!!!

2009: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Philadelphia Phillies

Another season where I thought the World Series loser (Phillies) were better than the winner. The Yankees and Angels took the AL divisions, Yankees beat the Angels in 6 (sigh....). The Phillies and Dodgers take the NL division crowns, and I really think it could be either team. I'll go with the Phillies in 7 on the strength of a Cole Hamels complete game and 2 titanic Ryan Howard Home Runs. And we'll right the wrong and see the Phillies beat the Yankees in 7 as Chase Utley wins it on a sac fly in the top of the 9th and a scoreless inning of relief by Brad Lidge. Pedro gets ring!  Cliff Lee gets his ring! 

2010: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: San Francisco Giants
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Philadelphia Phillies (2nd)

The Rays and Twins won their respective divisions, and I don't see the Twins getting past the Rays. Tampa wins in 5. In the NL, the Phillies and Giants won the East and West, with the Phillies beating the Giants in 6 games. I can see this World Series going pretty long, basically a coin flip. Unfortunately, I have to give it to the Phillies on the strength of their starting pitching.

2011: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: St. Louis Cardinals
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Philadelphia Phillies (3rd)

Here is a prime example of a team getting hot in the playoffs and winning a World Series when they were not only not the best team in the World Series, but not even the best team in their league. The stinking Yankees won the AL East by 2 games over my Tigers, and the Rangers took the West. I think the Rangers could take the Yankees this year, and I see them winning in 6. The Phillies have a dynasty going, and win the NL East. The Diamondbacks won the West. I see the Phillies sweeping the D-Backs, and facing the Rangers in the Series. The Phillies get a 3-peat, beating the Rangers in 6 games.

2012: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: San Francisco Giants
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: New York Yankees (6th)

This year, I really thought the Tigers were a better team than the Giants. They had Fielder, Cabrera, Verander, Scherzer, and a host of capable players. The Giants had Bumgarner, Posey, an overrated punk known as Hunter Pence, and that was about it. The Tigers were better than the Giants in all facets of the game, but somehow didn't win the Series. Let's see how this plays out...
Well, the Tigers don't even win the division, the Yankees do, and the A's win the West. Of course, the Yankees beat the A's 4 games to 0, and in the NL, the Nationals and the Reds were the division winners. I think the Nationals would beat the Reds in 5 games, and I really don't think the World Series would be close, with the Yankees winning in 5 games. Ugh....

2013: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox (2nd)

The Red Sox and A's took the divisions in the AL, with the Red Sox beating the A's in a 5 game ALCS. The Cardinals and Braves won the NL divisions, and the Cardinals set up a World Series rematch, beating the Braves in 5. I think the Red Sox repeat history, beating the Cardinals again, in 5 games.

2014: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: San Francisco Giants
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Angels and Orioles won the West and East divisions in the AL, giving us some new blood in the playoffs. I don't see either team being dominant, and I just don't think the Orioles have the pitching to beat the Angels, who win in 6. I can hear all of the Trout worshipers now....Let's see who comes out of the NL. Looks like the Nationals and Dodgers. I think the Dodgers get to the World Series in 6 games. An all LA series sees the Dodgers beat the Angels in 6. Kershaw gets a ring!!

2015: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Kansas City Royals
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Los Angeles Dodgers (2nd)

I thought the Mets were a smidge better than the Royals in '15, but let's see. The Royals win the AL West, and the Blue Jays win the East. I see the Royals beating Toronto in 6. In the NL, the Cardinals win the East, and the Dodgers win the West. I think the Dodgers repeat as NL champs, beating the Cardinals in 6 games. In the World Series, the Dodgers repeat, beating the Royals in 6.

2016: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Chicago Cubs
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Chicago Cubs

The Indians and Rangers took the divisions in the AL, with the Indians beating the Rangers in 5 games in the ALCS. The Cubs and the Dodgers won the NL titles. This one is tough. I think the Cubs win this one in 7 games. In the World Series, it really is a coin flip. Let's go with history again, and say the Cubs win in 7.

2017: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Houston Astros
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Cleveland Indians (3rd)

The Indians win the AL East, and in the regular AL West, the Astros would've taken it, but they remain in the NL, so that doesn't happen. The West title goes to the Twins, who the Indians sweep in the ALCS. The Nationals and the Dodgers win the NL divisions, with the Dodgers taking the NL title in 6 games. I think this time, the Indians are able to take down the NL team, beating the Dodgers in a 6-game World Series.

2018: REAL WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox
          MY WORLD SERIES WINNER: Boston Red Sox (3rd)

In the final season of this project, the Red Sox and Athletics win the AL titles. The Red Sox beat the A's in a 4 game ALCS to make it to the World Series. The Astros win the NL West, and the Cubs win the NL East. I think the Astros would beat the Cubs in 6 games, giving us a sweet Red Sox/Astros World Series. I think the Red Sox just had too much firepower in 2018, and beat the Astros in 6 games.

This was a fun, but time-consuming project. I hope I got everything right as far as division winners. Before starting this project, I figured I would get a number of different championship teams, and that some of these cheap Wild-Card teams that won titles would be avenged. The latter happened, but unfortunately, it gave us 2 additional Yankee titles. Boo!
The good news is that the Red Sox got 3 titles (only 1 short of what they really had), and the Rays won it all in 2008.

Speaking of 2008, I finished the missing player checklist for the 2008 Topps set, and that just leaves me with the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019 checklists, and I will have listed every player that Topps has missed from every base set they have made.

I hope you have enjoyed this playoff project. Hopefully, I won't have to do it for the 2019 Postseason. Thanks for checking out my latest post.
-Jeremy