https://baseballfireside.com/how-good-is-the-baseball-all-star-game/
The Simple Ol’ Days
Before 1969, Major League Baseball had the easiest system of determining its champs. The World Series teams were the top finishing team in the National League vs. its counterpart in the American League. The only time playoffs occurred were when there was a tie for first at the end of the season. For example, in 1948 the Cleveland Indians tied the Boston Red Sox for the American League lead. The Indians won a one game playoff to go to the Series. Yet in 1969 with leagues boosting their number of teams from eight to 12, MLB decided to expand its post season to have league championship playoffs. After all, in a league with 12 teams, having one strong team clinch the pennant by Labor Day would make it boring for the eleven other teams. The month of September would have 11 teams playing out the string with added minor leaguers. The pennant winning team would rest more of their starters so as to have them healthy for the Series. Even if the second and third place teams are close in standings with a shot to win the pennant, the remaining nine teams fans have little reason to watch.
ALCS And NLCS
The leagues had two divisions, the East and West. The geography wasn’t always accurate with Atlanta winning the “West” division five times between 1969 and 1993. Having two six team divisions gave everyone but the worst teams some shot at being in a playoff race until at least mid-September. The playoffs were initially the best three out of five, then expanded to the best four out of seven. The World Series was now starting around October 10 when it used to finish by then. Yet weather wise it wasn’t a problem since the games were still in the daytime. In 1971 the Series started having night games, and by 1976 the late October weather in the evenings reached Thanksgiving football temperatures as low as 38 degrees. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn tried to downplay it by wearing only a suit with no overcoat to Game 2. That man WAS one cool dude! With today’s far more expanded playoff formats the artic weather issue risk has only become…icier.
Wild Wild Cards
Baseball used the NFL as its model by allowing wild card teams who didn’t win a division race to still be in the playoffs. There were already kinks in the system that necessitated this change. For example, in 1993 The Atlanta Braves won 104 games while the San Francisco Giants took 103. Both were in the West Division, so the Giants had to be left behind for the playoffs. In 1994 both leagues added Central Divisions, but that would make three playoff teams, an odd number for in the playoffs, so a wild card was added. The team with the overall best record outside of the division winners qualified. This led to a tournament of four teams called the Division Series, then the final two going to the League Championships. Today with MLB expansion leading to both leagues having 15 teams (30 total teams), 12 teams (six in each league) make the playoffs. The playoffs consist of three division winners and three wild cards.
When Do We Get To the World Series?
Perhaps football playoffs expanded legitimately to determine the Super Bowl contestants. The vastly short number of NFL regular season games compared to baseball, basketball, and hockey leave football fans hungry enough for extended playoff rounds. However, baseball needs six months just to complete 162 regular season games. The playoffs–wild card, LDS, LCS, take three more weeks, essentially seven months of baseball. The World Series now starts the final week in October. Series day games are left to history. This resulted in comfortable 60 degree games turning to 35 degree evening frost fests. In late October Halloween costumes are being ordered and tried on. Firewood is brought into the house. America’s attention has turned from swimming pools, hot dog cookouts, and the diamond to falling leaves, sweaters, and the high school , college, and pro football gridirons.
The Pros Of Expanded Playoffs
For one, more teams have a chance to make the playoffs. In 1978, if your team was in last place in the East or West by more than ten games after Mother’s Day, you didn’t put playoffs on your October calendar. Now the attitude is “It’s a slow start with lots of baseball yet to be played.” Even if your team is not in the top six teams in contention in June, you need only to be within five games of the third and final wild card spot to have a real chance. As late as the first week of September you can still hold out hope for the last Wild Card slot. Of course, more playoffs also mean more ticket, TV, and streaming revenue for MLB and the playoff teams. Trading deadlines and free agent acquisitions become even more important since more teams are in the hunt.
The Cons of Expanded Playoffs
Besides the aforementioned Igloo weather from a late baseball season, more teams have a chance to make the playoffs…er, illegitimate teams. The AL has 10 of its 15 teams under .500. Its West Division has four of its five under .500. If the season were to end today, the Yankees and Guardians would end up with the top two Wild Card spots. The third spot has nothing but sub. 500 teams trying to be proverbial skunks at the garden party. Teams that are only three games out– striking range– include the Astros and Twins. They are seven games under .500! Does anybody think teams like that will seriously compete for a pennant?
Also, General Managers love this kind of “competitiveness.” It gets them off the hook if they don’t come up with team transforming deals. The Red Sox have floundered in last place in the AL East most of this season. However, the team’s front office keeps saying to its upset fans, “Hey, we’re still only three games out of the wild card. Don’t give up!” This reminds me of a scene from the 2004 movie The Incredibles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rHQsK4IKDU
Playoffs should be synonymous with elite excellence, not mediocrity. Perhaps Mr. Incredible should be the MLB Commissioner. What are your thoughts on the playoff system? Post your comments below.
Don’t forget to vote for the 2026 All-Star Game players.
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2026-mlb-all-star-voting-ballot/