The old-fashioned MLB "pennant race" is now but a glorious thing of the past.
For you young whippersnappers, Wiggins' World is referring to an annual sportsworld occurrence back when both the American and National League consisted of just 8 teams (later, 10 with expansion).
It was a period that began early in the 20th Century and lasted until 1969.
Each league annually saw a chase for a pennant -- i.e. league title -- by its teams. Hence, the term "pennant race".
If you were lucky, your fave team would be among those clubs fighting it out in an exciting, down-to-the-wire battle to capture a National or American League pennant.
And the right to advance directly to the World Series.
Thus, pennant races were really a big deal back then. Of course, the Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle eras of the New York Yankees which ran from the mid-1920s through '64 ruined many an AL race.
But the possibility of an enthralling pennant race still existed.
These days, though, MLB has three divisions in each league. A team now has to win two or three postseason series versus other division winners and Wild Card entrants to advance to the World Series.
Yes, there are now divisional and Wildcard races but they definitely lack the cache of the now defunct old time pennant race.
Here's a look at this season's division and Wildcard races.
The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees have been neck and neck all season in the American League East.
Meanwhile, in the AL West, the Houston Astros have rallied from a slow start and have not only caught the fast-starting Seattle Mariners but passed them and are presently in front by 4½ games.
In the AL Central, the Cleveland Guardians have led much of the season but of late the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins have pulled within shouting distance.
The Philadelphia Phillies jumped out to a big lead in the National League East and are holding off six-time defending division champs Atlanta, and the New York Mets.
The Milwaukee Brewers have been leading the pack in the NL Central by a comfortable margin all season.
In the NL West, the red-hot San Diego Padres won 22 of 29 second half contests to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had built up a big early lead that is now down to four games.
The two teams with the best win-loss record in each league would avoid having to play in the dreaded best-of-three opening Wildcard round.
But these days skipping that first round doesn't mean a likely league pennant will follow. Far from it.
Just look at the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves the last two seasons.
The Dodgers were twice runaway winners in the NL West and avoided the opening Wildcard round but were then quickly bounced out by San Diego and Arizona in the divisional round.
Same held true for the Braves. After having the most wins in MLB last season, they had an opening round bye yet fell to the seventh and final NL seed, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the divisional round.
It marked the second season in a row that the WC Phils ousted NL East winners Atlanta.
The American League saw similar results a season ago. The AL East champs Baltimore Orioles drew a WC bye and then were eliminated 3-0 in the divisional round.
These days the races for the three Wild Card slots in each league for non-divisional winners are just as critical as divisional races.
Secure one of them and you've gone from also-ran to major combatant in MLB's second season -- the playoffs.
Six non-divisional leaders in both the National League and AL are still alive in their chases for those WC slots.
Remember: as the Wildcard Texas Rangers proved in taking it all in 2023 -- and as so many clubs have also shown since the end of REAL league "pennant races" -- in the postseason, anything can happen.
Contact Wiggins' World at [email protected]
For you young whippersnappers, Wiggins' World is referring to an annual sportsworld occurrence back when both the American and National League consisted of just 8 teams (later, 10 with expansion).
It was a period that began early in the 20th Century and lasted until 1969.
Each league annually saw a chase for a pennant -- i.e. league title -- by its teams. Hence, the term "pennant race".
If you were lucky, your fave team would be among those clubs fighting it out in an exciting, down-to-the-wire battle to capture a National or American League pennant.
And the right to advance directly to the World Series.
Thus, pennant races were really a big deal back then. Of course, the Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle eras of the New York Yankees which ran from the mid-1920s through '64 ruined many an AL race.
But the possibility of an enthralling pennant race still existed.
These days, though, MLB has three divisions in each league. A team now has to win two or three postseason series versus other division winners and Wild Card entrants to advance to the World Series.
Yes, there are now divisional and Wildcard races but they definitely lack the cache of the now defunct old time pennant race.
Here's a look at this season's division and Wildcard races.
The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees have been neck and neck all season in the American League East.
Meanwhile, in the AL West, the Houston Astros have rallied from a slow start and have not only caught the fast-starting Seattle Mariners but passed them and are presently in front by 4½ games.
In the AL Central, the Cleveland Guardians have led much of the season but of late the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins have pulled within shouting distance.
The Philadelphia Phillies jumped out to a big lead in the National League East and are holding off six-time defending division champs Atlanta, and the New York Mets.
The Milwaukee Brewers have been leading the pack in the NL Central by a comfortable margin all season.
In the NL West, the red-hot San Diego Padres won 22 of 29 second half contests to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had built up a big early lead that is now down to four games.
The two teams with the best win-loss record in each league would avoid having to play in the dreaded best-of-three opening Wildcard round.
But these days skipping that first round doesn't mean a likely league pennant will follow. Far from it.
Just look at the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves the last two seasons.
The Dodgers were twice runaway winners in the NL West and avoided the opening Wildcard round but were then quickly bounced out by San Diego and Arizona in the divisional round.
Same held true for the Braves. After having the most wins in MLB last season, they had an opening round bye yet fell to the seventh and final NL seed, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the divisional round.
It marked the second season in a row that the WC Phils ousted NL East winners Atlanta.
The American League saw similar results a season ago. The AL East champs Baltimore Orioles drew a WC bye and then were eliminated 3-0 in the divisional round.
These days the races for the three Wild Card slots in each league for non-divisional winners are just as critical as divisional races.
Secure one of them and you've gone from also-ran to major combatant in MLB's second season -- the playoffs.
Six non-divisional leaders in both the National League and AL are still alive in their chases for those WC slots.
Remember: as the Wildcard Texas Rangers proved in taking it all in 2023 -- and as so many clubs have also shown since the end of REAL league "pennant races" -- in the postseason, anything can happen.
Contact Wiggins' World at [email protected]
