Major League Baseball playoffs pre-Division Series era (1982-93) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 06-14-2015, 04:17 AM

In 1981, Major League Baseball in hopes of making up for lost revenue from a mid-season players' strike, created a special playoff series (the season was officially split into two halves, before and after the strike) to decide the division champion and thus, earn the right to go to the League Championship Series.

What if Major League Baseball continued using the Division Series concept (prior to officially instituting it in 1995 w/ the realignment of divisions from two to three in each league). Of course, it wouldn't be that practical to continue using a split season concept for a full, 162 game season.

Other than realigning to three divisions about a decade earlier (before the addition of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins in 1993), how about adapting the current "two wild cards" format? That is that the team that came in second place in its division (but had the best record otherwise) would none the less, be forced to play against the wild card runner-up in a one game playoff. Thus, there would still be an incentive to win your division.

To give you an example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_in...stical_leaders

In 1982, the Atlanta Braves one the National League West by one game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this revised playoff format, the Dodgers would have to host the San Francisco Giants in a one game playoff to officially decided the NL West "wild card", before playing against the Braves in the National League Division Series.

MrCleveland · 06-16-2015, 03:58 PM

I wonder how many times the Cleveland Indians would have opportunities to be in the playoffs?

Also if the AL and NL were divided into 2 parts by 1950 and 3 parts in 1969?

06-14-2015, 04:17 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,949	Major League Baseball playoffs pre-Division Series era (1982-93) In 1981, Major League Baseball in hopes of making up for lost revenue from a mid-season players' strike, created a special playoff series (the season was officially split into two halves, before and after the strike) to decide the division champion and thus, earn the right to go to the League Championship Series. What if Major League Baseball continued using the Division Series concept (prior to officially instituting it in 1995 w/ the realignment of divisions from two to three in each league). Of course, it wouldn't be that practical to continue using a split season concept for a full, 162 game season. Other than realigning to three divisions about a decade earlier (before the addition of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins in 1993), how about adapting the current "two wild cards" format? That is that the team that came in second place in its division (but had the best record otherwise) would none the less, be forced to play against the wild card runner-up in a one game playoff. Thus, there would still be an incentive to win your division. To give you an example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_in...stical_leaders In 1982, the Atlanta Braves one the National League West by one game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this revised playoff format, the Dodgers would have to host the San Francisco Giants in a one game playoff to officially decided the NL West "wild card", before playing against the Braves in the National League Division Series.

06-16-2015, 03:58 PM	#2
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,239	I wonder how many times the Cleveland Indians would have opportunities to be in the playoffs? Also if the AL and NL were divided into 2 parts by 1950 and 3 parts in 1969?
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