When the 2 Best Teams Make the World Series

I’m very excited about the World Series this year. First, the Dodgers will not be in it! Indeed, we’ve got 2 small-market teams. Two very well-run small market teams, I might add.

We’ve also got the best (i.e., winningest) teams from either league. That’s definitely not a given these days, with all the playoffs they’ve got going on.

Hey, what is this – March Madness?

It didn’t used to be that way. Indeed, as there were no playoffs from 1903 to 1968, the 2 best teams in either league were guaranteed to meet in the WS. Since 1969, though, MLB has been introducing more and more playoff series:

• 1969-93 – 2
• 1994-2011 – 6
• 2012-19 – 8 
• 2020-26 – 10

Which got me thinking …  How many times have the best two teams actually met in the WS since 1969? Of course, the fewer teams involved, the more likely that is to happen. So, I’ll start with the smallest number of playoff series and then continue to the current day.

2 Playoff Series (1969-93)

• 1969 – Orioles vs. Mets
• 1970 – Orioles vs. Reds
• 1971 – Orioles vs. Pirates

• 1976 – Yankees vs. Reds
• 1978 – Yankees vs. Dodgers
• 1979 – Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh
• 1982 – Brewers vs. Cards
• 1986 – Red Sox vs. Mets

• 1992 – Blue Jays vs. Braves

Percentage:  9/25 = 36%

6 Playoff Series (1994-2011)

• 1995 – Indians vs. Braves
• 1999 – Yankees vs. Braves

Percentage:  2/18 = 11%

8 Playoff Series (2012-19)

• 2013 – Red Sox vs. Cards
• 2020 – Rays vs. Dodgers

Percentage:  2/8 = 25%

10 Playoff Series (2020-26)

• 2024 – Yankees vs. Dodgers
• 2026 – Rays vs. Brewers

Percentage:  2/7 = 28%

Conclusion

It definitely seems that the more playoffs you add, the less likely it is for the best 2 teams to meet. 

That said, the lower percentage from 1994 to 2011, when there were 6 playoff series, still needs to be explained. And that may simply be a matter of small sample size. The 8- and 10-game playoff series that followed have both lasted less than 8 years, while the 6-game series lasted twice that, at 18. 

So, let’s let the current format go a little longer before we make any final decisions. If MLB can hold off on adding even more playoff series, that is!

Boston Red Sox – What Might Have Been

My wife and I are huge Red Sox fans. We watch other teams as well … at least when they play the Sox.

One of our favorite things to do is to spot ex-Sox on other teams. For the ones who are doing well for themselves, we invariably ask, “Why can’t we get players like that?”

What would it look like if the Sox kept onto their good players? I asked the same question to a little awhile back for my other favorite team, the Pirates. So, here it is … an ideal roster of current and former Sox who are currently active.

NOTE:  Players on the current Sox roster are underlined.

 

C

Adley Rutschman

• 2026 highlights:  2.6 WAR, 13 HRs, 60 RBIs, All Star
• Career highlights:  17.4 WAR, 290 RBIs, 303 runs, All Star (3), Silver Slugger
• Who we gave up:  minor leaguers

Whoops, wrong team!

 

1B

Willson Contreras

• 2026 highlights:  4.6 WAR, 27 HRs, 81 RBIs, 275 BA, All Star
• Career highlights:  33.9 WAR, 199 HRs, 629 RBIs, 594 runs, All Star (4)
• Who we gave up:  minor leaguers

2B

Mookie Betts (Dodgers)

• 2026 highlights:  3.9 WAR, 23 HRs, 69 RBIs, 71 runs, All Star
• Career highlights:  79 WAR, 288 BA, 314 HRs, 1237 runs, 982 RBIs, 198 SBs, MVP, All Star (8), Gold Glove (6), Silver Slugger (7)
• Who we got:  Connor Wong (0.5 WAR), others (retired)
• Who’s out there instead: Nick Sogard (1.2 WAR)

If that baseball things doesn’t work out

 

SS

Xander Boegarts (SD)

• 2026 highlights:  2.2 WAR, 68 runs, 22 SBs
• Career highlights:  44.3 WAR, 283 BA, 210 HRs, 1016 runs, 895 RBIs, 148 SBs, All Star (4), Silver Slugger (5)
• Who we got:  zilch (free agent)
• Who’s out there instead:  Trevor Story (0.2 WAR)

3B

Alex Bregman (Cubs)

• 2026 highlights:  5.8 WAR, 28 HRs, 93 RBIs, 92 runs, 22 SBs
• Career highlights:  48.9 WAR, 271 BA, 237 HRs, 818 RBIs, 850 runs, All Star (3), Gold Glove, Silver Slugger
• Who we got:  zilch (free agent)
• Who’s out there instead:  Caleb Durbin (4.4 WAR)

OF

Wilyer Abreu

• 2026 highlights:  5.9 WAR, 24 HRs, 76 RBIs, 81 runs
• Career highlights:  13.5 WAR, 217 RBIs, 203 runs, Gold Glove (2)
• Who we gave up:  Christian Vazquez (0.4 WAR)

His other team

 

Ceddanne Rafaella

• 2026 highlights:  5.7 WAR, 283 BA, 70 RBIs, 67 runs, All Star
• Career highlights:  13.6 WAR, 213 RBIs, 232 runs, 49 SBs, All Star, Gold Glove
• Home-grown

His other team

 

Roman Anthony

• 2026 highlights:  1.3 WAR
• Career highlights:  4.6 WAR, 271 BA
• Home-grown

And his other team

 

DH

Rafael Devers (SF)

• 2026 highlights:  3.6 WAR, 37 HRs, 98 RBIs, 88 runs
• Career highlights:  30.6 WAR, 274 BA, 272 HRs, 845 RBIs, 803 runs, All Star (3), Silver Slugger (2)
• Who we got:  Kyle Harrison (0.5, Milwaukee), Jordan Hicks (0.7, White Sox), minor leaguers
• Who’s out there instead:  Masataka Yoshida (0.7 WAR)

Only if he means it

 

SP

Chris Sale (SF)

• 2026 highlights:  5.5 WAR, 14-9, 200 Ks, 2.16 ERA, 0.984 WHIP
• Career highlights:  62.7 WAR, 159-97, 2779 Ks, 2.95 ERA, 1.041 WHIP, Cy Young, All Star (10)
• Who we got:  Vaughn Grissom (0.2 WAR, Angels)

Eduardo Rodriquez (Arizona)

• 2026 highlights:  4.8 WAR, 16-7, 2.89 ERA, 1.239 WHIP, All Star
• Career highlights:  22.7 WAR, 110-73, 1440 Ks, All Star
• Who we got:  zilch (free agent)

Sonny Gray

• 2026 highlights:  4.3 WAR, 18-5, 2.72 ERA, 1.158 WHIP
• Career highlights:  37.8 WAR, 143-107, 2074 Ks, All Star (3)
• Who we gave up:  minor leaguers

Why does he always look like he’s wearing his big brother’s uni?

 

Payton Tolle

• 2026 highlights:  2.9 WAR, 3.03 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, 171 Ks
• Career highlights:  pretty much a rookie
• Home-grown

Ranger Suarez

• 2026 highlights:  2.7 WAR, 3.22 ERA, 1.187 WHIP, All Star
• Career highlights:  21.1 WAR, 61-42, 3.35 ERA, 1.257 WHIP, 845 Ks, All Star (2)
• Who we gave up:  zilch (free agent)

Shoulda been Gray

 

DL – Garrett Crochet

• 2026 highlights:  never mind
• Career highlights:  11.3 WAR, 3.17 ERA, 1.118 WHIP, 586 Ks, All Star (2)
• Who we gave up:  Kye Teel (0.7), Chase Meidroth (4.5), Braden Montgomery (0.3), minor leaguer

On the DL – why do you ask?

 

Closer

Aroldis Chapman

• 2026 highlights:  1.9 ERA, 35 saves, 3.22 ERA, 1.187 WHIP, All Star
• Career highlights:  26.1 WAR, 63-52, 402 saves, 2.48 ERA, 1.078 WHIP, 1402 Ks, All Star (9)
• Who we gave up:  zilch (free agent)

Yup, he played for them too

RP

Brennan Bernardino (Colorado)

• 2026 highlights:  3.9 WAR, 2.81 ERA, 1.156 WHIP
• Career highlights:  3.28 ERA, 1.284 WHIP, 206 Ks
• Who we got:  minor leaguer

Stephen Whitlock

• 2026 highlights:  2.0 WAR, 7-2, 1.72 ERA, 0.898 WHIP, All Star
• Career highlights:  10 WAR, 32-16, 2.93 ERA, 1.098 WHIP, 14 saves, 402 Ks
• Home-grown

All-around good guy

 

Sean Newcomb (White Sox)

• 2026 highlights:  2.0 WAR, 3.09 ERA, 1.185 WHIP, All
• Career highlights:  6.1 WAR, 613 Ks, All Star
• Who we got:  cash

Cam Booser (Arizona)

• 2026 highlights:  1.1 WAR, 1.98 ERA, 0.756 WHIP
• Career highlights:  not all that great
• Who we got:  minor leaguer

ACC Funny Football Names

Another college football season is upon us. I follow the ACC, so here they are – the funniest names for each ACC roster.

Clemson – Chapman Pendergrass

• OL, 5th yr
• State supreme court justice?
• Fun fact:  ACC Academic Honor Roll

Duke – Kyon Loud

• Named after the anime character?
• CB, Soph
• Fun fact:  Father played in CFL

Virginia – Dakota Twitty

• TE, 5th yr
• Relative of Conway?
• Fun fact:  ACC Academic Honor Roll

Pitt – Shep Turk

• OL, Soph
• Short, sweet … I like it
• Fun fact:  Also wrestled & played baseball in HS

Florida State – Quintrevion Wisner

• RB, Senior
• 11 letters!
• Fun fact:  Usually goes by Tre

Not totally sure what’s going on here

VT – Deed Capper

• Weird last name, meet weird first name
• LS, Junior
• Fun fact:  Has yet to see action

From TikTok

Louisville – Montavin Quisenberry

• WR, Soph
• Ditto
• Fun fact:  Selected Mr Kentucky Football

Syracuse – Jartavius Flounoy

• DL, Soph
• Same
• Fun fact:  Communication & Rhetorical Studies major

Miami – Somourian Wingo

• WR, Fr
• Alright, this is getting silly
• Fun fact:  Also had offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina Tennessee & others

SMU – Toa Katoa

• OL, Fr
• Hey, it rhymes!
• Fun fact:  Full first name is Pupungatoa

BC – Israel Oladipupo 

• DL, Soph
• “Pupo” is gonna make any name funny
• Fun fact:  Biology major

Cal – Jojo Genova

• OL, Frosh
• Alliteration for the win!
• Fun fact:  ACC Academic Honor Roll

Georgia Tech – Rocco Xerogeanes

• TE, Frosh
• Good luck with that one, announcers!
• Fun fact:  4.2 GPA in HS

En famille

Stanford – Owen van Loben Sels

• WR, Junior
• Geez, how many surnames does a guy need?
• Fun fact:  Grew up 5 minutes way from campus

NC State – Vander Ploog

• TE, Soph
• And do you have a first name as well?
• Fun fact:  Both parents played college hoops

UNC – Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu

• DL, Frosh
• Dude, just go with Jimmy
• Fun fact:  Hawaii native

Wake – Steele Pizzella

• QB, Frosh
• Steel pizza, anyone?
• Fun fact:  Ran track in HS