Teams that would have benefitted with an LCS or LDS

[HomeRunHomer]

There have been many instance of terrific teams that couldn't finish in first and were thus denied postseason glory through the playoffs formats.

But what were some of the teams- one year or multiple- in which you say 'Give them a playoff series against the first place team or a playoff round, and that teams could have really made a title run'.

To me, in terms of single-seasons, the following teams really would have benefitted from an ALCS/NLCS- 1962 Dodgers, 1964 Phillies (I guarantee you Mauch does a better job with his pitchers if there was a second playoff spot in the wings), 1922 Browns- through 1968.

As for an LDS, the 1978 Red Sox and 1993 Giants would have been Wild Card teams nobody would have wanted to face

In terms of team over a string of years- 1950s White Sox, 1960s Giants

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Well the 1930 A's finished eight games ahead of the Senators. The pythagorean W/L shows them winning the division by two games, a 10 games swing. Perhaps they had a shot.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

The Indians and Whitesox would have surely benefitted during the 1950's had there been a LCS.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

From 1966-69 the SF Giants finished in second place five years in a row. An LDS would have given them a shot.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

From 1966-69 the SF Giants finished in second place five years in a row. An LDS would have given them a shot.

Geez....Marichal had seven straight years (except for one at 2.76) with an ERA under 2.50. Would liked to have seen him pitch. Only tossed in one WS game, just 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER....Adam, you know why he came out of that game?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Geez....Marichal had seven straight years (except for one at 2.76) with an ERA under 2.50. Would liked to have seen him pitch. Only tossed in one WS game, just 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER....Adam, you know why he came out of that game?

Not sure. I'll look into it.

[m8644]

as a mets fan, the 85, 87 and 90 Mets are an easy choice here. (almost positive the 90 Mets had the best "expected" win-loss record in the National League).

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Geez....Marichal had seven straight years (except for one at 2.76) with an ERA under 2.50. Would liked to have seen him pitch. Only tossed in one WS game, just 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER....Adam, you know why he came out of that game?

Game 4 of the '62 Series was at Yankee Stadium. Marichal was batting in the top of the 5th inning when he got hit by a pitch on his pitching hand. Marichal left the game. From SI, October 15, 1962 issue.

The fourth game began with Juan Marichal, considered by some the finest young pitcher in the National League, attempting to even the Series at two games apiece at the expense of Edward Charles Ford, considered by almost everyone the finest middle-aged pitcher south of Cooperstown. For four innings the Yankees could do nothing with Marichal and trailed 2-0 as a result of Catcher Tom Haller's two-run homer in the second. But then Ford solved the problem himself.

In the top of the fifth he threw a pitch that Marichal, trying to bunt, misjudged. The ball hit Marichal on the pitching hand, smashing his index finger, and the young right-hander was through. The Yankees tied the score in the sixth, and Ford departed, too, for a pinch hitter. The pitching replacements available to Manager Ralph Houk were all Giant cousins.

SOURCE

[ian2813]

How about the late-80's Reds? True, they won the World Series in 1990, but people seem to forget about their four straight second-place finishes from 1985 to 1988. Would Pete Rose's legacy be different today if he'd managed that team to the postseason, or even the World Series?

[Captain Cold Nose]

How about the late-80's Reds? True, they won the World Series in 1990, but people seem to forget about their four straight second-place finishes from 1985 to 1988. Would Pete Rose's legacy be different today if he'd managed that team to the postseason, or even the World Series?

People would wonder if the fix was in.

So much is made of the 1961 Yankees and their offense. The Tigers won over a 100 games that year. Heck, the AL East saw some great divison races in the late 70's through early 80's, not to mention 1972. And what kind of impact would division play have had in the 1967 AL pennant race, where four teams went down to the wire?

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Game 4 of the '62 Series was at Yankee Stadium. Marichal was batting in the top of the 5th inning when he got hit by a pitch on his pitching hand. Marichal left the game. From SI, October 15, 1962 issue.

The fourth game began with Juan Marichal, considered by some the finest young pitcher in the National League, attempting to even the Series at two games apiece at the expense of Edward Charles Ford, considered by almost everyone the finest middle-aged pitcher south of Cooperstown. For four innings the Yankees could do nothing with Marichal and trailed 2-0 as a result of Catcher Tom Haller's two-run homer in the second. But then Ford solved the problem himself.

In the top of the fifth he threw a pitch that Marichal, trying to bunt, misjudged. The ball hit Marichal on the pitching hand, smashing his index finger, and the young right-hander was through. The Yankees tied the score in the sixth, and Ford departed, too, for a pinch hitter. The pitching replacements available to Manager Ralph Houk were all Giant cousins.

SOURCE

Nice work Adam.

A few things:

Giants only won the Division by one game over the Dodgers. Marichal not starting game one in the WS;....does that mean he pitched the last game of the season?

If he didn't pitch in the last game of the season, why wouldn't he start game one of the WS? Maybe the start of the lefty O'Dell was to turn Mantle around righty and counter Maris?

Curious of Marichal's bunting style. The hand should not be up by the thick part of the barrel and no finger should be exposed.

Btw: Did Ford start games 1, 4, and 6?

[Nerdlinger]

Here is an alternate timeline of MLB with earlier divisional play and LCS (starting in 1892). If you're interesting in the topic of this thread, you should check it out.

I also have a scenario where both leagues go to three divisions in 1969, but I have to dig around to see where I put it.

[GiambiJuice]

1993 San Francisco Giants. 103 wins. No postseason.

[Nerdlinger]

Here is an alternate timeline of MLB with earlier divisional play and LCS (starting in 1892). If you're interesting in the topic of this thread, you should check it out.

I also have a scenario where both leagues go to three divisions in 1969, but I have to dig around to see where I put it.

I found it. Division winner with the best record plays the wild card in the LDS, regardless of what division they're in.

1969
NL East: New York (101-61), Pittsburgh (88-74), Philadelphia (64-98), Montreal (51-111)
NL Central: Chicago (95-67), Cincinnati (89-73), Atlanta (88-74), St. Louis (84-78)
NL West: San Francisco (92-70), Los Angeles (86-76), Houston (82-80), San Diego (52-110)
AL East: Baltimore (108-54), Boston (85-77), Washington (83-79), New York (81-81)
AL Central: Minnesota (96-66), Detroit (95-67), Chicago (66-96), Cleveland (63-99)
AL West: Oakland (91-71), California (71-91), Kansas City (69-93), Seattle (64-98)
NLDS: New York def. Cincinnati, Chicago def. San Francisco -- NLCS: New York def. Chicago
ALDS: Baltimore def. Detroit, Minnesota def. Oakland -- ALCS: Baltimore def. Minnesota
World Series: Baltimore (AL) def. New York (NL)

1970
NL East: Pittsburgh (90-72), New York (81-81), Montreal (75-87), Philadelphia (71-91)
NL Central: Cincinnati (102-60), Chicago (83-79), Atlanta (80-82), St. Louis (73-89)
NL West: Los Angeles (88-74), San Francisco (86-76), Houston (82-80), San Diego (61-101)
AL East: Baltimore (107-55), New York (92-70), Boston (86-76), Washington (69-93)
AL Central: Minnesota (98-64), Detroit (79-83), Cleveland (78-84), Chicago (60-102)
AL West: Oakland (88-74), California (86-76), Kansas City (66-96), Milwaukee (63-99)
NLDS: San Francisco def. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh def. Los Angeles -- NLCS: San Francisco def. Pittsburgh
ALDS: Baltimore def. New York, Minnesota def. Oakland -- ALCS: Minnesota def. Baltimore
World Series: Minnesota (AL) def. San Francisco (NL)

1971
NL East: Pittsburgh (96-66), New York (85-77), Montreal (73-89), Philadelphia (68-94)
NL Central: St. Louis (86-76), Chicago (83-79), Cincinnati (83-79), Atlanta (81-81)
NL West: Los Angeles (90-72), San Francisco (89-73), Houston (78-84), San Diego (60-102)
AL East: Baltimore (105-57), Boston (84-79), New York (82-80), Washington (63-99)
AL Central: Detroit (90-72), Minnesota (78-84), Chicago (75-87), Cleveland (63-99)
AL West: Oakland (104-58), Kansas City (85-78), California (74-88), Milwaukee (70-92)
NLDS: San Francisco def. Pittsburgh, St. Louis def. Los Angeles -- NLCS: St. Louis def. San Francisco
ALDS: Baltimore def. Kansas City, Oakland def. Detroit -- ALCS: Baltimore def. Oakland
World Series: Baltimore (AL) def. St. Louis (NL)

1972
NL East: Pittsburgh (100-62), New York (89-73), Montreal (72-90), Philadelphia (59-103)
NL Central: Cincinnati (99-63), Chicago (91-71), St. Louis (76-86), Atlanta (75-87)
NL West: Houston (93-69), Los Angeles (89-73), San Francisco (73-89), San Diego (56-106)
AL East: Boston (88-74), Baltimore (84-78), New York (82-80), Cleveland (75-87)
AL Central: Detroit (93-69), Chicago (92-70), Minnesota (78-84), Milwaukee (64-98)
AL West: Oakland (97-65), California (81-81), Kansas City (80-82), Texas (58-104)
NLDS: Pittsburgh def. Chicago, Cincinnati def. Houston -- NLCS: Cincinnati def. Pittsburgh
ALDS: Oakland def. Chicago, Detroit def. Boston -- ALCS: Oakland def. Detroit
World Series: Cincinnati (NL) def. Oakland (AL)

1973
NL East: New York (84-78), Montreal (79-83), Pittsburgh (79-83), Philadelphia (70-92)
NL Central: Cincinnati (95-67), St. Louis (81-81), Chicago (79-83), Atlanta (76-86)
NL West: Los Angeles (95-67), San Francisco (88-74), Houston (84-78), San Diego (62-100)
AL East: Baltimore (96-66), Boston (91-71), New York (78-84), Cleveland (70-92)
AL Central: Detroit (85-77), Milwaukee (81-81), Minnesota (77-85), Chicago (74-88)
AL West: Oakland (96-66), Kansas City (87-75), California (78-84), Texas (59-103)
NLDS: Cincinnati def. San Francisco, Los Angeles def. New York -- NLCS: Cincinnati def. Los Angeles
ALDS: Oakland def. Boston, Baltimore def. Detroit -- ALCS: Oakland def. Baltimore
World Series: Cincinnati (NL) def. Oakland (AL)

1974
NL East: Pittsburgh (89-73), Philadelphia (80-82), Montreal (79-83), New York (72-90)
NL Central: Cincinnati (96-66), Atlanta (87-75), St. Louis (82-80), Chicago (67-95)
NL West: Los Angeles (105-57), Houston (81-81), San Francisco (72-90), San Diego (62-100)
AL East: Baltimore (90-72), New York (90-72), Boston (83-79), Cleveland (76-86)
AL Central: Minnesota (86-76), Chicago (84-78), Milwaukee (74-88), Detroit (70-92)
AL West: Oakland (89-73), Texas (85-77), Kansas City (78-84), California (67-95)
NLDS: Los Angeles def. Atlanta, Cincinnati def. Pittsburgh -- NLCS: Los Angeles def. Cincinnati
ALDS: Baltimore def. New York, Oakland def. Minnesota -- ALCS: Oakland def. Baltimore
World Series: Los Angeles (NL) def. Oakland (AL)

1975
NL East: Pittsburgh (92-70), Philadelphia (87-75), New York (80-82), Montreal (74-88)
NL Central: Cincinnati (112-50), St. Louis (84-78), Chicago (73-89), Atlanta (63-99)
NL West: Los Angeles (89-73), San Francisco (82-80), San Diego (71-91), Houston (65-97)
AL East: Boston (96-66), Baltimore (89-73), New York (82-80), Cleveland (79-83)
AL Central: Minnesota (85-77), Chicago (77-85), Milwaukee (65-97), Detroit (61-101)
AL West: Oakland (98-64), Kansas City (92-70), Texas (76-86), California (72-90)
NLDS: Cincinnati def. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh def. Los Angeles -- NLCS: Cincinnati def. Pittsburgh
ALDS: Oakland def. Kansas City, Boston def. Minnesota -- ALCS: Boston def. Oakland
World Series: Cincinnati (NL) def. Boston (AL)

1976
NL East: Philadelphia (102-60), Pittsburgh (91-71), New York (84-78), Montreal (56-106)
NL Central: Cincinnati (103-59), St. Louis (74-88), Chicago (73-89), Atlanta (68-94)
NL West: Los Angeles (93-69), Houston (79-83), San Diego (75-87), San Francisco (74-88)
AL East: New York (99-63), Baltimore (87-75), Cleveland (81-81), Boston (80-82)
AL Central: Minnesota (87-75), Detroit (75-87), Chicago (68-94), Milwaukee (66-96)
AL West: Kansas City (90-72), Oakland (89-73), California (75-87), Texas (75-87)
NLDS: Cincinnati def. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia def. Los Angeles -- NLCS: Philadelphia def. Cincinnati
ALDS: New York def. Oakland, Kansas City def. Minnesota -- ALCS: Kansas City def. New York
World Series: Philadelphia (NL) def. Kansas City (AL)

1977
NL East: Philadelphia (100-62), Pittsburgh (96-66), Montreal (74-88), New York (62-100)
NL Central: St. Louis (90-72), Cincinnati (87-75), Chicago (85-77), Atlanta (55-107)
NL West: Los Angeles (99-63), Houston (80-82), San Francisco (74-88), San Diego (70-92)
AL East: New York (99-63), Boston (97-66), Baltimore (96-67), Cleveland (69-93), Toronto (54-108)
AL Central: Kansas City (104-58), Chicago (89-73), Minnesota (84-78), Detroit (75-87), Milwaukee (63-99)
AL West: Texas (97-65), California (73-89), Seattle (70-92), Oakland (65-97)
NLDS: Pittsburgh def. Philadelphia, Los Angeles def. St. Louis -- NLCS: Los Angeles def. Pittsburgh
ALDS: Boston def. Kansas City, New York def. Texas -- ALCS: Boston def. New York
World Series: Los Angeles (NL) def. Boston (AL)

1978
NL East: Philadelphia (89-73), Pittsburgh (88-74), Montreal (75-87), New York (67-95)
NL Central: Cincinnati (92-70), Chicago (85-77), Atlanta (66-96), St. Louis (66-96)
NL West: Los Angeles (94-68), San Francisco (92-70), San Diego (84-78), Houston (74-88)
AL East: New York (99-63), Boston (97-65), Baltimore (91-71), Cleveland (75-87), Toronto (59-103)
AL Central: Kansas City (90-72), Milwaukee (89-73), Detroit (88-74), Minnesota (78-84), Chicago (66-96)
AL West: Texas (92-70), California (83-79), Oakland (75-87), Seattle (52-110)
NLDS: Los Angeles def. San Francisco, Cincinnati def. Philadelphia -- NLCS: Los Angeles def. Cincinnati
ALDS: New York def. Boston, Texas def. Kansas City -- ALCS: New York def. Texas
World Series: New York (AL) def. Los Angeles (NL)

1979
NL East: Montreal (97-65), Pittsburgh (96-66), Philadelphia (86-76), New York (62-100)
NL Central: Cincinnati (92-70), Chicago (85-77), St. Louis (85-77), Atlanta (61-101)
NL West: Houston (89-73), Los Angeles (82-80), San Francisco (70-92), San Diego (67-95)
AL East: Baltimore (104-58), New York (94-68), Boston (90-72), Cleveland (81-81), Toronto (51-111)
AL Central: Milwaukee (97-65), Kansas City (85-77), Detroit (83-79), Minnesota (82-80), Chicago (69-93)
AL West: Texas (90-72), California (86-76), Seattle (67-95), Oakland (55-107)
NLDS: Pittsburgh def. Montreal, Houston def. Cincinnati -- NLCS: Pittsburgh def. Houston
ALDS: New York def. Baltimore, Milwaukee def. Texas -- ALCS: Milwaukee def. New York
World Series: Milwaukee (AL) def. Pittsburgh (NL)

1980
NL East: Philadelphia (91-71), Montreal (87-75), Pittsburgh (84-78), New York (66-96)
NL Central: Cincinnati (88-74), Atlanta (80-82), St. Louis (76-86), Chicago (65-97)
NL West: Los Angeles (94-68), Houston (91-71), San Diego (76-86), San Francisco (74-88)
AL East: New York (105-57), Baltimore (100-62), Boston (80-82), Cleveland (80-82), Toronto (62-100)
AL Central: Kansas City (98-64), Milwaukee (88-74), Detroit (84-78), Minnesota (80-82), Chicago (65-97)
AL West: Oakland (89-73), Texas (75-87), California (74-88), Seattle (54-108)
NLDS: Los Angeles def. Houston, Cincinnati def. Philadelphia -- NLCS: Cincinnati def. Los Angeles
ALDS: Baltimore def. New York, Oakland def. Kansas City -- ALCS: Baltimore def. Oakland
World Series: Baltimore (AL) def. Cincinnati (NL)

1981
NL East: Montreal (91-71), Philadelphia (86-76), Pittsburgh (73-89), New York (60-102)
NL Central: St. Louis (97-65), Cincinnati (92-70), Atlanta (80-82), Chicago (60-102)
NL West: Los Angeles (98-64), Houston (89-73), San Francisco (82-80), San Diego (64-98)
AL East: Baltimore (95-67), Boston (93-69), New York (85-77), Cleveland (82-80), Toronto (51-111)
AL Central: Chicago (91-71), Milwaukee (89-73), Detroit (86-76), Kansas City (72-90), Minnesota (64-98)
AL West: Oakland (105-57), Texas (88-74), California (71-91), Seattle (62-100)
NLDS: Los Angeles def. Cincinnati, St. Louis def. Montreal -- NLCS: St. Louis def. Los Angeles
ALDS: Boston def. Oakland, Chicago def. Baltimore -- ALCS: Boston def. Chicago
World Series: St. Louis (NL) def. Boston (AL)

1982
NL East: Philadelphia (90-72), Montreal (85-77), Pittsburgh (85-77), New York (66-96)
NL Central: Atlanta (93-69), St. Louis (90-72), Chicago (71-91), Cincinnati (63-99)
NL West: San Francisco (87-75), Los Angeles (86-76), San Diego (81-81), Houston (75-87)
AL East: Baltimore (94-68), Boston (88-74), Cleveland (78-84), New York (78-84), Toronto (76-86)
AL Central: Milwaukee (97-65), Kansas City (91-71), Chicago (84-78), Detroit (80-82), Minnesota (60-102)
AL West: California (99-63), Seattle (78-84), Oakland (66-96), Texas (65-97)
NLDS: Atlanta def. St. Louis, Philadelphia def. San Francisco -- NLCS: Philadelphia def. Atlanta
ALDS: California def. Kansas City, Baltimore def. Milwaukee -- ALCS: Baltimore def. California
World Series: Baltimore (AL) def. Philadelphia (NL)

1983
NL East: Philadelphia (88-74), Pittsburgh (84-78), Montreal (81-81), New York (68-94)
NL Central: Atlanta (89-73), St. Louis (79-83), Cincinnati (77-85), Chicago (72-90)
NL West: Los Angeles (88-74), Houston (85-77), San Diego (82-80), San Francisco (79-83)
AL East: Baltimore (96-66), Toronto (89-73), New York (88-74), Boston (77-85), Cleveland (70-92)
AL Central: Chicago (98-64), Milwaukee (92-70), Detroit (90-72), Kansas City (77-85), Minnesota (66-96)
AL West: Texas (84-78), Oakland (75-87), California (69-93), Seattle (63-99)
NLDS: Atlanta def. Houston, Los Angeles def. Philadelphia -- NLCS: Los Angeles def. Atlanta
ALDS: Milwaukee def. Chicago, Baltimore def. Texas -- ALCS: Baltimore def. Milwaukee
World Series: Baltimore (AL) def. Los Angeles (NL)

1984
NL East: New York (93-69), Philadelphia (81-81), Montreal (79-83), Pittsburgh (76-86)
NL Central: Chicago (100-62), St. Louis (83-79), Atlanta (78-84), Cincinnati (67-95)
NL West: San Diego (92-70), Houston (81-81), Los Angeles (77-85), San Francisco (65-97)
AL East: New York (90-72), Toronto (90-72), Boston (86-76), Baltimore (80-82), Cleveland (70-92)
AL Central: Detroit (107-55), Kansas City (84-78), Minnesota (79-83), Chicago (73-89), Milwaukee (66-96)
AL West: California (83-79), Oakland (82-80), Seattle (76-86), Texas (68-94)
NLDS: Chicago def. St. Louis, New York def. San Diego -- NLCS: Chicago def. New York
ALDS: Detroit def. Toronto, California def. New York -- ALCS: Detroit def. California
World Series: Detroit (AL) def. Chicago (NL)

1985
NL East: New York (96-66), Montreal (83-79), Philadelphia (76-86), Pittsburgh (60-102)
NL Central: St. Louis (105-57), Cincinnati (88-74), Chicago (78-84), Atlanta (64-98)
NL West: Los Angeles (94-68), Houston (85-77), San Diego (82-80), San Francisco (61-101)
AL East: New York (100-62), Toronto (98-64), Boston (84-78), Baltimore (78-84), Cleveland (60-102)
AL Central: Kansas City (93-69), Detroit (82-80), Chicago (81-81), Minnesota (78-84), Milwaukee (73-89)
AL West: California (94-68), Oakland (80-82), Seattle (69-93), Texas (64-98)
NLDS: St. Louis def. Cincinnati, Los Angeles def. New York -- NLCS: Los Angeles def. St. Louis
ALDS: Toronto def. New York, Kansas City def. California -- ALCS: Kansas City def. Toronto
World Series: Los Angeles (NL) def. Kansas City (AL)

1986
NL East: New York (108-54), Philadelphia (88-74), Montreal (79-83), Pittsburgh (62-100)
NL Central: Cincinnati (91-71), St. Louis (77-85), Atlanta (75-87), Chicago (69-93)
NL West: Houston (93-69), San Francisco (82-80), San Diego (76-86), Los Angeles (72-90)
AL East: Boston (95-67), New York (93-69), Toronto (86-76), Cleveland (79-83), Baltimore (74-88)
AL Central: Detroit (87-75), Kansas City (76-86), Milwaukee (76-86), Chicago (73-89), Minnesota (73-89)
AL West: California (97-65), Texas (91-71), Oakland (73-89), Seattle (61-101)
NLDS: Philadelphia def. New York, Houston def. Cincinnati -- NLCS: Philadelphia def. Houston
ALDS: California def. New York, Boston def. Detroit -- ALCS: California def. Boston
World Series: California (AL) def. Philadelphia (NL)

1987
NL East: New York (94-68), Montreal (90-72), Philadelphia (79-83), Pittsburgh (78-84)
NL Central: St. Louis (101-61), Cincinnati (81-81), Chicago (77-85), Atlanta (69-93)
NL West: San Francisco (90-72), Houston (77-85), Los Angeles (71-91), San Diego (65-97)
AL East: Toronto (100-62), New York (91-71), Boston (83-79), Cleveland (63-99), Baltimore (60-102)
AL Central: Detroit (97-65), Milwaukee (89-73), Kansas City (82-80), Minnesota (82-80), Chicago (74-88)
AL West: Seattle (84-78), Oakland (79-83), Texas (76-86), California (74-88)
NLDS: Montreal def. St. Louis, New York def. San Francisco -- NLCS: New York def. Montreal
ALDS: Toronto def. New York, Detroit def. Seattle -- ALCS: Detroit def. Toronto
World Series: Detroit (AL) def. New York (NL)

1988
NL East: New York (102-60), Pittsburgh (83-79), Montreal (79-83), Philadelphia (66-96)
NL Central: Cincinnati (88-74), St. Louis (82-80), Chicago (79-83), Atlanta (54-108)
NL West: Los Angeles (92-70), San Diego (85-77), San Francisco (82-80), Houston (80-82)
AL East: Toronto (90-72), Boston (89-73), New York (86-76), Cleveland (79-83), Baltimore (52-110)
AL Central: Minnesota (93-69), Milwaukee (90-72), Detroit (85-77), Kansas City (80-82), Chicago (68-94)
AL West: Oakland (108-54), California (75-87), Texas (70-92), Seattle (69-93)
NLDS: New York def. San Diego, Los Angeles def. Cincinnati -- NLCS: New York def. Los Angeles
ALDS: Oakland def. Milwaukee, Minnesota def. Toronto -- ALCS: Oakland def. Minnesota
World Series: Oakland (AL) def. New York (NL)

1989
NL East: New York (88-74), Montreal (82-80), Pittsburgh (74-88), Philadelphia (67-95)
NL Central: Chicago (94-68), St. Louis (84-78), Cincinnati (76-86), Atlanta (64-98)
NL West: San Francisco (91-71), San Diego (89-73), Houston (86-76), Los Angeles (77-85)
AL East: Toronto (88-74), Baltimore (86-76), Boston (82-80), Cleveland (72-90), New York (72-90)
AL Central: Kansas City (92-70), Minnesota (81-81), Milwaukee (79-83), Chicago (72-90), Detroit (66-96)
AL West: Oakland (102-60), California (88-74), Texas (82-80), Seattle (72-90)
NLDS: Chicago def. San Diego, San Francisco def. New York -- NLCS: San Francisco def. Chicago
ALDS: Oakland def. California, Kansas City def. Toronto -- ALCS: Kansas City def. Oakland
World Series: San Francisco (NL) def. Kansas City (AL)

1990
NL East: Pittsburgh (93-69), New York (90-72), Montreal (86-76), Philadelphia (77-85)
NL Central: Cincinnati (96-66), Chicago (75-87), Atlanta (69-93), St. Louis (68-94)
NL West: Los Angeles (85-77), San Francisco (83-79), San Diego (76-86), Houston (74-88)
AL East: Boston (93-69), Toronto (88-74), Baltimore (74-88), Cleveland (74-88), New York (68-94)
AL Central: Chicago (96-66), Detroit (76-86), Kansas City (76-86), Milwaukee (76-86), Minnesota (76-86)
AL West: Oakland (104-58), Seattle (78-84), Texas (78-84), California (77-85)
NLDS: New York def. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh def. Los Angeles -- NLCS: New York def. Pittsburgh
ALDS: Oakland def. Toronto, Boston def. Chicago -- ALCS: Oakland def. Boston
World Series: Oakland (AL) def. New York (NL)

1991
NL East: Pittsburgh (99-63), New York (79-83), Philadelphia (79-83), Montreal (70-92)
NL Central: Atlanta (96-66), St. Louis (81-81), Chicago (76-86), Cincinnati (75-87)
NL West: Los Angeles (91-71), San Diego (86-76), San Francisco (75-87), Houston (65-97)
AL East: Toronto (93-69), Boston (85-77), New York (73-89), Baltimore (68-94), Cleveland (56-106)
AL Central: Minnesota (93-69), Chicago (87-75), Detroit (83-79), Kansas City (83-79), Milwaukee (82-80)
AL West: Texas (90-72), Oakland (85-77), Seattle (83-79), California (73-89)
NLDS: Pittsburgh def. San Diego, Los Angeles def. Atlanta -- NLCS: Los Angeles def. Pittsburgh
ALDS: Chicago def. Toronto, Texas def. Minnesota -- ALCS: Chicago def. Texas
World Series: Los Angeles (NL) def. Chicago (AL)

1992
NL East: Pittsburgh (96-66), Montreal (88-74), Philadelphia (71-91), New York (69-93)
NL Central: Atlanta (97-65), Cincinnati (90-72), St. Louis (82-80), Chicago (75-87)
NL West: San Diego (85-78), Houston (84-79), San Francisco (72-90), Los Angeles (64-98)
AL East: Toronto (97-65), Baltimore (86-76), Cleveland (78-84), New York (75-87), Boston (73-89)
AL Central: Milwaukee (90-72), Chicago (90-73), Minnesota (89-74), Kansas City (73-89), Detroit (70-92)
AL West: Oakland (104-58), California (76-86), Texas (75-87), Seattle (59-103)
NLDS: Cincinnati def. Atlanta, San Diego def. Pittsburgh -- NLCS: Cincinnati def. San Diego
ALDS: Oakland def. Chicago, Milwaukee def. Toronto -- ALCS: Milwaukee def. Oakland
World Series: Milwaukee (AL) def. Cincinnati (NL)

1993
NL East: Philadelphia (100-62), Montreal (96-66), Pittsburgh (76-86), Florida (62-100), New York (60-102)
NL Central: Atlanta (105-57), Houston (86-76), St. Louis (84-78), Chicago (82-80), Cincinnati (69-93)
NL West: San Francisco (104-58), Los Angeles (84-78), Colorado (67-95), San Diego (59-103)
AL East: Toronto (98-64), New York (87-75), Baltimore (84-78), Boston (77-85), Cleveland (74-88)
AL Central: Chicago (97-65), Kansas City (84-78), Detroit (83-79), Milwaukee (70-92), Minnesota (69-93)
AL West: Texas (85-77), Seattle (82-80), California (72-90), Oakland (72-90)
NLDS: Atlanta def. Montreal, San Francisco def. Philadelphia -- NLCS: Atlanta def. San Francisco
ALDS: Toronto def. New York, Chicago def. Texas -- ALCS: Toronto def. Chicago
World Series: Atlanta (NL) def. Toronto (AL)

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Nice work Adam.

A few things:

Giants only won the Division by one game over the Dodgers. Marichal not starting game one in the WS;....does that mean he pitched the last game of the season?

If he didn't pitch in the last game of the season, why wouldn't he start game one of the WS? Maybe the start of the lefty O'Dell was to turn Mantle around righty and counter Maris?

Curious of Marichal's bunting style. The hand should not be up by the thick part of the barrel and no finger should be exposed.

Btw: Did Ford start games 1, 4, and 6?

The 1962 NL pennant is one of the most famous races. The Giants and Dodgers fought it out for the entire season. They tied for the NL pennant with identical 101-61 W-L records. The Giants and Dodgers played a three game series for the NL pennant. They split the first two games. Marichal pitched the third game on October 3rd pitching 7 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 ER. The Giants were down 4-2 in the top of the 9th when they scored 4 runs to win the game 6-4. Why this great comeback is completely forgotten I have no idea. Machical next pitched in Game 4 of the World Series on October 8th. So he had four days rest.

About that 1962 team. To Giants fans this team is considered the greatest San Francisco Giants team of all time. They had five Hall of Famers: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, and Gaylord Perry, though, Perry was a rookie and didn't contribute much to the team in '62. When I started following the Giants about 1976-77 this team was spoken of with great awe and reverence. It took on an almost Arthurian legendary status because by the late 1970's the Giants was a franchise in decline. They didn't do much winning and they played in a mostly empty, cold, and windy stadium. Only the absolute die hard fans like myself really cheered the team on. It took 27 years after the '62 team for the Giants to return to the World Series.

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