Bar Room B.S. The Wild Card

To prove my point that the Tigers upset over the Yankees wasn't nearly as big as its being made out to be, I've compiled the playoff history since the Wild Card system started after the 1994 strike:


1995
Divison Winners

AL
Boston, Cleveland, Seattle

NL
Atlanta, Cincinatti, Los Angeles

Wild Cards: Yankees, Colorado Both lost in first round


1996
Division Winners

AL
Yankees, Cleveland, Texas

NL
Atlanta, St. Louis, San Diego

Wild Cards: Baltimore & Los Angeles (Balt beat Cleve)

1997
Divison Winners
AL

Baltimore, Cleveland, Seattle

NL

Atlanta, Houston, San Francisco

Wild Cards

Yankees & Florida (Florida wins World Series)

1998
Divison Winners
AL

Yankees, Cleveland, Texas

NL

Atlanta Houston, San Deigo

Wild Cards- Boston and Chicago Cubs (Both knocked out in first round)

1999
Divison Winners
AL

Yankees, Cleveland, Texas

NL
Atlanta, St. Louis, Arizona

Wild Cards: Boston and Mets (Mets beat Arizona; Boston beat Cleveland)


2000
Divison Winners
AL

Yankees, Chi White Sox, Oakland

NL

Atlanta, St Louis, San Francisco

Wild Cards Seattle and Mets (Seattle won first round; Mets won NL Pennant)

2001
Divison Winners
Yankees, cleveland, Seattle

Atlanta, Houston, Arizona

Wild Cards Oakland and St Louis (both out in first round)


2002
Divison Winners
Yankees, Minnesota, Oakland

Atlanta, St Louis Arizona

Wild Cards Anaheim and San Francisco-- (Both teams make World Series won by Anaheim in 7)

2003
Divison Winners
Yankees, Minnesota, Oakland

Atlanta, chi Cubs, San Francisco

Wild Cards

Boston and Florida (Boston beats Oakland , Florida wins World Series)

2004
Divison Winners
Yankees, Minnestoa, Anaheim

Atlanta, St Louis Los Angeles

Wild Cards Boston and Houston (Houston beats Atlanta, Boston wins World Series)

2005
Divison Winners
Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles/Anaheim

Atlanta, St. Louis, San Diego

Wild Cards Boston and Houston (Houston wins NL Pennant)


2006
Division Winners

Yankees, Minnesota, Oakland

Mets, St Louis, San Deigo

Wild Cards Detroit and Los Angeles (Detroit wins AL Pennant)

In 1995, 1998 and 2001, neither Wild Card team advanced to the LCS, out of 12 seasons, only 3 times have the Wild Card team not advanced to at least the LCS. In 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Wild Card team won the World Series.