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HOW MANY WILD CARDS ARE THERE IN BASEBALL

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The wild card provides a second path for teams to qualify for the postseason in addition to winning their division. Prior to 1995, only the teams with the best regular season record in each league’s four divisions would advance to the playoffs. This left out teams that may have had better records than other division winners but did not win their own division. The wild card was created to address this issue and allow more competitive teams into the expanded playoff format.

In the current system, the team in each league with the best overall record that did not win its division claims one of the two wild card spots. These two wild card teams then play a single elimination game called the Wild Card Game to determine who will advance to the Division Series round of the playoffs. This ensures the team with the worse regular season record out of the two wild card clubs has to win one extra game to make it to the LDS.

Through the 2018 season, the top seed out of the wild card teams hosted the one game playoff. There was concern it gave an unfair home field advantage to the team with merely the slightly better record over the 162 game season. Beginning in 2019, MLB changed it so the wild card game host is determined based on head-to-head record between the two teams in the regular season. If they did not play each other the same amount, it reverts to best record. This helped balance out the single game high stakes contest.

Today, the wild card round is a best of five series rather than one game. This was implemented prior to the 2022 season in an effort to improve competitive balance and parity. It gives the wild card teams a better chance to prove themselves over multiple games rather than risk immediate elimination in a winner-take-all scenario. The two wild card teams in each league now face off in a 2-2-1 series format where the club with the higher winning percentage hosts the first two games.

While the wild card was initially introduced to expand playoff participation in each league from 4 to 8 teams total, it has now grown to 12 teams making the postseason with the wild card round expansion. The original goal remains in place – to provide an additional route for clubs that may have legitimate cases as contenders but fell short of their division’s top spot. It has allowed teams with excellent records, but stuck in competitive divisions, a chance to still make some October noise.

Some arguments are made the wild card has diluted the regular season importance and intensity down the stretch. With more teams feeling in the race, fewer are truly “eliminated” from contention each year. However, MLB counterarguments note the wild card spots and single game playoffs add immensely to the drama, tension and excitement being kicked up during September. The changes seem to have achieved the goal of including worthy teams left on the outside prior while extending baseball’s compelling pennant races deeper into the campaign.

The wild card format in Major League Baseball continues to evolve after nearly three decades in use. From a one game, winner-take-all challenge to the current best-of-three series, the goal remains letting elite non-division winning clubs prove their metal in October. With more participating each year, Major League Baseball’s wild card system has succeeded in opening the postseason door further and cultivating heightened enthusiasm when the calendar flips to the ninth month. Competitive balance has improved across both leagues as a result.

HOW MANY WILD CARDS ARE IN BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

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In 2012, Major League Baseball added an additional round to the playoffs called the Wild Card Round. This added two additional wild card teams, one from each league, to make the total number of playoff teams in MLB jump from 8 to 10. The wild card round features a single-elimination game, or games if necessary, between the two wild card teams to determine who moves on to the Division Series.

The format starts with the three division winners in each league earning automatic bids to the postseason. The team with the best regular season record in each league earns the number 1 seed and a first round bye. The two remaining division winners are seeded 2nd and 3rd based on winning percentage.

In addition to the three division winners, the two teams in each league with the next best regular season records that did not win their division qualify for the wild card spots. These teams are seeded 4th and 5th based on their winning percentage.

The 4th and 5th seeded wild card teams then play in a one-game playoff, hosted by the team with the higher seed, to determine who advances to face the top seeded division winner in the best-of-five Division Series. This single game wild card playoff is a sudden death game where the winner moves on and the loser goes home for the offseason.

When Major League Baseball added the wild card round, many fans and analysts worried it could diminish the significance and pressure of winning a division. It has made the regular season more exciting down the stretch as teams fight not just for division titles but also the last wild card spots. More teams are kept meaningful races longer into September which has increased interest and television ratings for MLB.

While winning the division is still viewed as the most direct path to advancing in the playoffs, the possibility of sneaking in as a wild card has kept hope alive for more fan bases deeper into the season. With only one game deciding a team’s fate in the wild card round, any team is just nine innings away from shocking the baseball world. Momentum and pitching matchups can trump records in a short series, instilling an element of chaos that has captivated viewers.

Controversy has also surrounded the one-game wild card format. A single mistake or fluke play can send a team home for the year despite a strong overall record. Many argue it is not a true test of a team’s talent and quality. Some have suggested expanding it to a three-game mini-series would provide a bit more of an opportunity for the better team to show itself over multiple games. Others counter that the tension and drama of winner-take-all single elimination is compelling as fans.

While not a perfect system, MLB’s wild card round has achieved the goal of increasing the number of teams still playing in October. With more fan bases engaged deeper into the season and exciting single game showdowns to start the playoffs, the one-game wild card format has added another dimension to the baseball postseason. Even teams that underperform division rivals still have a shot if they can peak at the right time and embrace the challenge of surviving such a high-pressure winner-take-all contest.

Of the over 150 wild card games held so far, many have lived up to the hype with walk-off wins, stunning comebacks and nail-biting finishes. The unpredictability of a single game provides the opportunity for legendary moments. While not ideal for some traditionalists, the wild card round has breathed new life into the playoff race and given hope to underdog teams facing seemingly insurmountable odds in their pursuit of reaching the World Series. With so much on the line and fortunes able to change in an instant, the intensity and drama MLB’s wild card format creates has captivated both diehard baseball fans along with more casual viewers tuning in for the postseason excitement.

As MLB continues to find ways to expand the popularity of baseball playoffs, the number of wild card teams may one day increase further. Even with just two wild cards per league currently, the winner-take-all high stakes matchup creates perfect postseason theatre. The promise of sudden death, anything-can-happen drama has been a huge success by any metric and fun new tradition for baseball in October. While a 162 game regular season leaves little room for error in determining champions, MLB’s innovative wild card round ensures that reaching the playoffs also provides nail-biting, pressure filled showdowns to start the tournament.

HOW MANY WILD CARDS MAKE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

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Major League Baseball’s playoff format has included wild card teams since 2012 when they expanded the number of spots in the postseason. Over the years the number of wild card teams has changed, but currently there are two wild card teams from each league that qualify for the MLB playoffs each season.

To understand how the wild card teams fit into the current playoff structure, it’s helpful to first review the overall playoff format. MLB is split into the American League and National League, each with 15 teams. During the regular season from April through September, the teams compete within their league to earn one of three postseason berths. Those three spots are awarded to the division winners from each of the three divisions – East, Central, and West.

Prior to 2012, only the three division winners from each league made the playoffs, regardless of overall record. This meant it was possible for a team to have a better record than a division winner yet miss the postseason entirely. To address this issue and expand the playoffs, baseball added two wild card teams per league beginning in 2012.

With the addition of the wild cards, the total number of playoff teams grew from 6 to 8, with 4 from each league. The wild card round was also introduced as a best-of-five series played between the two wild card teams immediately preceding the division series. This wild card round determines which wild card team advances to then face one of the three division winners in the division series round.

In 2012 and 2013 there were just two wild card teams – one from each league. They played a one-game playoff to determine who would move on to the division series. There was criticism that a team’s entire season could come down to a single game. To address this, MLB expanded the wild card format again for the 2014 season onward.

Beginning in 2014, the playoffs were restructured to include a best-of-five wild card series between the top two wild card teams instead of a one-game playoff. This gave the two wild card clubs a better chance to prove themselves over multiple games rather than risking elimination in a single contest. It also created more excitement and tension with a mini-series prior to the division series round.

Under the current MLB playoff format that has been in place since 2014, each league’s wild card teams are the two clubs with the next best regular season records among teams that did not win their division. Just like the three division winners, the two wild card teams in each league receive an automatic berth in the postseason.

To determine home-field advantage in the wild card series, the wild card team with the superior head-to-head record against the other wildcard club during the regular season gets to host the first two games of the series. If they did not play an even number of home games against each other, then home-field is awarded to the team with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games.

The wild card series is a best-of-five format, so the first club to win three games advances. The winner then moves on to face one of the three division winners in the best-of-five division series round. From there, the league championship series and World Series follow in their standard best-of-seven formats to decide the MLB champion.

In total, Major League Baseball’s current playoff structure consists of 10 teams – two wild card clubs from each league, plus the three division winners. The wild cards give more franchises a shot at playoff baseball andcreates an initial high-stakes showdown between two teams just making it into the postseason. It has led to greater fan interest and more compelling early round matchups since being implemented.

While the number andformat of wild cardshas changedover the years asMLBhas tweaked the playoffsystem, the current setup of two wild cardsteams per league appears to be a successful way to fairlyand excitement reward moredeserving teams beyondjust the three divisionwinners.Baseball’s October tournaments are richer and more dynamic as a resultof including these wild cardentries inthe MLB postseason mix.Going forward,two wild cardclubs from each league is likely toremain a staplepart of baseball’s playoff structure.

HOW MANY WILD CARDS ARE THERE IN BASEBALL THIS YEAR

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Major League Baseball has utilized a wild card playoff system since 2012 to expand the number of teams that make the postseason beyond the traditional three division winners in each league. The current wild card format allows for two wild card teams in each league to earn a spot in a best-of-three games playoff series to determine who advances to the League Division Series.

When the wild card system was initially introduced in 2012 and 2013 there was just one wild card team from each league that participated in a one-game playoff to determine the wild card winner. This put a lot of emphasis on that single elimination game and meant a team could win 93 games and still miss the postseason if they lost that wild card game. To help address the unfairness of a single game deciding a team’s playoff fate, MLB expanded to a two-team wild card format beginning in 2012.

Under the current setup, the two teams in each league with the best regular season records among those who did not win their division compete in the wild card round. The team with the higher winning percentage of the two hosts the lower seeded club for their best-of-three series. This mini-series helps alleviate some of the randomness that could occur in a one-game playoff. It also expands the postseason and gives an extra two teams the opportunity to fight for a spot in the LDS each year.

For the 2022 MLB season there continues to be two wild card playoff spots available in both the American and National Leagues. This means a total of four wild card teams will participate in best-of-three series to kick off October baseball this year. The top two division winners in each league receive byes directly to the LDS round, while the two wild card teams battle in their series.

In the AL, the four division winners as of mid-August are the New York Yankees (AL East), Houston Astros (AL West), Cleveland Guardians (AL Central), and either the Toronto Blue Jays or Tampa Bay Rays (AL East – race is close). That would leave the other non-division winner between Toronto and Tampa along with the next two highest winning teams as the two AL wild card clubs.

Over in the NL, the division leaders to this point are the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West), New York Mets (NL East), and St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central). Like the AL East, the NL West is tightly contested between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Whichever team does not win the division would likely be one NL wild card team. The other spot would go to either the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, or Philadelphia Phillies – whoever has the next best record among non-division winners.

As the regular season winds down in September, the races for the division titles and wild card positions will only intensify. More than ever, every game matters for teams hovering around or above .500 on the brink of the postseason picture. The additional playoff spots created by the wild cards adds another layer of drama, excitement, and possibility. It gives franchises renewed hope even if they can’t catch their division leaders. Coming all the way back to win a wild card series after a grueling 162-game schedule would be an incredible achievement and story.

While some traditionalists argue expanding the playoffs dilutes the regular season, the current wild card format has largely been seen as a successful modification that has made October baseball even more compelling. More franchises and fan bases have remained invested deeper into September knowing two extra playoff slots are on the line. The setup provides a balanced approach between honoring division champs and rewarding other quality teams. As long as MLB maintains the two wild card per league structure, four teams will have the opportunity to fight their way into the division series through these one-and-done wild card rounds each fall. The drama and excitement they create has made postseason baseball even more compelling and unpredictable.

For the 2022 MLB season there continue to be two wild card playoff spots available in both the American League and National League. This means a total of four teams – two from each league – will participate in best-of-three wild card series to begin the postseason chase this October. The system allows an extra two clubs per league a chance to extend their season and battle their way into the LDS. While the races are still ongoing, the wild cards provide renewed hope for franchises chasing their division leaders down the stretch and make for an thrilling conclusion to the regular season.

BASEBALL WILD CARDS 2023

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The 2023 Major League Baseball season will feature an expanded Wild Card round for the seventh consecutive year. Since 2012, MLB has utilized a one-game Wild Card playoff to determine the final teams advancing to the Division Series from each league. In 2022, MLB expanded the Wild Card format again to include three games per league between the top two Wild Card teams, while keeping the one-game playoff for the third Wild Card team.

This expanded format adds intrigue and excitement for more teams fighting for playoff spots down the stretch. It also provides additional revenue for MLB and television partners who can broadcast an extra game. The current format is scheduled to remain in place for the 2023 season and beyond, so fans can expect another high-stakes Wild Card weekend next October.

2023 Wild Card Format
In each league, the top three Wild Card teams will be seeded based on their regular season records. The team with the best record of the three Wild Card clubs will be seeded #1, second best #2, and third best #3. The #1 and #2 seeds will then face off in a best-of-three series, with the #1 seed hosting the first two games. If a third game is necessary, it will be played at the lower seeded #2 team’s ballpark.

Meanwhile, the one-game Wild Card playoff will feature the #3 seed hosting the #6 seed from their respective league. The winners of the best-of-three and one-game playoffs will then advance to the Division Series round. Home-field advantage throughout the LDS and subsequent rounds is still determined by regular season record.

2023 American League Wild Card Predictions
In the stacked American League, the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Angels are virtual locks for the top three Wild Card spots barring major injuries. This would make for a tantalizing best-of-three series between the Yankees and Astros, two perennial powerhouses.

Both teams are built for October with stacked rotations fronted by Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander. The lineups are also formidable, headlined by Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve, and Mike Trout. This series could realistically go the full three games and feature plenty of late-inning heroics. Ultimately, the Astros’ experience and depth gives them a slight edge to advance.

In the one-game playoff, the Seattle Mariners are projected for the #3 seed. With stars like Julio Rodriguez and Cy Young contender Luis Castillo, Seattle has the talent to knock off the #6 seed Toronto Blue Jays. While Toronto will be dangerous behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alek Manoah, the Mariners’ balanced roster and home field advantage should propel them into the ALDS.

2023 National League Wild Card Predictions
Out West, the Los Angeles Dodgers are primed for another NL West crown. The NL Wild Card race looks wide open beyond them. The Atlanta Braves are a safe bet to return to the postseason as a top three seed after winning it all in 2021.

From there, the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals all have a legitimate shot at the remaining spots. The Brewers’ pitching staff led by Corbin Burnes gives them an edge to take the #2 seed over San Diego. That would set up a fun NL best-of-three between the Braves and Brewers.

Despite losing Freddie Freeman, Atlanta’s lineup is still formidable with Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, and Matt Olson. Their experience in close games prevails and they outlast the Brew Crew in two tight contests. Over in the one-game playoff, the Cardinals get the nod as the #3 seed thanks to strong starting pitching. They dispatch the Padres to complete the NL Wild Card bracket.

2023 should bring another October of thrilling do-or-die baseball under the expanded Wild Card format. With so many talented contenders, accurately predicting the final six seeds and winners is difficult. Expect the best-of-three series to be instant classics that live up to the magnitude of the games. The single elimination matchups will also undoubtedly produce upsets and memorable walk-off victories. Another exciting Wild Card weekend is on the horizon.

BASEBALL WILD CARDS 2022

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The 2022 MLB postseason got underway on October 7th with the new Wild Card round. With the expanded playoffs that began in 2020, six teams from each league now make the postseason instead of just five. The top two teams in each league get a bye into the Division Series, while the remaining four teams in each league face off in a best-of-three Wild Card series.

In the American League, the #3 seed Toronto Blue Jays hosted the #6 seed Seattle Mariners. The Blue Jays were one of the hottest teams down the stretch, going 36-16 in their final 52 games to surge back into the playoffs. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, led by sluggers Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Teoscar Hernandez. On the mound, Alek Manoah emerged as their ace while José Berríos also provided a steady presence. They were facing a Mariners team that refused to go away all season long. Seattle stayed in the Wild Card race despite trading away many of their top players at the deadline. Rookies like Julio Rodriguez and George Kirby helped them remain competitive, while veteran leaders like Eugenio Suárez and Mitch Haniger willed them to the playoffs.

The series got underway at Rogers Centre, with Manoah on the bump for Toronto against Logan Gilbert for Seattle. In a pitcher’s duel, the Blue Jays broke through against Gilbert in the 6th. Bo Bichette led off with a single and Guerrero brought him home with a double. That would be all the scoring Manoah and the Jays bullpen needed, as they held on for a 1-0 victory.

In Game 2, the Mariners jumped out to an early lead against Berríos. Adam Frazier led off the game with a single and scored on a double by Rodriguez. Two batters later, Cal Raleigh crushed a two-run homer to left to make it 3-0 Seattle. The Blue Jays would get one back in the 4th on a Guerrero sacrifice fly but trailed 3-1 going to the bottom of the 9th. With their season on the line, Toronto staged an incredible comeback. George Springer led off with a single and Bichette walked. After a strikeout, Guerrero and Hernandez each delivered RBI singles to tie it up. The game went to extra innings, where the Mariners brought in former Blue Jay Paul Sewald to pitch the 10th. But Matt Chapman greeted him with a walk-off home run to center, sending the series to Seattle all square at 1-1.

Game 3 was a back-and-forth affair at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners jumped out to an early lead again on a two-run homer by Ty France in the bottom of the 1st off José Berríos. But Toronto battled back to tie it in the 3rd on a Chapman RBI single and Bichette sacrifice fly. In the 5th, Seattle regained the lead on an RBI double by Adam Frazier. The Blue Jays responded right away in the 6th, as Springer crushed a no-doubt two-run shot to left to give Toronto a 4-3 lead. Both bullpens then shut the door, with Anthony Bass notching the save to send Toronto to the ALDS.

The series showed the heart and resilience of both teams. The Mariners refused to go down without a fight despite facing elimination twice. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays’ offense came up huge when they needed it most to power them past Seattle. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led the way, hitting .333 with 3 RBI to help the Blue Jays advance.

In the National League, the #3 seed St. Louis Cardinals hosted the #6 seed Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals were battle tested all season long in the tough NL Central, using strong pitching and timely hitting to finish 90-72. Stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado anchored the lineup, while young flamethrowers like Jordan Montgomery and Miles Mikolas led the rotation. The Phillies snuck into the playoffs thanks to a late surge, going 87-75 behind the long ball. Kyle Schwarber led the NL in home runs, while Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto also provided plenty of pop. On the mound, Zack Wheeler emerged as their ace but Aaron Nola struggled down the stretch.

The series began with Wheeler facing off against Montgomery. The Phillies jumped ahead early, as Hoskins blasted a two-run homer in the top of the 1st. But the Cardinals responded immediately, loading the bases in the bottom half before Nolan Gorman cleared them with a bases-clearing double to put St. Louis up 3-2. That would remain the score until the 7th, when Albert Pujols stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded against Connor Brogdon. The Cardinals legend crushed the first pitch into the left field seats for a grand slam, extending the lead to 7-2. That proved to be the final score, as the Cardinals bullpen closed it out to draw first blood.

In Game 2, Aaron Nola took the mound looking to even the series for Philadelphia. But the Cardinals struck early against him, as Lars Nootbaar led off the bottom of the 1st with a solo homer. They added another run in the 3rd on a Paul Goldschmidt RBI single. Nola settled down after that, but the Phillies bats remained silent against Miles Mikolas and the Cardinals bullpen. St. Louis added an insurance run in the 7th on an RBI double by Juan Yepez, securing a 3-0 victory and a commanding 2-0 series lead heading back to Philadelphia.

With their season on the brink in Game 3, the Phillies called on ace Zack Wheeler once more. This time, he delivered a gem against St. Louis. Wheeler threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five. Meanwhile, the Phillies finally cracked Cardinals pitching, tagging Jordan Hicks for three runs in the bottom of the 7th. Kyle Schwarber blasted a two-run homer to break the scoreless tie before Bryson Stott added an RBI single. In the 9th, David Robertson closed the door as the Phillies avoided elimination with a 3-0 victory of their own to send the series back to St. Louis all tied up.

In the decisive Game 3, the Phillies turned to Ranger Suárez while the Cardinals countered with Adam Wainwright. Once again, this game was a pitchers’ duel. Through six innings, the two starters had combined to allow just one hit. But in the top of the 7th, Philadelphia broke through against Wainwright. J.T. Realmuto led off with a single and Schwarber followed by launching a ball into the left field bleachers to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Suárez cruised through the bottom of the 7th and handed a 3-0 advantage over to the bullpen. In the 9th, José Alvarado struck out Paul Goldschmidt with two runners on to seal the Phillies’ first postseason series win since 2010. They advanced to face the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, sending the Cardinals home for the winter.

The Wild Card round provided plenty of drama and late-inning heroics. Both series went the full three games, showcasing the never-say-die attitudes of these teams. Veterans like Pujols and Wainwright delivered clutch moments for St. Louis, while young stars like Guerrero Jr. and Rodriguez did the same for their squads. Pitching was key throughout, as Wheeler, Manoah, and Suárez tossed gems to help their teams advance. With such an entertaining start to the 2022 playoffs, fans were eagerly anticipating more close, compelling games in the next round between these talented lineups. The Wild Card format succeeded in bringing excitement right from the outset of October baseball.

TOO MANY WILD CARDS IN BASEBALL

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There has been an ongoing debate in Major League Baseball around the appropriate number of wild card teams that should be allowed to participate in the postseason each year. The league expanded from one wild card team per league starting in 2012 to two wild card teams in each league beginning in 2012. Many feel this was an overexpansion that has watered down the regular season and postseason.

When MLB introduced the wild card format with one team per league in 1993, it was seen as a way to make the regular season more meaningful deep into September. Prior to that, only division winners made the postseason. The addition of a wild card kept more teams in contention for a playoff spot later in the year. Some argue the league may have gone too far by doubling the number of wild card teams just a few years later.

With two wild card teams now, over a third of the leagues makes the postseason in a given year. Proponents of expanding the wild cards felt it kept more fanbases engaged for longer. But critics say it reduces the significance of winning a division, especially considering wild card teams only need to finish ahead of one other club now instead of all non-division winners.

Having just two wild card spots initially worked well as a compromise. It still kept the regular season vital through the final days but didn’t oversaturate the playoffs. Expanding to four wild card teams total arguably cheapened winning a division and makes the league more top-heavy in terms of superteams vs everyone else. Parity could suffer as small-market clubs see less incentive to spend for mere wild card contention.

The quality of play in wild card games has also been questioned. It’s essentially a one-game knockout format that can boil a 162-game season down to just nine innings. Upsets are common and arguably better teams are more prone to early exits due purely to the luck of a single game. This was less problematic initially with a five-game division series, but seems magnified in today’s wild card/LDS format.

Some compromise formats have been proposed that could broaden postseason access without overdiluting the regular season product. One idea is to keep two wild card clubs but make the winner automatically advance to the division series. The loser would then host a mini three-game series against the next best wild card team to truly “qualify” for the LDS. This rewards top wild card finishers while still giving the second wild card club a reasonable chance.

An alternative that’s been suggested would expand to three wild card teams in each league but with a tweak. The top wild card club would get a bye, while the second and third wild cards face off in a sudden death game. This winner then takes on the league’s top wild card team in a short series. It adds one more playoff entrant but doesn’t fully diminish the focus on divisional success or the importance of protecting a top wild card slot.

Others feel a return to just one wild card per league is best. With 30 teams now as opposed to the original 14 at the format’s inception, they argue the sport is diluted enough without watering down 162 games even further. Reducing wild cards to a single entry means the regular season uphill battle is tougher again as only division triumphs are rewarded with an automatic pass into a best-of-five LDS.

There are good arguments on both sides and reasonable people can disagree. But taking a step back, there does appear to be merit in concerns that doubling wild card participation weakened the importance of winning a division meaningfully. Especially with MLB’s expansion, going back to a single wild card or implementing minor tweaks to the current format seem like reasonable compromises to consider. In a game of inches, small caliber changes could make big impacts on restoring some vitality to the September pennant races and postseason integrity. There may be too much randomness now with four wild card slots.

Beyond competitive balance impacts, overuse of wild cards may also affect MLB from a business perspective long term. Fans in cities without playoff hopes may lose interest sooner, hurting late-season attendance numbers and television ratings. With so many franchises making the dance, the market may become oversaturated with October baseball as well. Exclusivity and rarity maintains interest levels, and while expanding wild cards initially engaged more fanbases for more of the year, the pendulum may have swung too far in the other direction.

At the end of the day, reasonable opinions differ on this complex issue with valid considerations on both sides. As with many modern debates, the truth likely resides somewhere in the middle ground. While wild cards undeniably spiced up the early months, two per league may simply be one too many in the current baseball landscape. There are adjustments that could be tested to restore more luster to divisional championships while still giving the games’ most competitive non-division winners a fair shake in October. Striking that balance will remain an ongoing discussion for stewards of our national pastime to ponder going forward.

While MLB’s initial introduction of a single wild card team was largely a success, expanding to four total wild card entries may have diluted the regular season and postseason more than necessary. Reducing back to two or three wild cards with minor format tweaks could restore lost prestige to division winners while keeping fan engagement high. With 30 MLB franchises, maintaining a level of scarcity remains important to sustaining longterm enthusiasm for America’s favorite ballgames into each autumn. Finding the right middle ground will likely take ongoing evaluation of the league’s objectives and competitive health.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WILD CARDS

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The introduction of wild card teams in Major League Baseball in 1995 was one of the most significant changes to the sport’s playoff format. Prior to 1995, only division winners would qualify for the postseason in both leagues. The addition of wild cards opened up playoff spots to non-division winners who had strong overall records, helping to create more drama and intrigue down the stretch of the MLB regular season each year.

The concept of wild cards was introduced by then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig in an effort to add more excitement late in the season and increase fan interest in more teams potentially fighting for playoff spots in September. With wild cards, the team in each league with the best record among non-division winners would claim an extra postseason berth. This format remained largely unchanged through 2011.

Under the initial wild card rules from 1995-2011, the single wild card team in each league would face the league’s division winner with the best record in a one-game playoff. The winner of that game would then advance to the League Division Series (LDS) to face one of the other division winners. Many viewed the one-game wild card playoff as high-variance and potentially unfair, as one fluke game could end a team’s season that may have otherwise had strong credentials.

In 2012, Major League Baseball expanded the wild card format again. Instead of one wild card team per league, the new format established two wild card clubs in each league. The wild card teams in each league would then face off in a newly created Wild Card Game, a one-game playoff. The winner of the Wild Card Game in each league would advance to play one of the division winners in the best-of-five LDS round.

This was done to address concerns about a team’s season boiling down to just one game in the wild card playoff. While still high-variance, having two wild card teams face off provided a bit more of a “series feel” since both clubs had already proven themselves among the best non-division winners. It also rewarded more teams for their regular season success by doubling the available wild card spots from one to two per league.

The new two-wild card format created much more drama in recent Septembers, with multiple teams in each league often jockeying for wild card positioning down the stretch. Teams were desperately trying to finish as the top wild card to host the one-game Wild Card playoff. There were also many memorable single-game Wild Card contests, including some epic late-inning comebacks and walk-off wins.

There was still criticism that the one-game Wild Card playoff was too short and volatile a series to properly evaluate the two teams. Some felt the wild card round winners still received an “undeserved” division series spot over other strong clubs that were eliminated earlier.

To address this, in 2022 MLB announced yet another wild card change – adopting a best-of-three Wild Card Series for each league instead of the one-game Wild Card playoff. Under the new format, the top two wild card teams in each league will host all games of a best-of-three series. This places a premium on finishing as the top wild card since the lower wild card would have to win two road games to advance.

Supporters argued the best-of-three Wild Card Series provides a much better test of the clubs over multiple games. It rewards season-long success and gives the lower wild card team at least a chance to take a series on the road. Critics claimed it could potentially elongate the regular season too much and risk player injuries. But overall, the expansion to a best-of-three set seems to be an improvement on the old one-game playoff format by providing a truer playoff series feel.

The adoption and evolution of MLB’s wild card system has succeeded in driving increased fan interest late in regular seasons and making more teams relevant into September. It’s created countless dramatic moments and playoff races over the years. While still imperfect, moving to a best-of-three Wild Card Series should make for true playoff-caliber matchups and diminish concerns over a flukey one-game result ending a team’s season. The wild card format has been a major positive change for MLB that shows no signs of disappearing. Its growth and refinements over time have greatly benefited the game at a critical playoff juncture.

WILD CARD BASEBALL CARDS

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Wild card baseball cards have become one of the more interesting specialty collecting areas for baseball card collectors. The concept of a “wild card” first arose in Major League Baseball in 1994, when for the first time more than two teams from each league made the playoffs. This opened up the possibility for teams to sneak into the postseason that may not have otherwise had an opportunity.

While baseball cards featuring wildcard playoff teams had been produced in the past for teams that qualified via a one-game playoff prior to 1994, it wasn’t until after the implementation of the official wild card playoff spots that the collecting niche of “wild card cards” really took hold. Producers like Upper Deck, Pacific, and Topps began highlighting wild card teams on specialized baseball cards to commemorate the expansion of the playoff format.

Some of the earliest true wild card cards came in 1995, when baseball card manufacturers printed special parallel rookie cards of players like Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Garret Anderson of the California Angels. Both teams made the playoffs as wild card qualifiers that season. These rookie cards featured the MLB logo with “WC” beneath, signifying the players’ contributions to their teams advancing via the wild card.

In 1996, Upper Deck pioneered the concept further with their “Upper Deck Wild Card Heroes” parallel insert set. This featured 25 special blue bordered cards honoring impact players from wild card playoff teams from the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Names included Raul Mondesi, David Wells, and Bobby Higginson. The cards displayed enlarged photos highlighting key at-bats, fielding plays, or pitching performances that helped propel their teams to October baseball.

The following year in 1997, Topps took the idea of wild card cards and ran with it, releasing an entire 88-card parallel insert set called “Topps Wild Card Winners”. Divided into American and National League portions, each card highlighted top performers from teams that qualified for the postseason as wild card entries between 1995-1997. Big names like Derek Jeter, Todd Helton, and Kenny Lofton received special Wild Card Winners recognition in this hugely popular set.

Another iconic wild card card release came from Upper Deck in 1998 with their “Upper Deck Wild Card Standouts” parallel insert series. This 30-card set paid tribute to the biggest stars and critical moments from wild card playoff series wins over the previous few postseasons. Names included Randy Johnson’s 17-strikeout game against the San Diego Padres in 1997 NLDS action. Each card featured a dramatic action shot recreating the highlighted play.

The 2000s saw continued wild card card production from the main manufacturers. To commemorate the advent of additional playoff rounds, Topps released both “Topps Wild Card Game Heroes” cards highlighting one-game playoff stars in 2002 and 2003, as well as “Topps Division Series Impact” cards in 1998, 1999 and beyond recognizing pivotal ALDS and NLDS performances. Upper Deck followed suit with special parallels dedicated to extra inning playoff wins and walk-off home runs hit by wild card qualifiers.

As the playoffs expanded even further, wild card cards evolved right along with them. Between 2005-2009, Topps created specialized autographed and memorabilia Wild Cardparallel sets under names like “Topps Wild Card Threads” and “Topps Wild Card Signatures”. These provided swatches and autos from iconic wild card playoff standouts like David Ortiz, Mat Latos, and Mariano Rivera. Upper Deck and Leaf produced 1/1 game-used relic parallel cards as well featuring bats, jerseys and more from extended postseason matchups.

Into the modern era of the 2010s, wild card cards continued their postseason celebration but also took on historical elements as well. Licensing brands like Topps, Panini, and just about any company producing baseball sets ensure Wild Card logos and markings adorn current year’s participants. Retrospectives and vintage parallels also pay homage to legendary franchise qualifiers from the past like the 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1972 Cincinnati Reds and 1986 New York Mets.

A further niche developed around wild card team “postseason perennial” parallel inserts as well. Arizona Diamondbacks stars like Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Luis Gonzalez received specialized recognition across multiple manufacturers for consistently helping lead the D-Backs to the playoffs throughout their early 2000s dynasty run as wild card regulars each October.

As the 2021 baseball season demonstrated with an exciting wild card weekend, no October is complete without last-gasp qualifiers. And collectors will be sure to snap up any new wild card cards produced remembering performances from teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers fighting tooth and nail for late postseason entry this past year. With at least one additional wild card team joining their leagues’ playoff fields starting in 2022, expect the tradition of “wild card cards” to stretch on capturing vital moments for many Octobers still to come. The specialized niche of honoring franchises’ wild pathways to playoff glory endures as strong as ever within the collecting community.