What Is the Pennant Race?

Often described as "America's Game," baseball has become an international sport. It is played in many countries and Major League Baseball teams in America are filled with international players. Many of these athletes have the same goal, to make it to the "Big Leagues" and to win the American League or National League pennant.

  1. Pennant History

    • Beginning as early as the 1900s, professional baseball existed in America. Major League Baseball (MLB) is divided into two separate leagues, American and National. In the early days, the teams in these two leagues exclusively played within their own division. At the end of the season, the team with the best record was awarded their division's pennant. The American League and National League champion began to square off in the World Series in 1903.

    Current Pennant Format

    • Each league split in 1969 to create two divisions based on geographical location. This had implications on the pennant race. Instead of competing for the league pennant, teams sought the best record within their division. The two division winners from each league would play a playoff series to determine who was the league pennant winner. Then, as before, the champions of each division met in the World Series. In 1993, a third division was create in each league, and the playoffs expanded to include each division winner plus one wildcard team (the team with the best record who was not already in the playoffs).

    Close Races

    • Many times, the standings within a division can be very close. It is said that the teams that are close in standings are said to be in a "race." If two teams within a division end the regular season with the same record, then a one-game playoff decides which team makes it to the postseason. This happened in 2007 with the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies, in 2008 with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins and in 2009, with the Twins and the Detroit Tigers.

    Giant Collapses

    • Occasionally, a division can become a race because of one team's giant collapse. A collapse describes when a team is ahead by many games in the standings, but loses their lead in the last couple weeks of the season. The 2006 Detroit Tigers gave up a six-game advantage on the Minnesota Twins. In 1995, the Angels lost an 11-game lead over the Texas Rangers and could not beat them in a playoff.