On July 10th, 1968, The National league announced that it planned to break into two divisions for 1969. The Eastern Division would include the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals. The Western Division would include the Los Angeles Dodges, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, and Atlanta Braves.

Playoff baseball began in the 1969 after both the National League and the American League made the momentous decision to divide their leagues into two separate divisions. Up until then, the World Series always featured the American League team with the best record playing the best of 7 games against the National League team with the best record. So in 1968, the 103-win Detroit Tigers played the 97-win St. Louis Cardinals.

Starting in 1969, that all changed. Every October from then on, we have had baseball playoffs. A system that I happen to like quite a bit. But there are those who do not share my enthusiasm.

The pre-1969 system maximized the importance of the long baseball season. After 162 games (or before 1961 154 games) the team with the best record in each league was crowned as the pennant winner. Beginning in 1969 that changed. Going forward, the team with the most league wins might not even get the pennant. While it worked out in the 1969 World Series that the Mets and the Orioles had the best record in their respective leagues, that would not always be the case going forward.

As baseball has added to the number of teams in each league over the years, playoffs have expanded. There remain a solid number of people who continue to complain about baseball’s playoff system. Their position seems to center around a concern about the playoffs watering down the regular season. “The best teams do not necessarily make the World Series,” they say.

“So what,” I say, in response. The more teams that are playing meaningful baseball in September the better as far as I am concerned. Why should the fans of only a few teams have all the fun.

And besides, wasn’t it great when the lowly, 85-win Twins were allowed a chance to beat “Whiny” Herzog’s 95-win, heavily favored Cardinals in 1987. The more the merrier, I say.