Baseball's Postseason Appearances, 1876-2017

The Yankees have made the Playoffs again. But that is not enough. Today, in spite of a nice Yankee win, the Red Sox clinched the American League East.

For this list, I am counting, even if Major League Baseball does not do so officially:

* Pennants in the single-division Leagues prior to 1969.

* The split-season Divisional Champions of 1981.

* The teams that had the best overall record in each Division in 1981, even if they didn't make the Playoffs under the format in place that year.

* The teams that were in first place when the Strike of 1994 hit.

* The teams that lost Playoffs for the Pennant in the single-division era (1901-1968).

* The teams that lost Playoffs for Division titles (1969-2015).

All ties in this ranking are broken by most recent finish. This season's postseason berths in bold.

1. New York Yankees, 54: 1921, '22, '23, '26, '27, '28, '32, '36, '37, '38, '39, '41, '42, '43, '47, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '55, '56, '57, '58, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '76, '77, '78, '80, '81 (1st-half and overall winners), '94 (led when strike hit), '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '09, '10, '11, '12, '15, '17.

2. St. Louis Cardinals, 32: 1885, '86, '87, '88, 1926, '28, '30, '31, '34, '42, '43, '44, '46, '64, '67, '68, '81 (aggregate winners but didn't lead in either half), '82, '85, '87, '96, 2000, '01, '02, '04, '05, '06, '09, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers, 25: 1959, '62, '63, '65, '66, '74, '77, '78, '80, '81 (1st-half and overall winners), '83, '85, '88, '94 (led when strike hit), '95, '96, 2004, '06, '08, '09, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17. Previously reached as Brooklyn Dodgers in 1889, '90, '99, 1900, '16, '20, '41, '46, '47, '49, '51, '52, '53, '55 and '56 -- total, 40, ahead of the Cardinals.

4. Chicago Cubs, 25: 1876, '80, '81, '82, '85, '86, 1906, '07, '08, '10, '18, '29, '32, '35, '38, '45, '84, '89, '98, 2003, '07, '08, '15, '16, '17. 

5. Boston Red Sox, 24: 1903, '04, '12, '15, '16, '18, '46, '48, '67, '75, '78, '86, '88, '90, '95, 2003, '04, '05,  '07, '08, '09, '13, '16, '17.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates, 19: 1901, '02, '03, '09, '25, '27, '60, '70, '71, '72, '74, '75, '79, '90, '91, '92, 2013, '14, '15.

7. Atlanta Braves, 19: 1969, '82, '91, '92, '93, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '10, '12, '13. Previously reached as Boston Braves in 1877, '78, '83, '91, '92, '93, '97, '98, 1914 and '48; and as Milwaukee Braves in 1957, '58 and '59 -- total, 32, ahead of the Cubs, Red Sox and Pirates, and even with the Cardinals.

8. Oakland Athletics, 18: 1971, '72, '73, '74, '75, '81 (1st-half and overall winners), '88, '89, '90, '92, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '06, '12, '13, '14. Previously reached as Philadelphia Athletics in 1902, '05, '10, '11, '13, '14, '29, '30 and '31 -- total, 26, ahead of the Cubs, Red Sox and Reds, but not the Dodgers or Braves if all cities are counted.

9. Cincinnati Reds, 18: 1882, 1919, '39, '40, '61, 1970, '72, '73, '75, '76, '79, '81 (aggregate winners but didn't lead in either half), '90, '94 (led when strike hit), '95, 2010, '12, '13.

10. Detroit Tigers, 17: 1907, '08, '09, '34, '35, '40, '45, '68, '72, '84, '87, 2006, '09, '11, '12, '13, '14.

11. Philadelphia Phillies, 14: 1915, '50, '76, '77, '78, '80, '81 (1st-half), '83, '93, 2007, '08, '09, '10, '11.

12. Cleveland Indians, 13: 1920, '48, '54, '94 (led AL Wild Card race when Strike hit), '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '07, '16, '17.

13. Baltimore Orioles, 13: 1966, '69, '70, '71, '73, '74, '79, '83, '96, '97, 2012, '14, 16. Previously reached as St. Louis Browns in 1944, for a total of 14.

14. Minnesota Twins, 12: 1965, '69, '70, '87, '91, 2002, '03, '04, '06, '09, '10, '17. Previously reached as Washington Senators in 1924, '25 and '33 -- total, 15, ahead of the Orioles and Astros, but not the Giants if all cities are counted.

15. Houston Astros, 12: 1980, '81 (2nd-half winners), '86, '94 (led NL Wild Card race when Strike hit), '97, '98, '99, 2001, '04, '05, '15, '17.

16. San Francisco Giants, 12: 1962, '71, '87, '89, '97, 2000, '02, '03, '10, '12, '14, '16. Previously reached as New York Giants in 1888, '89, 1904, '05, '08, '11, '12, '13, '17, '21, '22, '23, '24, '33, '36, '37, '51 and '54 -- total, 29, ahead of the Cubs, Red Sox, Pirates, Reds, A's, Tigers, Phillies and Orioles, but not the Braves if all cities are counted.

17. Chicago White Sox, 11: 1901, '06, '17, '19, '59, '83, '93, '94 (led when strike hit), 2000, '05, '08.

18. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 10: 1979, '82, '86, '95, 2002, '04, '05, '07, '08, '09, '14.

19. New York Mets, 9: 1969, '73, '86, '88, '99, 2000, '06, '15, '16.

20. Kansas City Royals, 9: 1976, '77, '78, '80, '81 (2nd-half winners), '84, '85, 2014, '15.

21. Texas Rangers, 8: 1994 (led when strike hit), '96, '98, '99, 2010, '11, '15, '16.

22. Toronto Blue Jays, 7: 1985, '89, '91, '92, '93, 2015, '16.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6: 1999, 2001, '02, '07, '11, '17.

24. San Diego Padres, 6: 1984, '96, '98, 2005, '06, '07.

25. Washington Nationals, 4: 2012, '14, '16, '17. Also won NL East as Montreal Expos in 1981 (2nd-half and overall winners) and '94 (led when strike hit) -- total, 5.

26. Colorado Rockies, 4: 1995, 2007, '09, '17.

27. Tampa Bay Rays, 4: 2008, '10, '11, '13.

28. Milwaukee Brewers, 4: 1981 (2nd-half winners), '82, 2008, '11.

29. Seattle Mariners, 4: 1995, '97, 2000, '01.

30. Miami Marlins, 2: 1997, 2003 (both times, won Pennant as Wild Card).

Leading their respective Divisions are: In the American League, the Yankees, Detroit and Oakland; in the National League, Atlanta, St. Louis and Los Angeles.

All 30 teams have made the postseason at least twice; all in existence prior to 1993, at least 4 times.

Last Postseason Appearance by Each Team:

1. New York Yankees, 2017
2. Los Angeles Dodgers, 2017
3. Chicago Cubs, 2017
4. Boston Red Sox, 2017
5. Cleveland Indians, 2017
6. Minnesota Twins, 2017
7. Houston Astros, 2017
8. Arizona Diamondbacks, 2017
9. Washington Nationals, 2017
10. Colorado Rockies, 2017
11. San Francisco Giants, 2016
12. New York Mets, 2016
13. Texas Rangers, 2016
14. Toronto Blue Jays 2013
15. St. Louis Cardinals, 2015
16. Pittsburgh Pirates, 2015
17. Kansas City Royals, 2015
18. Detroit Tigers, 2014
19. Baltimore Orioles, 2014
20. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 2014
21. Oakland Athletics, 2014
22. Atlanta Braves, 2013
23. Cincinnati Reds, 2013
24. Tampa Bay Rays, 2013
25. Philadelphia Phillies, 2011
26. Milwaukee Brewers, 2011
27. Chicago White Sox, 2008
28. San Diego Padres, 2007
29. Miami Marlins, 2003
30. Seattle Mariners, 2001