This time, it appeared that field manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman did prioritize winning the American League Eastern Division, which gives the Yankees a considerably better chance of advancing in the Playoffs than -- as they did in 2015, '17 and '18 -- merely winning one of the AL's 2 Wild Card slots.
But this, still is not enough. I want to win the whole thing.
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 (1969-2019).
* The teams that lost Playoffs for the Wild Card berths (1995-2019).
All ties in this ranking are broken by most recent finish. This season's postseason berths in bold.
1. New York Yankees, 56: 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, '18, '19.
2. St. Louis Cardinals, 33: 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, '19.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers, 28: 1959, '62, '63, '65, '66, '74, '77, '78, '80 (lost Playoff for NL West title), '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, '18, '19.
The Dodgers previously reached as the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1889, '90, '99, 1900, '16, '20, '41, '46, '47, '49, '51, '52, '53, '55 and '56 -- total, 41, ahead of the Cardinals.
4. Chicago Cubs, 26: 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, '18.
5. Boston Red Sox, 25: 1903, '04, '12, '15, '16, '18, '46, '48 (lost Playoff for AL Pennant), '67, '75, '78 (lost Playoff for AL East title), '86, '88, '90, '95, 2003, '04, '05, '07, '08, '09, '13, '16, '17, '18.
6. Atlanta Braves, 21: 1969, '82, '91, '92, '93, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '10, '12, '13, '18, '19.
The Braves previously reached as the Boston Braves in 1877, '78, '83, '91, '92, '93, '97, '98, 1914 and '48; and as the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, '58 and '59 (lost Playoff for NL Pennant) -- total, 33, ahead of the Cubs, Red Sox, Pirates and Cardinals.
7. Oakland Athletics, 20: 1971, '72, '73, '74, '75, '81 (1st-half and overall winners), '88, '89, '90, '92, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '06, '12, '13, '14, '18, '19.
The A's previously reached as the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902, '05, '10, '11, '13, '14, '29, '30 and '31 -- total, 27, ahead of the Cubs, Red Sox and Reds, but not the Dodgers or the Braves if all cities are counted.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates, 19: 1901, '02, '03, '09, '25, '27, '60, '70, '71, '72, '74, '75, '79, '90, '91, '92, 2013, '14, '15.
9. Cincinnati Reds, 19: 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, '99 (lost NL Playoff for Wild Card), 2010, '12, '13.
10. Detroit Tigers, 17: 1907, '08, '09, '34, '35, '40, '45, '68, '72, '84, '87, 2006, '09, '11, '12, '13, '14.
12. Minnesota Twins, 14: 1965, '69, '70, '87, '91, 2002, '03, '04, '06, '08 (lost a Playoff for the AL Central title), '09, '10, '17, '19. They previously reached as Washington Senators in 1924, '25 and '33 -- total, 16, ahead of the Orioles if all cities are counted, but not the Giants.
13. Cleveland Indians, 14: 1920, '48, '54, '94 (led AL Wild Card race when Strike hit), '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001, '07, '16, '17, '18.
14. Philadelphia Phillies, 14: 1915, '50, '76, '77, '78, '80, '81 (1st-half), '83, '93, 2007, '08, '09, '10, '11.
15. Baltimore Orioles, 13: 1966, '69, '70, '71, '73, '74, '79, '83, '96, '97, 2012, '14, '16. The O's previously reached as the St. Louis Browns in 1944, for a total of 14.
16. San Francisco Giants, 12: 1962, '71, '87, '89, '97, 2000, '02, '03, '10, '12, '14, '16.
The Jints previously reached as the New York Giants in 1888, '89, 1904, '05, '08 (lost Playoff for NL Pennant), '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 if all cities are counted, but not the Dodgers or Braves.
17. Chicago White Sox, 11: 1901, '06, '17, '19, '59, '83, '93, '94 (led when strike hit), 2000, '05, '08.
18. Los Angeles Angels, 10: 1979, '82, '86, '95 (lost a Playoff for the AL West title), 2002, '04, '05, '07, '08, '09, '14.
19. New York Mets, 9: 1969, '73, '86, '88, '99, 2000, '06, '15, '16.
20. Texas Rangers, 9: 1994 (led when strike hit), '96, '98, '99, 2010, '11, '12 (lost Playoff for AL West title), '15, '16.
21. Kansas City Royals, 9: 1976, '77, '78, '80, '81 (2nd-half winners), '84, '85, 2014, '15.
22. Toronto Blue Jays, 7: 1985, '89, '91, '92, '93, 2015, '16.
23. Milwaukee Brewers, 6: 1981 (2nd-half winners), '82, 2008, '11, '18, '19.
24. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6: 1999, 2001, '02, '07, '11, '17.
25. San Diego Padres, 6: 1984, '96, '98, 2005, '06, '07.
26. Washington Nationals, 5: 2012, '14, '16, '17, '19. Also won the NL East as the Montreal Expos in 1981 (2nd-half and overall winners) and '94 (led when strike hit) -- total, 5.
27. Tampa Bay Rays, 5: 2008, '10, '11, '13, '19.
28. Colorado Rockies, 5: 1995, 2007, '09, '17, '18.
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, 2019
2. Los Angeles Dodgers, 2019
3. Houston Astros, 2019
4. Minnesota Twins, 2019
5. St. Louis Cardinals, 2019
6. Atlanta Braves, 2019
7. Washington Nationals, 2019
8. Milwaukee Brewers, 2019
9. Tampa Bay Rays, 2019
10. Oakland Athletics, 2019
11. Chicago Cubs, 2018
12. Boston Red Sox, 2018
13. Cleveland Indians, 2018
14. Colorado Rockies, 2018
15. Arizona Diamondbacks, 2017
16. San Francisco Giants, 2016
17. New York Mets, 2016
18. Texas Rangers, 2016
19. Toronto Blue Jays 2013
20. Pittsburgh Pirates, 2015
21. Kansas City Royals, 2015
22. Detroit Tigers, 2014
23. Baltimore Orioles, 2014
24. Los Angeles Angels, 2014
25. Cincinnati Reds, 2013
26. Philadelphia Phillies, 2011
27. Chicago White Sox, 2008
28. San Diego Padres, 2007
29. Miami Marlins, 2003
30. Seattle Mariners, 2001