As we approach the home stretch before this year’s playoffs, the oddity that is the new wild card system looms. To determine the final entrant in the real playoff tournament, fans are now guaranteed two winner-take-all games every year to separate the real wild card entrant from the pretender. Reminds me of the bizarre special fan vote to determine the last man on the All-Star roster.

Though this wild card qualifier will officially be a post-season game, it really feels more like a playoff game added on to the regular season. So, in tribute to the real regular season winner-take-all games, here’s a remembrance of what once were pretty rare occurrences but now will be happening every year.

For a winner-take-all game, I’m talking about regular season playoff games or final day of the season games where both teams can make the post-season with a win, or miss the post-season with a loss. Though the games might not fit that definition precisely, I’ve also included a couple of 3-team races that went down to the wire and in which two of the principals faced each other on the last day of the season.

American League

In the AL’s first decade, there were several times when a winner-take-all game might have occurred, but never did. The reason is that in those early days, seasons were not extended to make up missed games, even if they could have a bearing on who would be league champion. Thus, in 1904, the Boston Americans took the pennant even though they were tied in the loss column with the New York Highlanders, who had played three fewer games. In 1907, the Tigers prevailed with a better winning percentages than the Athletics, even though Detroit, who had played 5 more games, trailed Philadelphia by one in the loss column.

1. The closest to a winner-take-all game came in that first decade came in 1908 when the Tigers again triumphed in a spectacularly tight three-way race with Cleveland and Chicago. Going into the final day of the season, any of the 3 teams could have won the title. The Tigers prevailed by besting the White Sox, while Cleveland beat the Browns. Had the Detroit result been reversed, the Naps would have taken the pennant. Had both results been reversed, it would have been the White Sox in the World Series.

2. The first true AL winner-take-all game didn’t come until 1948 when the Indians and Red Sox finished tied. In a one-game playoff, the Indians prevailed 8-3 behind rookie Gene Bearden, pitching on one day’s rest. The win was Bearden’s 20th of the year, and his fourth CG victory in the final ten days of the season.

3. In 1949, the Yankees and Red Sox went down the wire, with Boston holding a one-game lead with two to play. But, the Red Sox lost both to the Bombers, including a 5-3 decision in the finale, as the Yanks put up a 4-spot in the 8th off of relievers Mel Parnell (who started the day before) and Tex Hughson.

4. In 1967, the third time was the charm for the Red Sox. From August 20th onwards the Red Sox were never more than 1.5 games ahead or behind, and never more than 3 games ahead or behind from July 18th onwards. Going into a final 2-game set at Fenway, Minnesota led Boston by a game. As the Yankees had done in 1949, the Red Sox won both, clinching the finale with a 5-run uprising in the 6th (aided by an error and two wild pitches) to win 5-3 behind Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg. Strictly speaking, this was not a true winner-take-all game as Boston did not claim the pennant until the Angels beat the Tigers in the second game of their double-header that day. After winning the first game, the Tigers had climbed into a brief 3-way tie with the Twins and Red Sox.

In the strike-shortened 1972 season, it was the Red Sox again in the thick of things in a season-ending series with the Tigers. Detroit took the series two out of three to finish a half-game ahead of Boston who had played one less game and was tied in the loss column. Because games canceled by the short strike were not made up (which game would you reschedule?), that final result stood.

5. In 1978, guess who was again involved and again lost, this time in a one-game playoff with the Yankees.  Boston held at least a share of first place everyday from May 20th to Sept 12th, then had to win their last 8 games (while the Yankees went 6-2) to force the playoff, in which the Yankees prevailed 5-4, behind Bucky Dent‘s 3-run homer in the 7th. Not so well remembered is Reggie Jackson‘s solo shot in the 8th that provided what would turn out to be the final margin of victory. Goose Gossage went 2.2 innings for the save, despite allowing the Red Sox to get close with 2 runs in the 8th.

6. There was another winner-take-all game to finish the 1982 season and, for a change, it didn’t involve the Red Sox. The Brewers led Baltimore by 3 with 4 to play, then lost the first three of their season-ending 4-game set to enter the final day of the season tied. In a battle of future HOFers, Don Sutton (does anyone else have trouble remembering Sutton as a Brewer?) bested Jim Palmer in a 10-2 game (though 5 of the Brewer runs came in the 9th inning off of Dennis Martinez and Mike Flanagan).

7. In 1995, Seattle beat California in a one-game playoff for the AL West crown. Randy Johnson went the distance for the Mariners, and then led Seattle to a memorable comeback LDS victory over the Yankees, staving off elimination with a game 3 win, and then coming back on one day’s rest to go 3 innings and win game 5 in extras.

In 2000, Oakland finished a half-game ahead of Seattle and was one game up in the loss column. But, departing from past practice, no make-up games were played and Oakland was instead awarded the AL West title on the basis of having won the season series with the Mariners. The same thing happened in 2005 when the Yankees and Red Sox finished tied, and New York got the nod (though the Red Sox were consoled with the wild card berth).

8. In 2008, playoffs returned with the White Sox beating the Twins for the AL Central title. The Twins were a half-game ahead of Chicago after the final day of play, but the season was extended to allow the White Sox to play and win their make-up game and force the one-game playoff, won 1-0 on Jim Thome‘s 7th inning homer.

9. Minnesota got another chance in 2009 and made good, beating the Tigers 6-5 in an epic 12-inning playoff thriller. Minnesota had forced the playoff by winning their final 4 games while Detroit went 1-3 to squander a 2 game lead.

So, there you have it – 108 seasons of playoffs and only 9 winner-take all games. But, I think I like it when these games are special – not looking forward to having one every year.

Will follow up this post with another on the NL winner-take-all history.