Phils-Dodgers NLCS Makes Postseason History

Written by: Josh Landsburg on 26th October 2009

Phils-Dodgers NLCS Makes Postseason History | read this item

Since the Championship round of the MLB postseason became a best of seven series in 1985, the Phillies are the only team to win back-to-back series 4-1, 4-1 over the same opponent, which of course was the Los Angeles Dodgers. I know this is kind of a quirky stat, but when the Phils won this series in five games this year again, I thought it was peculiar, so I decided to look up some postseason history. Looking at this round overall, which has taken place since 1969, only two other teams from the National League have beaten the same opponent in back-to-back years. The Atlanta Braves in 1991 and 1992 won the NLCS over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3, 4-3, and in 1977 and 1978, the Dodgers won over the Phillies ironically 3-1, 3-1. I guess the past two years were the Phillies way of getting back at the Dodgers. It’s an interesting coincidence too that all three times since 1969 a team from the NL has repeated against the same team, they all did it in the same amount of games.

Looking at the American League, it happened a little more frequently that a team beat another team in back-to-back years. However, the difference is, unlike the NL, not all of the series were won in the same amount of games. Here are the years, followed by the teams, and then the games: 2000-2001-New York Yankees over the Seattle Mariners, 4-2, 4-1. 1976-78, (only time in history three years in a row), Yankees over the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1. By the way, the Yankees also won the World Series over the Dodgers in 1977 and 1978 by a margin of 4-2, 4-2. 1973-74-Oakland Athletics over the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2, 3-1. And, finally, 1969-1970, (the first two years there was a championship series), the Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-0, 3-0. Since I didn’t have a chance to personally witness all the World Series of the 70’s and early 80’s, it’s always fun to go back and take a look at history.

By the way, I believe in my LCS predictions I had the Phillies over the Dodgers in six games, (I guess I gave the Dodgers too much credit), and the Yankees over the Angles in six games, which I was dead on…not to toot my own horn or anything. Stay on the lookout for a full World Series Preview of the Phillies and Yankees, and until then, feel free to make any comments on this story or anything else.

Share on Tumblr

Topics: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Coincidence, Five Games, Ironically, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, MLB, Mlb Postseason, New York Yankees, Nlcs, Oakland Athletics, Opponent, Phillies, pittsburgh pirates, Seattle Mariners, Three Times, Time In History, World Series

hometeamgal says:

October 27, 2009 at 4:41 pm

Unique perspective in your stats–
Looking forward to the World Series Preview–
Justin says:

October 27, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Dodgers were extremely overrated. Phils in six Josh, who you got?