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| {{Short description|North American professional baseball}} | |||
| ''']''' in ''']''' (MLB), like in other sports, have occurred between many teams and cities. Rivalries have arisen for many different reasons, the primary ones include ], familiarity with opponents, violence, and cultural, linguistic, or national pride. | |||
| {{Fan POV|date=April 2023}} | |||
| Throughout its history, ] ] have occurred between many teams and cities. Rivalries have arisen for many different reasons, the primary ones including geographic proximity, familiarity with opponents, various incidents, and cultural, linguistic, or national pride. | |||
| ] rivalries can be inconsistently scheduled during the regular season and generally tend to be based on ] and previous ] matchups. An exception to this inconsistent scheduling is the eleven pairs of teams which meet six times a year during interleague play. | |||
| ==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| {{further|Major League Baseball schedule}} | {{further|Major League Baseball schedule}} | ||
| In the "Original 16" era ( |
In the "Original 16" era (1901–1960), there were 8 teams in each league and teams in each league played each other 22 times a season.<ref name="OriginalSchedule">{{cite news | access-date=November 12, 2023 | author-link=John Drebinger | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/12/08/archives/vote-unanimous-on-tenclub-plan-american-league-will-start-expanded.html | title=VOTE UNANIMOUS ON TEN-CLUB PLAN; American League Will Start Expanded Operation in '61 and National in '62 | date=December 8, 1960 | last=Drebinger | first=John | newspaper=] | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112083418/https://www.nytimes.com/1960/12/08/archives/vote-unanimous-on-tenclub-plan-american-league-will-start-expanded.html | archive-date=12 November 2023}}</ref> With the second American League incarnation of the ] (now the Texas Rangers) and the ] entering play as expansion teams in {{mlby|1961}}, MLB increased the total number of games American League teams played to 162, which meant teams would play each other 18 times a season.<ref name="OriginalSchedule"/> The ] did not implement this until the following year when the ] and ] (now the Houston Astros) entered play.<ref name="OriginalSchedule"/> | ||
| In {{mlby|1969}}, with the ], ], ], and ] entering play as expansion teams, MLB split both leagues into two divisions with six teams each.<ref>{{cite news|title=Major Leagues Adopt 2-Division, 162-Game Format for 1969 Only|first=Leonard|last=Koppet|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 11, 1968|page=45}}</ref> Teams played a total of 90 intra-divisional games, playing teams within the division 18 times each and 72 inter-divisional games, playing each team in the other division 12 times.<ref>{{cite news|title=New National League Format Has Cincinnati in West and St. Louis in East|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 9, 1969|page=S2}}</ref><ref name="Schedule">{{cite news|title=NL Changes Format|date=September 3, 1992|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, in {{mlby|1977}}, the addition of the ] and ] reduced the number of intra-divisional games ] teams played to 78, as each team would play each team within the division 13 times.<ref name="Schedule"/> However, they still played each team in the other division 12 times, but the total number of inter-divisional games increased to 84.<ref name="Schedule"/> The National League did not institute this until {{mlby|1993}}, when the ] and ] entered play.<ref name="Schedule"/> | In {{mlby|1969}}, with the ], ], ], and ] entering play as expansion teams, MLB split both leagues into two divisions with six teams each.<ref>{{cite news|title=Major Leagues Adopt 2-Division, 162-Game Format for 1969 Only|first=Leonard|last=Koppet|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 11, 1968|page=45}}</ref> Teams played a total of 90 intra-divisional games, playing teams within the division 18 times each, and 72 inter-divisional games, playing each team in the other division 12 times.<ref>{{cite news|title=New National League Format Has Cincinnati in West and St. Louis in East|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 9, 1969|page=S2}}</ref><ref name="Schedule">{{cite news|title=NL Changes Format|date=September 3, 1992|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, in {{mlby|1977}}, the addition of the ] and ] reduced the number of intra-divisional games ] teams played to 78, as each team would play each team within the division 13 times.<ref name="Schedule"/> However, they still played each team in the other division 12 times, but the total number of inter-divisional games increased to 84.<ref name="Schedule"/> The National League did not institute this until {{mlby|1993}}, when the ] and ] entered play.<ref name="Schedule"/> | ||
| In {{mlby|1994}}, MLB split each league into three divisions,<ref name=PhilliesRealignment/> but kept the 1993 format in scheduling.<ref>{{cite news|title=Central and West teams are realignment winners|date=January 25, 1994|first=Hal|last=Bodley|newspaper=USA Today|page=5C}}</ref> In {{mlby|1997}}, with |
In {{mlby|1994}}, MLB split each league into three divisions,<ref name=PhilliesRealignment/> but kept the 1993 format in scheduling.<ref>{{cite news|title=Central and West teams are realignment winners|date=January 25, 1994|first=Hal|last=Bodley|newspaper=USA Today|page=5C}}</ref> In {{mlby|1997}}, with MLB adopting ],<ref name="InterleaguePlay"/> the schedules were changed.<ref>{{cite news|title=In '97, Let the Games (Between the Leagues) Begin|first=Murray|last=Chass|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 19, 1996 |page=B9 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/19/sports/baseball-in-97-let-the-games-between-the-leagues-begin.html |access-date=March 15, 2011}}</ref> The schedule for interleague play comprised 84 three-game series, namely six series (eighteen games) for each of fourteen AL teams and as many as six for each of sixteen NL teams. | ||
| MLB changed its scheduling format in {{mlby|2001}}, further intensifying division matchups throughout the league.<ref>{{cite news|url= |
MLB changed its scheduling format in {{mlby|2001}}, further intensifying division matchups throughout the league.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/06/sports/baseball-division-race-just-got-harder-for-mets.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|title=Division Race Just Got Harder For Mets|date=December 6, 2000|access-date=June 2, 2011|first=Murray|last=Chass|newspaper=The New York Times|author-link=Murray Chass}}</ref> The new "unbalanced schedule" allowed for additional games in each season between divisional rivals, replacing additional series with teams outside the division.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/03/20/unbalanced/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413164304/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/03/20/unbalanced/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2001 |title=New schedule will make for some hot division races|last=Donovan|first=John|date=March 21, 2001|publisher=CNNSI.com}}</ref> Due to the change, division rivals now played each other 17 or more times each season.<ref name="Enemies"/> The scheduling drew criticism both when it was enacted and after the fact, with some analysts even positing that the unbalanced schedule ''hurt'' intra-divisional play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2330|title=Checks and Balances: Looking at the Unbalanced Schedule|last=Click|first=James|date=September 19, 2003|publisher=Baseball Prospectus}}</ref> | ||
| With the Astros moving to the ] in {{mlby|2013}}, MLB changed its scheduling |
With the Astros moving to the ] in {{mlby|2013}}, MLB changed its scheduling formula as a result of each division having five teams.<ref name="2013Scheduling">{{Cite web|last=Rogers|first=Phil|title=Odd number of teams in each league forces quirks in 2013 schedule|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-xpm-2012-09-13-ct-spt-0913-rogers-bb-2012-sked-20120913-story.html|access-date=2021-11-06|newspaper=]|date=13 September 2012 |quote=With the Astros moving from the National League to the American, there will be interleague play all season long. Also, games between natural rivals in different leagues,...have been reduced from six per year to four...In the new format, teams will play 19 games against division opponents, six or seven against the other teams in their leagues and 20 interleague games.}}</ref> Teams play a total of 76 intra-divisional games, playing teams within the division 19 times each, and six or seven games against other teams in their leagues and 20 interleague games.<ref name="2013Scheduling" /> The move of the Astros led to interleague play throughout the season.<ref name="2013Scheduling" /> The number of interleague games against natural rivals was reduced from six to four.<ref name="2013Scheduling" /> Beginning in 2023, intradivisional games were reduced to 13 while teams get three interleague games against each non-natural opponent and four against a natural rival.<ref name="2023MLBSchedule">{{cite news|last=Molski|first=Max|title=MLB schedule explained: How will new format work in 2023?|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/mlb-schedule-explained-how-will-new-format-work-2023|website=nbcsports.com|access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref> | ||
| ==American League== | ==American League== | ||
| ===American League East=== | ===American League East=== | ||
| ====Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays==== | |||
| The Orioles-Blue Jays rivalry is a more under the radar rivalry but in recent years it has been rekindled by a series of incidents namely involving Blue Jays slugger ] and Orioles pitcher ]. | |||
| * September 25, 1977: With the Orioles trailing the Yankees by 2 ½ games in the AL East, Baltimore was aiming for a sweep. Orioles Manager ] In the fifth inning, pulled his team off the field because he thought a tarp on the mounds in the Jays’ bullpen was too close to the foul line, claiming it could injure a player. He argued with umpire ] for 20 minutes. Weaver went back to the dugout and Springstead waited five more minutes before ruling the Orioles had forfeited the game.<ref name=Star>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2014/08/04/blue_jaysorioles_rivalry_has_history_of_memorable_moments.html|date=2014-08-04|publisher=Toronto Star|accessdate=2015-06-20}}</ref> | |||
| * June 26, 1978: The Blue Jays set a team record for runs in a game pummelling the Orioles 24-10, Pinch Hitter ] goes 3 for 5 with two home runs and seven runs batted in.<ref name="Star"/> | |||
| * May 30, 1982: ] marks the first of 2,632 consecutive games in the Baltimore lineup in a 6-0 Blue Jays win.<ref name="Star"/> | |||
| * August 24, 1983: The Orioles' ] picks off three Blue Jays base-runners in the 10th inning of a 7-4 Orioles victory, the Jays took big leads on Martinez due to the presence of Utility infielder ] behind the plate.<ref name="Star"/> | |||
| * September 30, 1989: The Jays beat the Orioles 4-3 to clinch the second playoff berth in team history.<ref name="Star"/> | |||
| * June 23, 2013: After being struck out by ] the previous day, who skipped off the hill and apparently said something to him, ] hits a two-run home run in the bottom of the 8th to give the Jays a 4-2 lead and eventual win, as he circled the bases Bautista mocked O'Day by miming a "you talk too much" gesture right at him.<ref name=Star>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2015/06/18/blue-jays-set-to-renew-hostilities-with-rival-orioles-griffin.html|date=2015-06-18|publisher=Toronto Star|accessdate=2015-06-20}}</ref> | |||
| * September 15, 2014: ] of the Jays throws at the head of Orioles catcher ] in retaliation for a perceived blocking of the plate when ] was trying to score, Reyes also felt that Joseph intentionally stepped on his hand. Both benches are warned, later in the series ] is drilled in retaliation and Stroman is later suspended six games for the incident.<ref name=Star2>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/94872552/benches-warned-after-marcus-stroman-nearly-hits-caleb-joseph|title=Benches warned after Stroman nearly hits Joseph|date=2014-09-15|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=2015-06-20}}</ref> | |||
| * April 12, 2015: After an inside pitch that brushes Jose Bautista off the plate, On the very next pitch from ], Bautista hits a two-run home run into the left field seats at Camden Yards and mock skips while exiting the box.<ref name="Star2"/> | |||
| * April 21, 2015: In the seventh inning of a blow-out, Orioles Rookie ] throws behind Jose Bautista, who stares him down, a few pitches later Bautista hits a two-run home run, ] and stares at the Orioles dugout taking his time to circle the bases. On his way back out to right field for the eighth inning, Bautista and ], on the top step of the dugout, exchanged heated words. On the second pitch of the inning ] hit the ball to right field. Bautista charged it and came up gunning to first base, Young barely beat the throw and Bautista injured his shoulder and was reduced to a DH role for the next 35 games.<ref name="Star2"/> | |||
| *June 19, 2015: In the first inning of an eventual 5-4 Jays victory, Orioles pitcher ] hits Bautista with a pitch, which prompts Home Plate umpire ] to issue a warning to both benches and Blue Jays manager ] is also ejected. Later, in a crucial situation in the eighth inning, Jays pitcher ] hits Adam Jones with two men on and the score 5-1 and is ejected by Bucknor, who also ejects Bench Coach and acting manager ].<ref></ref> | |||
| * September 30, 2015: After watching the Orioles clinch the American League Eastern Division against them last year, the Jays return the favor by clinching the East at ] in a 15-2 blowout victory. | |||
| ====Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees==== | ====Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees==== | ||
| {{main|Yankees–Red Sox rivalry}} | {{main|Yankees–Red Sox rivalry}} | ||
| The ''' |
The '''Yankees–Red Sox rivalry''' is one of the oldest, most famous, and fiercest rivalries in American sports.<ref>{{harvnb|Shaughnessy|2005|p=21}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Frommer|Frommer|2004|p=78}}</ref><ref name=UltimateRivalry>{{cite news|title=Sport's ultimate rivalry; Yanks-Red Sox epic battles go way back|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/playoffs/2004-10-20-yanks-sox-rivalry_x.htm|date=October 21, 2004|access-date=January 26, 2011|first=Hal|last=Bodley|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref> For more than 120 years, the ] and ] have been intense rivals.<ref name="Enemies">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/playoffs/2004-10-11-cover-rivalry_x.htm|title=Here they go again...; Red Sox vs. Yankees: Bitter enemies clash with Series on line|date=October 12, 2004|access-date=January 27, 2011|first=Mike|last=Dodd|newspaper=USA Today|page=1C}}</ref> | ||
| The rivalry is often a heated subject of conversation in the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Shaughnessy|2005|p=19}}</ref> Since the inception of the ] team and an added Division Series, the ] rivals have squared off in the ] three times |
The rivalry is often a heated subject of conversation in the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Shaughnessy|2005|p=19}}</ref> Since the inception of the ] team and an added Division Series, the ] rivals have squared off in the ] three times: The Yankees won in ] and ], and the Red Sox won in ].<ref name="ALCS">{{cite news|title=They Love to Hate Each Other; Red Sox and Yankees carry bitter rivalry into championship series that starts tonight|date=October 12, 2004|first=Mike|last=DiGiovanna|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=D1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A World Series ticket; Sox complete comeback, oust Yankees for AL title|date=October 21, 2004|first=Dan|last=Shaughnessy|newspaper=The Boston Globe|page=A1|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/10/21/a_world_series_party/?page=full}}</ref> The two also faced off in the ] in ], with the Red Sox winning in four games.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|title=Red Sox punish Yankees at home to advance to ALCS: 'We'll get the last laugh'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2018/10/09/red-sox-yankee-stadium-party-alds-game-4/1585450002/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> The teams most recently played in a ] after the 2021 season, in which the Sox topped the Yanks at Fenway Park. In addition, the teams have twice met in the last regular-season series of a season to decide the league title, in {{mlby|1904}} (when the Red Sox won) and {{mlby|1949}} (when the Yankees won).<ref name="ALCS"/> | ||
| The teams also finished tied for first in {{mlby|1978}}, when the Yankees won a high-profile ] for the division title.<ref>{{harvnb|Frommer|Frommer|2004|pp=177–179}}</ref> The 1978 division race is memorable for the Red Sox having held a 14-game lead over the Yankees more than halfway through the season.<ref>{{harvnb|Frommer|Frommer|2004|p=175}}</ref> Similarly, the 2004 ALCS is famous for the Yankees leading 3–0 and ultimately losing a best-of-7 series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Back From Dead, Red Sox Bury Yanks and Go to Series|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 21, 2004|page=A1 |
The teams also finished tied for first in {{mlby|1978}}, when the Yankees won a high-profile ] for the division title.<ref>{{harvnb|Frommer|Frommer|2004|pp=177–179}}</ref> The 1978 division race is memorable for the Red Sox having held a 14-game lead over the Yankees more than halfway through the season.<ref>{{harvnb|Frommer|Frommer|2004|p=175}}</ref> Similarly, the 2004 ALCS is famous for the Yankees leading 3–0 and ultimately losing a best-of-7 series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Back From Dead, Red Sox Bury Yanks and Go to Series|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 21, 2004|page=A1}}</ref> | ||
| In 2019, the rivalry was showcased in the first ], with the Yankees winning both games.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|title=30 runs and 16 pitchers: Yankees-Red Sox slugfest was an insane London introduction for MLB|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2019/06/29/mlb-london-series-yankees-red-sox-put-historic-slugfest/1607840001/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| The rivalry is often termed the "greatest rivalry in all of sports."<ref>{{cite book|title=The rivals: the Boston Red Sox vs. the New York Yankees: an inside history|last=The New York Times|last2=The Boston Globe|location=New York|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2004|isbn=0-312-33616-0|edition=1st|authorlink=The New York Times|authorlink2=The Boston Globe|page=1}}</ref> Games between the two teams often generate a great deal of interest and get extensive media coverage, including being broadcast on national television.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two nations, over the air: Portrait of a rivalry in radio waves|last=Wallace|first=Tim|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=July 10, 2011|page=K12|url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-10/sports/29758562_1_red-sox-sox-territory-yankees-fans|accessdate=January 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yankees vs. Red Sox: Long-running drama|url=http://www.usatoday.com/SPORTS/usaedition/2010-05-07-yanksox07_cv_U.htm?csp=34|first=Jorge L.|last=Ortiz|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 7, 2010|page=1C}}</ref> In the stands it is very common for Yankees fans and Red Sox fans to taunt each other and more than occasionally get into fistfights, so security at both Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park is heavy when either team comes to town. | |||
| The rivalry is often termed the "greatest rivalry in all of sports."<ref>{{cite book|title=The rivals: the Boston Red Sox vs. the New York Yankees: an inside history|last1=The New York Times|last2=The Boston Globe|location=New York|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2004|isbn=0-312-33616-0|edition=1st|author-link=The New York Times|author-link2=The Boston Globe|page=1}}</ref> Games between the two teams often generate a great deal of interest and get extensive media coverage, including being broadcast on national television.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two nations, over the air: Portrait of a rivalry in radio waves|last=Wallace|first=Tim|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=July 10, 2011|page=K12|url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/07/10/two_nations_over_the_air/|access-date=January 13, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027191338/http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-10/sports/29758562_1_red-sox-sox-territory-yankees-fans|archive-date=October 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yankees vs. Red Sox: Long-running drama|url=https://www.usatoday.com/SPORTS/usaedition/2010-05-07-yanksox07_cv_U.htm?csp=34|first=Jorge L.|last=Ortiz|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 7, 2010|page=1C}}</ref> In the stands, it is very common for Yankees fans and Red Sox fans to taunt each other and get into fistfights, so security at both Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park is heavy when either team comes to town. | |||
| ====Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays==== | ====Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays==== | ||
| {{main|Rays–Red Sox rivalry}} | |||
| While not as nationally famous as some matchups, the Red Sox and the ] also have a rivalry that has been the focus of some memorable incidents: | |||
| The '''Rays–Red Sox rivalry''' is contested between the ] and ]. Though this rivalry is more recent than the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry, both teams have regularly competed for the AL East title since 2008, winning it a combined seven times in the past 13 years. They have also met in the postseason several times, most recently in ]. Due to this level of close competition, the rivalry has been called one of the most competitive in the modern American League.<ref>{{cite web|first=Will|last=Leitch|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/best-rivalries-in-baseball-ranked|title=Baseball's best rivalries right now, ranked|website=MLB|date=August 3, 2021|access-date=March 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nate|last=Scott|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/07/red-sox-yankees-tampa-bay-rays-al-east-best-rivalry|title=The Red Sox and Yankees are no longer the best rivalry in the AL East|website=USA Today|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=March 23, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Gammons">{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2887894/2021/10/14/gammons-the-rays-red-sox-rivalry-is-hotter-than-you-may-realize-and-its-only-getting-better/|title=Gammons: The Rays-Red Sox rivalry is hotter than you may realize, and it's only getting better|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=March 11, 2022|author=]|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| * August 29, 2000. The Devil Rays' (as they were then known) ] is hit by a pitch thrown by the Red Sox' ]. Williams charges the mound and lands a right hook on Martinez, and the benches clear (by the end of the game, multiple Rays hitters had been ejected). | |||
| * September 29, 2000: Rays closer ] strikes out the Red Sox' ], eliminating the Sox from playoff contention; Hernandez sarcastically waves goodbye to the Red Sox team as the Rays celebrate on the mound. | |||
| * May 5, 2002: Nixon throws his bat at Rays pitcher ], who had hit the Sox' ] and ] earlier in the game. Red Sox pitcher ] dove into the ensuing melee, and was suspended for five games (as was Nixon, for four). Rupe got away with a fine. | |||
| * April 24, 2005: The third game of a Rays/Red Sox series saw ] hit ]; Rays starter ] retaliates by throwing at ]. Ramirez subsequently hit a home run off Carter, who then drilled ], causing a melee in which six players were ejected. | |||
| * March 27, 2006: Red Sox' ] is suspended for 10 games following a brawl at the plate against ]. | |||
| * June 5, 2008: ] of the Rays throws at the Sox' ] (in retaliation for an earlier play in which Crisp had slid hard into ] at second base). Crisp charges the mound and brawls with Shields, and both benches clear. | |||
| * May 25, 2012: ] is hit by a pitch thrown by the Rays' ]; ] retaliates by hitting ]. Benches clear, but no punches were thrown (although the Rays' ] later exchanges harsh words with a Sox fan in the ] stands).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1669110-is-red-sox-rays-the-most-underrated-heated-rivalry-in-baseball|title=Is Red Sox-Rays the Most Underrated Heated Rivalry in Baseball?|date=2013-06-11|publisher=Bleacher Report|accessdate=2014-02-23}}</ref> | |||
| * June 10, 2013: ] of the Rays hits a home run off of the Red Sox' ]. In Joyce's next at-bat, he almost hits another home run, but is eventually thrown out at first base; Lackey has some choice words for Joyce as the two teams walk off the field. Lackey then hits Joyce with a pitch, prompting a bench-clearing brawl. The acrimony even spilled over onto ], where the two teams regularly traded barbs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/07/30/red-sox-rays-engage-in-twitter-fight-after-shift-in-al-east-standings/|title=Red Sox, Rays Engage In Twitter FIght After Shift In AL East Standings|date=2013-07-30|publisher=CBS Boston|accessdate=2014-02-24}}</ref> | |||
| * July 29, 2013: Umpire ] incorrectly ruled ] of the Red Sox out at home plate in the eighth inning against the Rays which would have tied the game. The Rays eventually held on for a 2-1 victory. Red Sox manager ] was ejected for arguing the call, in which Meals later admitted was incorrect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/2013/07/jerry-meals-admits-to-blowing-call-at-home-plate-says-daniel-nava-should-have-been-safe/|title=Jerry Meals Admits to Blowing Call at Home Plate, Says Daniel Nava Should Have Been Safe|work=NESN.com|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * May 25, 2014: ], who had just doubled home two runs to give the Rays an 8-3 lead, takes third base on ]. Red Sox catcher ], in the Boston dugout, trades barbs with Escobar; Escobar retaliates and is then shoved by Red Sox left fielder ], a former Ray, and the benches clear. Gomes, Escobar and ] are all ejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/tb/benches-clear-three-ejected-in-rays-red-sox-series-finale-at-tropicana-field?ymd=20140525&content_id=76791132&vkey=news_tb|title=Tempers flare in Rays-Red Sox series finale|date=2014-05-25|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=2014-05-25}}</ref> | |||
| * May 30, 2014: In the first inning, ] hits ] with a pitch; manager ] comes out to argue and is quickly ejected. Three innings later, Price drills ] but is not ejected, and both benches clear. Red Sox bench coach ], who had taken over for Farrell, is ejected, replaced by third base coach ]. In the top of the sixth inning, Sox reliever ] throws behind ] and is immediately ejected, as was Butterfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/boston-red-sox-manager-john-farrell-two-coaches-and-pitcher-ejected?ymd=20140530&content_id=77512452&vkey=news_mlb|title=Farrell, Lovullo, Workman, Butterfield ejected|date=2014-05-30|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=2014-05-30}}</ref> | |||
| * July 27, 2014: David Ortiz hits a home run in the 3rd inning at ], unleashing a bat flip towards the Red Sox dugout in the process. Rays pitchers David Price and ] take exception to Ortiz' actions, accusing him of showboating and thinking that he is "bigger than the game of baseball." Ortiz retorts that Archer is "not the right guy to be saying that" and defends his own actions, saying that "It's pretty much what I do."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/tb/rays-righty-chris-archer-calls-out-red-sox-slugger-david-ortiz-for-bat-flip-after-homer?ymd=20140727&content_id=86617164&vkey=news_tb|title=Archer calls out Big Papi for bat flip after HR|date=2014-07-27|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=2014-07-29}} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| ===American League Central=== | ===American League Central=== | ||
| ====Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox==== | |||
| {{main|Tigers–White Sox rivalry}} | |||
| The rivalry between the ] and ] is one of the oldest active rivalries in the league today.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/176850-midwest-masscre-a-look-at-the-chicagodetroit-rivalry|title=Midwest Masscre: A Look at The Chicago/Detroit Rivalry|website=] }}</ref> Both teams joined the American League in 1901 and have actively played one another regularly for over 120 years. There are other professional sports teams rivalries between Chicago and Detroit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/tigers-reignite-rivalry-with-white-sox-after-rally-attempt|title=Tigers' rally falls short but reignites rivalry|website=] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://detroitsportsnation.com/famous-rivals-in-detroit-sport-history/gblouth/uncategorized/06/12/2023/412381/|title=Famous rivals in Detroit sport history|date=12 June 2023 }}</ref> such as the ] in the ] and the ] in the ]. Despite playing one another for over 2,200 games, both teams have yet to meet in the postseason in their 122-year series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theathletic.com/2860516/2021/10/01/the-tigers-white-sox-drama-might-just-foreshadow-a-budding-al-central-rivalry/|title=The Tigers-White Sox drama might just foreshadow a budding AL Central rivalry |last1=Stavenhagen |first1=Cody }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2022/04/08/detroit-tigers-chicago-white-sox-series-rivalry-al-central/9505219002/|title=Detroit Tigers seek 'competitive rivalry' with Chicago White Sox for AL Central}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-javier-baez-sends-white-sox-stern-message-as-al-central-rivalry-reconvenes|title=Tigers' Javier Baez sends White Sox stern message as AL Central rivalry reconvenes|date=9 April 2022 }}</ref> | |||
| As of June 23, 2024, the Tigers lead the series 1,133–1,107–15; the two teams have yet to meet in the postseason. | |||
| ====Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers==== | |||
| This rivalry has recently come to true form (as in the case of 2012 when both The Sox and The Tigers were competing for the division crown) and mirrors the age-old "Chicago vs. Detroit" rivalry (], etc.) and has become one of each team's signature rivalries in recent years. The rivalry has also shared its fair share of skirmishes: | |||
| ====Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox ==== | |||
| * July 12, 1979: ]. A twi-night doubleheader between the Tigers and Sox is interrupted by fan violence and disco records' destruction on the field at ]; the second game of the doubleheader was forfeited, as Tigers manager ] refused to let his players take the field. | |||
| {{main|Twins–White Sox rivalry}} | |||
| * June 20, 1980: Tigers outfielder ] (retaliating for a previous year's game in which Sox reliever ] hit him in the jaw with a pitch) charges the mound, setting off a bench clearing brawl (and, for Cowens, a seven-game suspension). | |||
| The Twins–White Sox rivalry is contested between the ] and ]. Though both teams are charter members of the American League, the rivalry did not begin in earnest until the 2000s, when the White Sox and Twins consistently battled for the AL Central crown. In the 2000s, they combined to win 8 out of the 10 AL Central division titles of the decade. Their most prominent meeting occurred in the ], which was necessitated by the two clubs finishing the season with identical records.<ref>{{cite web|author=Baumann, Michael |date=March 26, 2021 |title=Actually, the Top MLB Rivalry of 2021 Isn't Dodgers-Padres. It's Twins–White Sox. |work=The Ringer |url=https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2021/3/26/22351163/twins-white-sox-al-central-race |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Rogers, Phil |date=February 24, 2003 |title=Twins-White Sox rivalry heating up |work=ESPN |url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/columns/rogers_phil/1512817.html |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Fenn, Martin |date=April 7, 2021 |title=Ranking the 6 Most Captivating Rivalries in MLB This Year |work=BleacherReport |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2939490-ranking-the-6-most-captivating-rivalries-in-mlb-this-year |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| * April 7, 1984: ] throws a no-hitter at Comiskey Park. No brawls occurred between players, although Morris constantly argued with a drunk Sox fan in the stands at Comiskey. | |||
| * April 22, 2000: Tigers starter ] hits Sox batter ]; the next inning, ] plunks ] in retaliation. Palmer then throws his helmet at Parque and charges the mound. Later in the same game, Sox reliever ] drilled ], sparking another brawl. It is often cited as one of baseball's ugliest fights and led to 16 players, coaches and managers getting suspended (and ] getting a beer shower from disgruntled Sox fans). | |||
| * Spring 2005: Sox manager ], incensed at ]' departure from his team, trades barbs with Ordonez over contract negotiations; Ordonez subsequently refers to Guillen as "his enemy" and receives an obscenity-laced tirade in response. | |||
| * July 11, 2013: Sox starter ], after a ] homer, throws at ]. Later, the White Sox took the lead after ] hits a grand slam off of ]; Tigers reliever ] retaliates by throwing behind ], leading to the benches clearing and Tigers manager ] getting ejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh8RJifsem8|title=Tigers vs White Sox BENCHES CLEAR MUST WATCH|work=YouTube|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WUI5kRXOqo|title=2009/06/09 Benches clear in Chicago|work=YouTube|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/12/the-best-and-worst-bench-clearing-brawls-of-all-time/|title=The best (and worst) bench-clearing brawls of all time - HardballTalk|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/what-are-the-biggest-rivalries-in-baseball/|title=What Are the Biggest Rivalries in Baseball? - FanGraphs Baseball|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * September 24, 2014: With Chris Sale on the mound for the White Sox, he struck out ] in the third to end the inning, then pointed his cap in the direction of center field. In the sixth inning, again facing Martinez, Sale promptly plunked Detroit's designated hitter with a fastball, leading to both benches and bullpens clearing before order was restored. Martinez later alleged that he was told by former teammate ] during the scrum that Sale believed Martinez had someone ] in center field. Sale and White Sox manager ] flatly denied this, but Sale's actions in the dugout following the plunking fueled the theory, as he was seen mimicking binoculars with his hands. This led to several Tigers later returning the gesture, including ], immediately after he hit a double to drive in the go-ahead run later in the game.<ref>http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/09/white_sox_ace_chris_sale_denie.html</ref> The managers heated things up further after the game, with Tigers manager ] calling Sale's actions "weak" and accusing him of purposefully hitting the Tigers' star hitter and putting him at risk of injury in the heat of a pennant race. White Sox manager Robin Ventura denied all such allegations, saying that Ausmus should worry about his own team and retorting that Sale is not "weak".<ref>http://sports.yahoo.com/news/robin-ventura-fires-back-brad-234828107.html</ref> Then, on the last day of the regular season, with the division title on the line for the Tigers, and with the Royals facing the White Sox and seeking to match the Tigers win-loss record, Ventura rested star players Jose Abreu and Alexei Ramirez with undisclosed injuries, fueling speculation by Detroit sports writer Tony Paul that this may have been a measure of retribution for "Binocular-gate".<ref>http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2014/09/28/tigers-expect-lively-discussions-postseason-roster/16405211/</ref> | |||
| ====Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins==== | |||
| This rivalry is often considered one of the best in AL Central and both teams have considered this one of their signature and biggest rivalries for over a decade now. The amount of history that has been crammed into the rivalry over the past 15 years is incredible, during the team's AL Central dominance, they combined for 9 out of 10 division championships in the 2000s (White Sox with 3 and Twins with 6), and even more hatred was added to it when the first year in awhile that the White Sox beat the Twins out for first (2005), the White Sox won the world series with former Twins catcher ] (who had received boos from Twins fans when he was in a White Sox uniform before), the two teams played in an extremely close 163rd game for the fate of the division in 2008 that ended in a White Sox victory of 1-0 and an AL Central Championship, White Sox fans often draw hate from all the times The Twins knocked them out of first or playoff contention as well (2002, 2004, 2010, etc.), it has been cited as one of the Top 7 rivalries in baseball history and both fans consider it their biggest rival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/737551-mlb-power-rankings-the-7-greatest-rivalries-in-baseball|title=MLB Power Rankings: The 7 Greatest Rivalries in Baseball|author=Jeffrey Beckmann|work=Bleacher Report|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> and there have been famous times when White Sox players have called out Twins players after the Twins stole the division from them late in the season, one of the most famous is in 2003, after The Twins took the division by 7 games and White Sox closer outed the Twins by saying "I honestly don't think the Twins can play at the level they did last year. They had a lot of the, quote, 'baseball bounces' last year. They had an awful lot of those happen. I'm not taking away from their talent, because they had a lot of talented players, but they had every single bounce go their way. It was almost like they never had any bad luck. They only had good luck. ... Unless they have some deal with the devil up there, I don't see that happening again."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/columns/rogers_phil/1512817.html|title=ESPN.com: MLB - Twins-White Sox rivalry heating up|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> and especially after former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen gave the team the famous "Piranhas" nickname in 2010, after some team-to-team heckling during the 2010 division race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/207478261.html|title=Souhan: Guillen, Pierzynski added sizzle to Twins-White Sox rivalry|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> Although both teams as of late have dropped in performance, they still find each other as rivals and both have added large amounts of new prospects, gearing for the return of the rivalry. Also it was once even stated in a court case that both team's were arch rivals (however, this was done jokingly)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/16/as-a-matter-of-law-the-twins-are-the-white-sox-arch-rivals/|title=As a matter of law, the Twins are the White Sox’ arch rivals - HardballTalk|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ====Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers==== | |||
| The Tigers-Indians spawns from a number of factors, both teams were part of the old AL East before moving to the AL Central and are both geographically near each other and is sometimes point to as the MLB's outlet to the ], the rivalry has had its up and downs but, during the 2013 division race, the Indians fans started chanting "Detroit's bankrupt".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jackseattle.cbslocal.com/2013/08/08/cleveland-fans-sing-detroits-bankrupt-at-tigers-game-video/|title=Cleveland Fans Sing ‘Detroit’s Bankrupt’ At Tigers Game « Jack Seattle FM|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> This rivalry is sometimes considered a replacement of the old Blue Jays-Tigers rivalry, the fans have a hatred for each other and is one of baseball's promising new rivalries. The rivalry has had its physical moments as well, on September 19, 2008, Tigers batter Gary Sheffield and Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona engaged in a brawl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fkYfB1233M|title=Compilation of the best baseball brawls|work=YouTube|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ===American League West=== | ===American League West=== | ||
| ====Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros==== | ====Lone Star Series: Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros==== | ||
| {{main|Lone Star Series}} | {{main|Lone Star Series}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The '''Lone Star Series''' (also, '''Silver Boot Series''') is a ] rivalry featuring Texas' two major league franchises, the ] and ]. It is an outgrowth of the "natural rivalry" established by MLB as part of ] as the Rangers are a member of the ] and the Astros were a member of the ] until {{mlby|2012}}. | The '''Lone Star Series''' (also, '''Silver Boot Series''') is a ] rivalry featuring Texas' two major league franchises, the ] and ]. It is an outgrowth of the "natural rivalry" established by MLB as part of ] as the Rangers are a member of the ] and the Astros were a member of the ] until {{mlby|2012}}. | ||
| During interleague play, the winner of the 6-game series was awarded the Silver Boot. A {{convert|30|in|mm|adj=on}} tall display of a size-15 ] cast in silver, complete with a custom, handmade ]. If the series was split ( |
During interleague play, the winner of the 6-game series was awarded the Silver Boot. A {{convert|30|in|mm|adj=on}} tall display of a size-15 ] cast in silver, complete with a custom, handmade ]. If the series was split (3–3), the winner was the club which scored the most ] over the course of the series. | ||
| In {{mlby|2013}}, the Astros were forced into the ] with the Rangers and changed their rivalry from an interleague to an intra-division rivalry, the Astros played their first game in the American League against the Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball that season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Memmott |first=Mark |date=November 17, 2011 |title=Baseball's Houston Astros To Switch Leagues In 2013 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/11/17/142467483/baselballs-houston-astros-to-switch-leagues-in-2013 |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=José |first=Roberto |last2=Franco |first2=Andrade |date=2023-10-18 |title=How Astros-Rangers rivalry defines the state of Texas |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38683444/alcs-playoffs-houston-astros-texas-rangers-rivalry |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Drellich |first=Evan |title=Forget Yankees-Red Sox. How Astros-Rangers became a Texas-sized rivalry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4963016/2023/10/15/astros-rangers-rivlary-alcs/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2015, both teams made the playoffs and were in a tight division race during most of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2015/9/14/9323839/rangers-astros-rivalry-series|title=You're watching the start of a Rangers-Astros rivalry your grandkids will care about|author=Grant Brisbee|date=14 September 2015|publisher=Vox Media|work=SBNation.com}}</ref> | |||
| In {{mlby|2013}}, the Astros joined the ] with the Rangers and changed their rivalry from an interleague to an intra-division rivalry. | |||
| In 2023, the Rangers and Astros qualified for the postseason, marking the first time since 2015 that both teams made the postseason. While both teams finished the regular season with identical records (90–72), the Astros had the better head-to-head record (9–4). As such, the Astros won their third consecutive division title (and sixth in seven years), whilst the Rangers were relegated to the wild card berth. The two teams had their first postseason matchup in ]. With the visiting team winning every game, the Rangers won the series in seven games en route to their first ] title, which they achieved by defeating the ] in five games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=Astros and Rangers headed to ALCS, first-ever postseason series |url=https://www.kxan.com/sports/astros-and-rangers-headed-to-alcs-first-ever-postseason-series/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=KXAN Austin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adolis Garcia, Rangers crush Astros in ALCS Game 7 to reach World Series since 2011 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/playoffs/2023/10/23/astros-vs-rangers-live-time-tv-channel-pitchers-for-alcs-game-7/71294130007/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Rangers-Astros ALCS latest intrastate postseason matchup |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/playoff-series-between-mlb-teams-in-same-state |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ====Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Oakland Athletics==== | |||
| The AL version of Dodgers vs. Giants. These two teams battled for AL West Supremacy in 2014. Mostly dates back to 2002 when the A's 20 game winning streak overshadowed the Angels 18-2 run at the same time. The Angels actually went on to win the World Series that year over the San Francisco Giants. In 2014, the A's went 88-74, and the Halos went 98-64, finishing 10 games above the A's. | |||
| ====Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics==== | |||
| ===Interdivisional=== | |||
| {{Main|Angels–Athletics rivalry}} | |||
| The ] and ] have held a steady rivalry since their relocation to California and to the AL West in 1969. Though not as intense as the ] equivalent in the National League, the A's and Angels have often been competitive in their own battle for the division through the decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/112065-oakland-as-la-angels-the-fight-for-the-west|title=Oakland A's, LA Angels: The Fight For The West|website=]}}</ref> The peak of the rivalry was during the early part of the millennium as both teams were stellar and perennial contenders. But even then, there were only two down-to-the-wire finishes between the Angels and the A's during that time. During the 2002 season; both teams were proving to be contenders as The A's famous Moneyball tactics led them to a league record 20 game win streak; knocking the Angels out of the 1st seed in the division, finishing 4 games ahead while the Angels secured the Wild Card berth.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Bruce |date=18 September 2002 |title=A's-Angels rivalry 30 years in making / After decades, rivalry is heated |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkins/article/A-s-Angels-rivalry-30-years-in-making-After-3325207.php |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> Despite the 103 win season for Oakland; they fell in an upset to the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS. The Angels managed to pull off a victory over both the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins and culminated in the franchise's first and only ] victory. During the 2004 season, both teams came down to the wire: tied for wins headed into the final week of September with the last three games being played in Oakland against the Angels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-athletics-baxter-20140829-story.html|title=Angels-Athletics is becoming a real rivalry|website=] |date=29 August 2014 }}</ref> Both teams were battling to secure the lowest remaining wild card spot, however; Oakland fell in 2 losses to the Angels with only one victory in the series coming in the final game. Oakland found themselves eliminated from the playoff hunt, though the Angels suffered a sweep at the hands of the eventual champion Boston Red Sox.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/10/3313359/as-angels-rivalry-wild-card-standings|title=A's vs. Angels: The Rivalry That Should Be (And Eventually Will)|date=10 September 2012 }}</ref> | |||
| ====Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays==== | |||
| Throughout the 1980s, the Toronto Blue Jays were Detroit’s main rivals. Toronto was an expansion team in 1977, but started putting together decent pieces to build a competitor by the mid-1980s. They were good enough to be in the same area code as the Tigers in the 1984 AL East standings, but ultimately finished in second place, 15 games behind. | |||
| ====Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers==== | |||
| The rivalry rose to a new level in 1987. It looked all but certain the Blue Jays would win the AL East, up by 3.5 games with a week left. The Tigers fought tooth and nail to salvage the final game of a four-game series in 13 innings at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium to avoid a sweep. A week later, the teams met in a season ending series at Tiger Stadium with Toronto up by a game. Detroit swept them, avoiding a one-game playoff, in the regular season finale with a 1-0 victory. | |||
| {{See also|Mike Witt's perfect game|Kenny Rogers' perfect game}} | |||
| {{Main|Angels–Rangers rivalry}} | |||
| The Angels–Rangers rivalry has been said to have developed over a domination in the division between the two teams, and also in recent years more animosity between the two teams due to players who have played for both teams, including Nolan Ryan, ], ], ], ], and ]. In 2012, Wilson played a joke on Napoli, his former teammate, by ] his phone number, causing Napoli to exchange words with Wilson.<ref>{{cite news |title=C.J. Wilson, Mike Napoli Twitter Feud: Angels Pitcher Tweets Phone Number Of Rangers Catcher |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/cj-wilson-mike-napoli-twitter-phone-number_n_1365335.html |access-date=6 September 2013 |work=] |publisher=] |date=19 March 2012}}</ref> The feuds go back to two incidents between Angels second baseman ] and Rangers catcher ] which led to punches being thrown.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Evan |title=Rangers-Angels rivalry: How did we get here? |url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/05/rangers-angels-rivalry-how-did.html/ |access-date=6 September 2013 |work=] |date=11 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506182158/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/05/rangers-angels-rivalry-how-did.html/ |archive-date=6 May 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The Angels and Rangers have each pitched a ] against each other, making them the only pair of MLB teams to have done so. ] pitched a perfect game for the Angels against the Rangers in 1984 at ] and ] for the Rangers against the Angels in 1994. | |||
| The Tigers/Blue Jays rivalry continued to be pretty hot through 1993, but as both teams struggled post-1994, much of the luster was lost and was all but killed when Detroit moved to the AL Central in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|title=POLL: Who is the Detroit Tigers biggest rival?|website=http://motorcitybengals.com/2014/04/14/poll-detroit-tigers-biggest-rival/|publisher=Fansided|accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ===Inter-divisional=== | |||
| ====Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees==== | |||
| While fairly recent, as the teams have rarely met historically before ] due to the Astros originally being in the National League, the Astros–Yankees rivalry has taken over baseball. One of their most notable historic meetings came in an exhibition game on April 9, 1965, the inaugural game played at the ] and the first under the Astros team name; the Astros won the game 2–1. As with other teams, the Yankees are known for signing away several star players from the Astros, including ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davidoff|first=Ken|date=2019-10-31|title=Gerrit Cole already disowning Astros: 'I'm not employed by the team'|url=https://nypost.com/2019/10/31/gerrit-cole-already-disowning-astros-im-not-employed-by-team/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gerrit Cole signs with Yankees for record-breaking $324 million deal|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/gerrit-cole-signs-with-yankees-for-record-breaking-324-million-deal/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=CBSSports.com|date=11 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The Astros are the only team to ] the Yankees twice, with two combined no-hitters in 2003 and 2022; they are also the only team to no-hit them since 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 amazing stats from Astros' combined no-no |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/amazing-facts-from-astros-combined-no-hitter-vs-yankees |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Since 2015, the Astros and Yankees, along with the Boston Red Sox, also tend to have the most wins in the American League.<ref>{{cite web |title=Most Wins By An Al Team Since 2015 |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/most-wins-by-an-al-team-since-2015 |website=StatMuse |access-date=1 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| Since the Astros moved to the American League in 2013, the two teams have met in the postseason on four separate occasions, all of which have been won by the Astros. The first was the ], which Houston won 3–0;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Astros vs. Yankees – Game Summary – October 6, 2015 – ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/game?gameId=351006110|access-date=2020-07-06|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref> the second was the ], which Houston won in seven games;<ref>{{Cite web|title=2017 ALCS – Houston Astros over New York Yankees (4–3)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2017_ALCS.shtml|access-date=2020-07-06|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en}}</ref> and the third was in the ], with the Astros winning in six games. The animosity between the two teams has only grown stronger in recent years, especially due to the revelations of the ],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Venook|first=Jeremy|date=2020-01-19|title=The Astros' Cheating Scandal Rewrites a Decade of Baseball History|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/01/the-astros-scandal-rewrites-a-decade-of-mlb-history/605185/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kernan|first=Kevin|date=2020-03-05|title=Yankees furious with MLB in Astros cheating aftermath|url=https://nypost.com/2020/03/04/yankees-furious-with-mlb-in-astros-cheating-aftermath/|access-date=2020-07-06|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}</ref> with some believing that the sign stealing cost the Yankees the 2017 pennant; others, meanwhile, cite that the Yankees' poor offensive numbers meant they were likely to lose regardless.<ref>{{Cite web|last=NJ.com|first=Brendan Kuty {{!}} NJ Advance Media for|date=2019-11-12|title=Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts with disbelief to Astros' cheating controversy|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/11/yankees-aaron-judge-reacts-with-disbelief-to-astros-sign-stealing-controversy.html|access-date=2020-07-06|website=nj|language=en}}</ref> Many Yankees and their fans also accused the Astros of cheating during the 2019 ALCS; however, this was debunked by MLB.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Pickman|first=Ben|title=Manfred Addresses Buzzers, Astros Scandal at Press Conference|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/02/16/rob-manfred-buzzer-allegation-press-conference-astros|access-date=2021-02-09|magazine=Sports Illustrated|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-18|title=Hinch blows whistle, calls sign stealing suspicions 'a joke'|url=https://apnews.com/article/c12ebc117afd4525b6660aec020131c3|access-date=2021-02-09|website=AP NEWS}}</ref> The fourth postseason meeting occurred during the ]. Amidst chants by Yankees fans of "We Want Houston!" before the series, the Astros dominated the Yankees in a four-game sweep, becoming the first team to beat the Yankees in a postseason series four times.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Astros sweep Yankees to reach 4th World Series in 6 years |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34867395/astros-sweep-yankees-reach-4th-world-series-6-years |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ====New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians==== | |||
| A long-standing rivalry between the New York Yankees and the ] (formerly known as the ]) developed in the 1920s, when Cleveland shortstop ] died on the field after Yankees pitcher ] hit Chapman in the head with a fastball. Cleveland would rally following the incident, winning their first World Series title in {{wsy|1920}}, but the Yankees' subsequent dynastic run between {{wsy|1921}} and {{wsy|1964}} prevented Cleveland from attaining further success, other than another World Series title in {{wsy|1948}} and several winning seasons that followed. As a result, animosity ensued between the two franchises, pitting the perennially free-spending and dominant Yankees against the more conservative and underdog Indians.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=Timeline of the epic Guardians-Yankees rivalry |url=https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/04/11/guardians-yankees-rivalry |website=Axios.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=NYYCLE1>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-14 |title="War on the Diamond": The story of how the Yankees and Guardians became rivals after one pitch |url=https://calltothepen.com/2022/11/14/war-diamond-story-yankees-guardians-became-rivals-one-pitch/ |website=Fansided.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=NYYCLE2>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-15 |title=New documentary illustrates overlooked Yankees/Guardians rivalry |url=https://www.pinstripealley.com/2022/11/15/23458929/yankees-rivalry-documentary-cleveland-guardians-history-ray-chapman-carl-mays |website=SB Nation (Pinstripe Alley) |language=en}}</ref><ref name=NYYCLE4>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-11 |title='War on the Diamond' relives highlights of underrated Yankees/Cleveland rivalry |url=https://www.audacy.com/wfan/sports/yankees/yankees-guardians-cleveland-rivalry-documentary-review |website=Audacy.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ] would also be involved in the rivalry, in which he nearly purchased the Indians in the early 1970s; instead, he acquired majority ownership of the Yankees and led the team to seven World Series titles under his ownership. Since the advent of divisional playoffs in {{mlby|1995}}, both teams faced off in seven postseason series, most recently in the ], with the Yankees winning five of the seven meetings.<ref name=NYYCLE3>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=The history Yankees vs. Guardians ALDS rivalry |url=https://pinstripesnation.com/a-look-back-to-yankees-vs-guardians-alds-rivalry-2022-10-13/ |website=Pinstripes Nation |language=en}}</ref><ref name=NYYCLE5>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-03-19 |title=Who Is The Guardians' Biggest Rival Heading Into The 2023 MLB Season? |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/guardians/opinion/who-is-the-guardians-biggest-rival-heading-into-the-2023-mlb-season |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ==National League== | ==National League== | ||
| ===National League East=== | ===National League East=== | ||
| ====Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets==== | |||
| ==== Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets ==== | |||
| {{main|Braves–Mets rivalry}} | {{main|Braves–Mets rivalry}} | ||
| The '''Braves–Mets rivalry''' is a rivalry between the ] and ], who are both members of the ] (NL) ] division. The rivalry was particularly fierce during the late 1990s and early 2000s,<ref>{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Olson|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/crazy-scene-shea-takes-luster-mets-braves-rivalry-article-1.528122|title=Crazy scene at Shea takes luster off Mets-Braves rivalry|newspaper=]|date=July 8, 2003|access-date=January 9, 2009}}</ref> as both teams competed for postseason berths and, most notably, faced each other in the ]. The rivalry's fierceness would return during the ], when both teams competed for the NL East division title and first-round bye, with the Braves eventually coming out on top.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Braves sweep to take NL East lead; Mets look unprepared for playoffs |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/braves-sweep-to-take-nl-east-lead-mets-look-unprepared-for-playoffs |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=David |title=Complete turnaround: Braves sweep Mets, reduce NL East magic number to 1 |url=https://theathletic.com/3651552/2022/10/03/braves-sweep-mets/ |access-date=October 5, 2022 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tredinnick |first1=Andrew |title='We're going to need some help now': Mets' lost weekend in Atlanta can't mean a lost season |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2022/10/03/ny-mets-swept-by-atlanta-braves-nl-wild-card-vs-padres/69534134007/ |access-date=October 5, 2022 |website=North Jersey Media Group}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mets' division hopes nearly erased by sweep |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-swept-by-braves-lose-season-series-nl-east-tiebreaker |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Benjamin |date=2022-10-05 |title=Wild Cards: The Mets Are Officially Eliminated in the N.L. East |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/sports/baseball/mets-braves-nl-east.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Historically, the two teams have often been considered the best in their division.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlossberg |first=Dan |title=Long-Standing Rivalry Consumes Mets And Braves As Season Looms |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschlossberg/2023/03/07/long-standing-rivalry-consumes-mets-and-braves-as-season-looms/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| The '''Braves–Mets rivalry''' was at its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as both teams competed for postseason berths and, most notably, met in the ]. | |||
| ====Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies==== | |||
| While the rivalry of the Atlanta Braves with the Philadelphia Phillies lacks the history and passion of Phillies' rivalry with the Mets, it was the more prominent rivalry from 2010 onward, as the Mets faded from contention. Beginning with the 1993 season and onward into the five-team NL East, the two teams have reigned almost exclusively as NL East champions, the exceptions being in 2006, when the Mets won the division, and in 2012, when the ] won. (No division titles were awarded in 1994 due to the ]). Overall, the Braves and the Phillies are tied for ], having won 11 times each since 1969, with the Braves holding it for eleven consecutive years from 1995 through 2005 and the Phillies winning the division from 2007 to 2011. Of note, the ], who had once held a commanding lead in the Wild Card Race, was completed in a loss to the Phillies, already in secure possession of the NL East division championship. | |||
| ====Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals==== | |||
| A rivalry between the Braves and 2012 NL East Champion ] truly heated up during the 2013 season. During an August game between the two in Washington during the Braves' 14-game winning streak, Nationals outfielder ] was hit by a pitch thrown by Braves then-rookie pitcher Julio Teheran after Harper had hit a home run on his previous at-bat. This caused a benches-clearing scuffle between the two sides that was eventually stopped. The Braves ended up winning the game after Craig Kimbrel struck out Harper in the 9th inning. Later on that August, the Nats and Braves met again in Atlanta for a 3-game series. Atlanta won the first game of the series after a Justin Upton walk-off home run, which led to Upton getting hit by a pitch thrown by Nats ace ] in his first at-bat of the next game. In the second inning of that second game, Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons went up to bat to face Strasburg. Strasburg threw 3 pitches behind Andrelton which led to Strasburg getting ejected without argument. The Nationals ended up winning that game in 14 innings after an Adam LaRoche home run. The Braves ended up winning the National League East that season for their first division title since 2005.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}{{importance-inline}} 2014 started much the same, with the Braves winning seven of the first eight games between the teams and remaining in first place for most of the first half, but the teams would go in opposite directions after the All-Star Game: having been tied for the division lead as late as July 20, a simultaneous Washington surge (they would finish with the best record in the National League) and Atlanta collapse (they would finish under .500) would turn the "race" into a rout, and the Nationals would clinch the NL East title on the Braves' home field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?id=340916115|title=Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves - Recap - September 16, 2014 - ESPN|work=ESPN.com|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ====New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies==== | ====New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies==== | ||
| {{main|Mets–Phillies rivalry}} | {{main|Mets–Phillies rivalry}} | ||
| The '''Mets–Phillies rivalry''' |
The '''Mets–Phillies rivalry''' is a rivalry between the ] and ]. Both clubs are members of MLB's ] (NL) ] division. The rivalry between the two clubs is said to be among the most fiercely contested in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/04/11/2008-04-11_metsphillies_rivalry_looking_like_what_m-2.html|title=Mets-Phillies rivalry looking like what Mets-Braves used to be |last=Bondy|first=Filip|date=April 11, 2008|work=New York Daily News|access-date=June 15, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_e8KWxmo_kC&q=Mets-Phillies+rivalry&pg=PA10 |title=Philadelphia Phillies Past & Present|page=10|first=Rich|last=Westcott|publisher=MVP Books|year=2010|access-date=15 July 2011|isbn=9781610600989}}</ref> The two NL East divisional rivals have met each other recently in playoff, division, and ] races. | ||
| Aside from several brawls in the 1980s, the rivalry remained relatively low-key before the ],<ref>{{cite news|page=65|title=Despite long game, rivalry long way off|last=Bondy|first=Filip|date=May 24, 2006|newspaper=New York Daily News|quote=(Billy) Wagner...was a Phillie...never heard anybody in the clubhouse speak harshly about the Mets, or vice versa. These ships have been passing quietly in the night for decades, with plenty of open sea between them.}}</ref> as the teams had seldom been equally good at the same time. A notable moment in their early meetings was ] on Father's Day of 1964, the first ],<ref name="NoHitters">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/nohit_chrono.htm|title=No Hitters Chronologically|publisher=Retrosheet, Inc|access-date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> which happened when the Mets were on a losing streak.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/summerof64pennan00cook |url-access=registration |quote=1964 New York Mets season. |title=The summer of '64: a pennant lost|page=|first=William A.|last=Cook |publisher=McFarland|year=2002|access-date=15 July 2011|isbn=9780786412167}}</ref> The Phillies were near the bottom of the NL East when the Mets won the ] and the ] in {{nlcsy|1973}}, while the Mets did not enjoy success in the late 1970s when the Phillies won three straight division championships. Although both teams each won a ] in the 1980s, the Mets were not serious contenders in the Phillies' playoff years ({{wsy|1980}}, ], and {{nlcsy|1983}}), nor did the Phillies seriously contend in the Mets' playoff years ({{wsy|1986}} and ]). The Mets were the Majors' worst team when the Phillies won the NL pennant in {{nlcsy|1993}},<ref name="1993Season">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL_1993.shtml|title=1993 National League Team Statistics and Standings|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=March 6, 2009}}</ref> and the Phillies did not post a winning record in either of the Mets' wild-card-winning seasons of 1999 or 2000, when the Mets faced the ] in the ]. | |||
| As the rivalry has intensified in recent years, the teams have battled more often for playoff position. The Mets won the division in 2006, while the Phillies won five consecutive division titles from 2007 to 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_09_17_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi|title=High Phive: Phils clinch fifth straight East title|date=September 17, 2011|access-date=September 18, 2011|first=Mike|last=Radano|website=Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=MLB|archive-date=September 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923192343/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_09_17_slnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Phillies' 2007 championship was notable given they won it on the last day of the season as the Mets lost a seven-game lead with 17 games remaining.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shpigel |first=Ben |date=October 1, 2007 |title=Mets Complete Stunning Collapse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/sports/baseball/01mets.html |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Joel |title=The 2007 New York Mets Headline the Top 10 Pennant Race Collapses of All-Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/461760-the-2007-new-york-mets-and-more-the-top-10-pennant-race-collapses-of-all-time |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> The Phillies broke the ] to win the ], while the Mets' last title came in the ]. | |||
| In 2015, the Mets won the ] for their fifth pennant while the Phillies entered a rebuild phase. The Mets beat the Phillies 14 times and lost 5 for a lopsided season series.<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 New York Mets Schedule and Results|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2015-schedule-scores.shtml|access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref> The season still provided contentious moments such as, Mets pitcher ] drilling Phillies 2nd baseman ] in retaliation for Mets players getting hit by Phillies pitchers, a benches clearing argument between Phillies coach ] in regards to a quick pitch by ] and a bat flip by ].<ref name="ftw.usatoday.com">{{cite web|last1=Berg|first1=Ted|title=Matt Harvey drills Chase Utley with a 95-mph fastball in the back|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/04/matt-harvey-chase-utley-new-york-mets-philadelphia-phillies-mlb|website=forthewin.com|date=15 April 2015 |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="nj.com">{{cite web|last1=Vorkunov|first1=Mike|title=Mets, Phillies game turns fiery as Hansel Robles' quick pitch gets Larry Bowa ejected|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2015/08/mets_phillies_game_turns_fiery_as_hansel_robles_qu.html|website=nj.com|date=26 August 2015 |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref> | |||
| There is a long-standing bitter rivalry between the sports fans from ] and ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080418&content_id=2547443&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym|date=April 18, 2008|title=Wagner downplays Mets–Phils rivalry|first=Ken|last=Mandel|work=MLB.com|publisher=Mets.MLB.com|access-date=June 4, 2012|quote=Philadelphia fans hate New York fans and New York fans ...Eagles fans and Giants fans don't get along, and Flyers supporters haven't been known to break bread with those wearing Rangers jerseys.}}</ref> which are approximately two hours apart by car,<ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Can't Even Pick a Good Fight|date=April 4, 2004|first=David|last=Waldstein|page=Sports.9|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|quote=You've got the proximity, a natural rivalry between the cities, and there are fans of both clubs in Jersey.}}</ref> seen also between the ] in the ], and the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|title=A City's Hopes Fly High on the Wings of Eagles|date=January 5, 2001|first=Peter|last=Mucha|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=A1|quote=New York teams—the Mets, Rangers, Giants and Knicks—rank among Philadelphia's most loathed rivals.}}</ref> Games between the two teams at ] and ] are often very intense, hard-hitting affairs, as each home crowd does its best to create an unfriendly, sometimes volatile atmosphere for any visiting-team fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=555008|title=Garden memories special for van Riemsdyk|date=March 4, 2011|first=Adam|last=Kimelman|work=NHL.com|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=March 5, 2011|quote=Games between the Flyers and Rangers almost always are intense, hard-hitting affairs...'You have that feeling when you come into Philly and you know when they come into New York the fans are going to be pumped up.'}}</ref> | |||
| ====Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies==== | |||
| Aside from several brawls in the 1980s, the rivalry remained relatively low-key before the ],<ref>{{cite news|page=65|title=Despite long game, rivalry long way off|last=Bondy|first=Filip|date=May 24, 2006|newspaper=New York Daily News|quote=(Billy) Wagner...was a Phillie...never heard anybody in the clubhouse speak harshly about the Mets, or vice versa. These ships have been passing quietly in the night for decades, with plenty of open sea between them.}}</ref> as the teams had seldom been competitive at the same time. | |||
| {{main|Nationals–Phillies rivalry}} | |||
| The rivalry between the ] and ] extends back to the Nationals' original tenure as the ]. Previously the '''Expos–Phillies rivalry''', the two teams repeatedly battled for control of the division in the early 1980s and mid 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/schmidts-homer-gives-phillies-1980-nl-east-title#:~:text=On%20Saturday%2C%20Oct.,League%20East%20title%20for%20Philadelphia.|title=SCHMIDT'S HOMER GIVES PHILLIES 1980 NL EAST TITLE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Belleville |first=Gary |date=January 16, 2020 |title=October 5, 1980: Expos’ Ron LeFlore becomes first player to win NL and AL stolen-base crowns – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-5-1980-expos-ron-leflore-becomes-first-player-to-win-nl-and-al-stolen-base-crowns/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the franchise's relocation to Washington DC in 2005; the rivalry increased in geographic tension due to Washington's proximity to Philadelphia. The rivalry quickly spiked in intensity during the 2010s after Nationals team management introduced a campaign to block Phillies fans from overtaking home games. In 2019; star-outfielder ] further fueled tensions after signing a 13-year $330 million contract with the Phillies as a free agent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Nate |date=2019-04-03 |title=With one swing, Bryce Harper ignited a beautiful, new rivalry in Phillies - Nationals |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/04/bryce-harper-phillies-nationals-home-run-rivalry |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Clair |first=Michael |date=3 April 2019 |title=Bryce Harper singlehandedly started a huge Phillies-Nationals rivalry in one crazy night |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/bryce-harper-singlehandedly-started-a-nationals-phillies-rivalry |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> The Nationals later won the ] during the first year of Harper's absence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2019 |title=Bryce Harper mistakenly said he wanted to bring a title to DC in his first Phillies press conference |website=] |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/bryce-harper-wants-to-bring-a-title-to-dc |access-date=June 27, 2021}}</ref> The Phillies currently lead the series 482–445, but the Nationals lead the postseason series: The Expos defeated the Phillies 3–2 in the 1981 NLDS.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 18, 2022 |title=1981 Expos-Phillies NLDS recap |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/1981-expos-phillies-nlds-recap |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2020-06-24 |title=Expos, Phillies meet for trip to 1981 NLCS on TSN - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/montreal-expos-philadelphia-phillies-meet-in-game-5-of-the-1981-nlds-on-tsn-1.1488984 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=TSN |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ===National League Central=== | ===National League Central=== | ||
| ====Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers==== | ====I-94 Series: Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers==== | ||
| {{main|Brewers–Cubs rivalry}} | {{main|Brewers–Cubs rivalry}} | ||
| The '''Brewers–Cubs rivalry''' (also known as the I-94 rivalry because the clubs' ballparks are connected by an 83.3-mile drive along ]) refers to games between the ] and ]. The rivalry followed a 1969–97 rivalry between the Brewers, then in the American League, and the Chicago White Sox.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schuman |first1=David |title=Brewers series against White Sox reignites old rivalry |url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/brewers-series-against-white-sox-reignites-old-rivalry |website=CBS58 |access-date=1 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The proximity of the two cities and the ] football rivalry helped make the Cubs–Brewers rivalry one of baseball's best.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Justice |first1=Richard |title=Ranking baseball's 5 best rivalries |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ranking-baseball-s-top-5-rivalries-c293349578 |website=MLB.com |access-date=1 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In the ], the teams faced off in a ] for the ] division title, which Milwaukee won 3 to 1. | |||
| The '''Brewers–Cubs rivalry''' (also known as the I-94 rivalry due to two ballparks being 83.3 miles from each other off ]) refers to games between the ] and ]. Before the Brewers moved to the National League in 1998, the Brewers had a rivalry against the ]'s team, the ]. | |||
| ====Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals==== | ====Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals==== | ||
| {{main|Cardinals–Cubs rivalry}} | {{main|Cardinals–Cubs rivalry}} | ||
| The '''Cardinals–Cubs rivalry''' refers to games between the ] and ]. The Cubs lead the series 1,091–1,044 through {{mlby|2010}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Head-to- |
The '''Cardinals–Cubs rivalry''' (also called the Route 66 rivalry and The I-55 rivalry) refers to games between the ] and ]. The Cubs lead the series 1,091–1,044 through {{mlby|2010}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Head-to-head results for Chicago Orphans and Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals from 1901 to 2010|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/games/head2head-games.cgi?team1=CHC&team2=STL&from=1901&to=2010|access-date=January 11, 2011|work=baseball-reference.com}}</ref> while the Cardinals lead in ] pennants with 19 against 17 for the Cubs. However, the Cardinals have a clear edge when it comes to ] successes, having won 11 championships (most recently in 2011), while the Cubs have only won 3 (last winning in 2016). Cardinals–Cubs games see numerous visiting fans in either St. Louis' ] or Chicago's ].<ref name=CardinalsCubs>{{cite news|url=http://www.nesn.com/2011/01/cubs-cardinals-must-emulate-yankees-red-sox-to-rekindle-rivalry.html|title=Cubs, Cardinals Must Emulate Yankees, Red Sox to Rekindle Rivalry|date=January 12, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2011|first=Tony|last=Lee|work=NESN}}</ref> When the National League split into two, and then three divisions, the Cardinals and Cubs remained together. They had 3 pennant races in 1930, 1935, and 1945. The two teams met in the ] when the Cardinals, then known as the Browns, were part of the ]. The teams tied in ] and St. Louis won in ]. St. Louis, however, has officially vacated their history from the AA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thecardinalnationblog.com/2009/08/21/cards-history-began-in-1892/ |title=Cardinals assert team history began in 1892 |date=August 21, 2009 |work=The Cardinal Nation Blog |access-date=February 28, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034439/http://thecardinalnationblog.com/2009/08/21/cards-history-began-in-1892/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first modern postseason meeting between the two teams was the ], which the Cubs won 3 games to 1 before losing the ] to the ]. | ||
| ==== |
====Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds==== | ||
| {{main|Pirates–Reds rivalry}} | |||
| The rivalry dates back to the 1970s, when the two teams met in the NLCS four times with Cincinnati winning the first three in 1970, 1972, and 1975, before the Pirates finally beat the Reds in 1979. In the decade, the Reds and Pirates both won six division titles and two World Series championships each. The two teams would renew their rivalry in 1990, with the Reds winning in six games on their way to winning the ]. The two teams would meet in the 2013 NL Wild Card Game. The Pirates won the game to advance to the NL Division Series, which they would lose in five games to the St. Louis Cardinals. | |||
| The '''Pirates–Reds rivalry''' is a historic series between the ] and the ]. At one point in time was one of the fiercest matchups in the National League during the 1970s; both teams often met in the postseason multiple times prior to both being realigned to the National League Central in 1994. The two teams date far into the infancy of MLB, having both been founded in the 1880s, and first met during the 1900 MLB season. Both teams combine for 10 World Series championships and 18 pennants. The Pirates and Reds met 5 times during the NLCS in 1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, and 1990. Most recently; both teams met again during the 2013 NL Wild Card Game. | |||
| ===National League West=== | |||
| ====Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals==== | |||
| The Reds-Cardinals rivalry refers to games between the ] and the ]. Although these two teams have never met in the playoffs, their close competition for the NL pennant is what sparked the animosity between teams. The Cardinals lead the series 1200-1105. The Reds longest win streak is 23 games while the Cardinals longest is only 18 games. On August 10, 2010, the Reds and Cardinals fought in a bench clearing brawl after an altercation between ] and ] resulting in the suspension of three players. Reds fans sometimes refer to the Cardinals as "Boo Birds". | |||
| ==== |
====Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants==== | ||
| {{main|Dodgers–Giants rivalry}} | |||
| The '''Dodgers–Giants rivalry'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball's top 10 rivalries|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/lists/MLB-top-10-rivalries-042710#photo-title=Dodgers-Giants&photo=11184034}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In Depth: Baseball's Most Intense Rivalries| website=] |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/04/28/baseball-best-rivalries-lifestyle-sports-baseball_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=undefined}}</ref> is one of the oldest, fiercest, and most competitive rivalries in professional sports. It began in the late 19th century when both clubs were based in New York City, with the Dodgers playing at ] in ] and the Giants at the ] in ]. After the {{mlby|1957}} season, Dodgers owner ] decided to move the team to Los Angeles for financial reasons, among others.<ref name=MoveToCalifornia>{{cite book|title=After many a summer: the passing of the Giants and Dodgers and a golden age in New York baseball|first=Robert|last=Murphy|year=2009|location=New York|publisher=Sterling|isbn=978-1-4027-6068-6|url=https://archive.org/details/aftermanysummerp0000murp}}</ref> Along the way, he managed to convince Giants owner ] (who was considering moving his team to ]) to preserve the rivalry by bringing his team to ] as well.<ref name=MoveToCalifornia/> ] baseball fans were stunned and heartbroken by the move.<ref name=MoveToCalifornia/><ref>{{cite book|title=The Dodgers move west: the transfer of the Brooklyn baseball franchise to Los Angeles|first=Neil J.|last=Sullivan|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1987|isbn=0-19-504366-9|url=https://archive.org/details/dodgersmovewest00sull}}</ref> Given that the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have long been competitors in economic, cultural, and political arenas, the new venue in California became fertile ground for its transplantation. | |||
| Each team's ability to have endured for over a century while leaping across an entire continent, as well as the rivalry's growth in intensity from a cross-city to a cross-state engagement, have led to the rivalry being considered one of the greatest in sports history.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 10 greatest rivalries |url=https://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/other/bestrivalries.html|date=January 3, 2000|work=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Caple|first=Jim |title=Giants-Dodgers best rivalry in baseball |url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/caple_jim/1432476.html|date=September 16, 2002|work=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Beard |first=Donald |title=Giants-Dodgers Covers a Lot of Ground |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8285-2005Mar28?language=printer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232226/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8285-2005Mar28?language=printer|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2011|date=March 30, 2005|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=H5}}</ref> | |||
| The '''Brewers–Cardinals rivalry''' refers to games between the ] and ]. The two teams have met twice in the postseason. The first postseason meeting occurred in the ], when the Brewers were still in the ]. The Cardinals won the series 4-3. The two teams then met again in the ] (NLCS). This series was also won by the Cardinals, 4-2. The Cardinals have won 11 World Series to the Brewers' none. The rivalry was brought alive once the Brewers joined the ] with Brewers fans still having fond memories of their team's defeat in their lone World Series appearance against the Cardinals. The rivalry has taken on greater significance in recent years, with the Brewers being contenders for the division crown much later on in the year. As compared to the first ten years of their placement in the NL Central. This rivalry is also known as the '''Beer rivalry''', due to both cities' association in beer production. ] is the location of the headquarters of the ], a brewing location of ], and the former headquarters of ], ], and ]. The headquarters of ] are located in ]. Both home fields are the namesakes of a brewing company: ] and ] in Milwaukee and St. Louis, respectively. | |||
| Unlike many other historic baseball match-ups in which one team remains dominant for most of their history, the Dodgers–Giants rivalry has exhibited a persistent balance in the respective successes of the two teams, and remains immensely fierce today. As of the conclusion of the 2024 season, the teams have faced each other 2,585 times since 1889 (including playoffs), with the Giants leading the all-time series by just four games (1,286 to 1,282 with 17 ties). Both franchises have won eight World Series titles, and the teams rank first and second all-time in National League pennants (25 for the Dodgers and 23 for the Giants). Across all of Major League Baseball, the two franchises have more wins all-time than another other teams (Giants ranked first, Dodgers second). | |||
| ===National League West=== | |||
| Since moving to California, the Dodgers hold the edge in pennants (13-6) and World Series titles (7-3). For all their history, the ] marked the first time the two teams had ever played each other in the postseason with Los Angeles beating San Francisco in a winner-takes-all Game 5. | |||
| ====Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers==== | |||
| While the nascent Diamondbacks had, since the team's inception in 1998, not found themselves with any serious rivalries for most of their existence, ] saw the birth of a fast brewing rivalry with the Dodgers. This can be traced to a fall game where Dodgers reliever ] threw at the Diamondbacks' ], who took exception to it - and later hit a ] off Kuo, sparking harsh words from the Dodgers (particularly ], who screamed at Parra all the way to home plate). Kershaw, in turn, hit Parra with a pitch the following night; in their next game together in May 2012, the D-Backs' ] retaliated. However the rivalry hit a fever pitch in June 2013, when Kennedy hit the Dodgers' ], prompting ] to retaliate by hitting ]. However, Kennedy then proceeded to hit Greinke himself, and a furious bench-clearing brawl began.<ref>{{cite news|title=A look at the makings of Dodgers-Diamondbacks rivalry |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/12/sports/la-sp-dn-dodgers-diamondbacks-rivalry-20130612|date=June 12, 2013|work=L.A. Times}}</ref> Later that fall, the Dodgers clinched the NL West title - at ], the home of the Diamondbacks. After the game, Dodger players jumped into the pool at the Diamondbacks' home ballpark; no brawls occurred (the opposing players and fans had all left), but many Arizona players and supporters,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.azcentral.com/insiders/danbickley/2013/09/19/the-dodgers-are-idiots/|title=The Dodgers are idiots|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> even Senator ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/20/arizona-senator-john-mccain-calls-the-dodgers-a-bunch-of-overpaid-immature-arrogant-spoiled-brats/|title=Arizona senator John McCain calls the Dodgers "a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats" - HardballTalk|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref> (to which Dodgers reliever ] shot back that the one-time ] "''knows a thing or two about coming in second''"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/20/brian-wilson-responds-to-john-mccain-on-twitter/|title=Brian Wilson responds to John McCain on Twitter - HardballTalk|publisher=|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref>) expressed extreme displeasure at this "arrogant, immature" display. | |||
| ====Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San |
====I-5 Series: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres==== | ||
| {{main| |
{{main|Dodgers–Padres rivalry}} | ||
| The '''Dodgers–Padres''' rivalry is occasionally called the '''I-5 rivalry''', as ]'s two largest cities of ] and ] are located approximately 130 miles apart along ]. | |||
| The '''Dodgers–Giants rivalry''' is one of the biggest in American ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball's top 10 rivalries|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/lists/MLB-top-10-rivalries-042710#photo-title=Dodgers-Giants&photo=11184034}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In Depth: Baseball's Most Intense Rivalries|url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/28/baseball-best-rivalries-lifestyle-sports-baseball_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=undefined}}</ref> | |||
| For much of the teams' history, matchups had often been lopsided in favor of the Dodgers: Los Angeles leads the all-time series with a .551 winning percentage. However, since 2020 both franchises have fielded several highly competitive teams simultaneously, resulting in five playoff appearances for Los Angeles and three for San Diego. The two teams faced each other in the Division Series in all three of the Padres' most recent playoff appearances: Los Angeles won in ] and ], while San Diego won in ]. The recent shared competitiveness and high-stakes playoff matchups have added intensity to a growing rivalry in Southern California. Off the field, the rivalry has been just as competitive, as the two teams have aggressively battled on the trade market and free agency over star players, such as ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web |date=2 August 2022 |title=San Diego Padres trade for Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34334378/san-diego-padres-agree-trade-washington-nationals-slugger-juan-soto-sources-say |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Some high-profile stars have also played for both teams in recent years, including ], ] and ]. | |||
| It began in the late 19th century when both clubs were based in ], with the Dodgers playing in ] and the Giants playing at the ] in ]. After the {{mlby|1957}} season, Dodgers owner ] decided to move the team to ] for financial reasons, among others.<ref name=MoveToCalifornia>{{cite book|title=After many a summer: the passing of the Giants and Dodgers and a golden age in New York baseball|first=Robert|last=Murphy|year=2009|location=New York|publisher=Sterling|isbn=978-1-4027-6068-6}}</ref> Along the way, he managed to convince Giants owner ] (who was considering moving his team to ]) to preserve the rivalry by bringing his team to ] as well.<ref name=MoveToCalifornia/> ] baseball fans were stunned and heartbroken by the move.<ref name=MoveToCalifornia/><ref>{{cite book|title=The Dodgers move west: the transfer of the Brooklyn baseball franchise to Los Angeles|first=Neil J.|last=Sullivan|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1987|isbn=0-19-504366-9}}</ref> Given that the cities of ] and ] have long been competitors in economic, cultural, and political arenas, the new venue in California became fertile ground for its transplantation. | |||
| Beyond baseball, San Diego sports fans have often harbored animosity towards Los Angeles due in small part to San Diego being an unstable home for their sports teams as both the ] and the ] both relocated to Los Angeles after being unable to find a secure future in San Diego. | |||
| Each team's ability to have endured for over a century while leaping across an entire continent, as well as the rivalry's growth from a cross-city to a cross-state engagement, have led to the rivalry being considered one of the greatest in sports history.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 10 greatest rivalries |url=http://espn.go.com/endofcentury/s/other/bestrivalries.html|date=January 3, 2000|work=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Caple|first=Jim |title=Giants-Dodgers best rivalry in baseball |url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/caple_jim/1432476.html|date=September 16, 2002|work=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Beard |first=Donald |title=Giants-Dodgers Covers a Lot of Ground |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8285-2005Mar28?language=printer|date=March 30, 2005|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=H5}}</ref> | |||
| ====Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers==== | |||
| Unlike many other historic baseball match-ups in which one team remains dominant for most of their history, the Dodgers–Giants rivalry has exhibited a persistent balance in the respective successes of the two teams. While the Giants have more wins, National League pennants and World Series titles in franchise history, the Dodgers have won the ] twelve times compared to the Giants' eight. The ] was the Giants' third championship since moving to California, while the Dodgers' last title came in the ]. | |||
| {{main|Diamondbacks–Dodgers rivalry}} | |||
| The rivalry between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the ] developed due to proximity when the Diamondbacks entered the league in 1998. It peaked and became one of the fiercest divisional matchups for several years in the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Jason |title=Has Dodgers-Diamondbacks Rivalry Overtaken Yankees-Red Sox as MLB's Best? |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2024916-has-dodgers-diamondbacks-rivalry-overtaken-yankees-red-sox-as-mlbs-best |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> During the 2010s, animosity rose immensely between both sides. An infamous example occurred on September 19, 2013. After eliminating the Diamondbacks from postseason contention and clinching their division, multiple Dodgers players celebrated the win by jumping into the pool at Arizona's ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Rob |title=Diamondbacks Unhappy with Dodgers' Pool Celebration After Clinching NL West |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1781487-diamondbacks-unhappy-with-dodgers-pool-celebration-after-clinching-nl-west |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> The two sides met during the ], where the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks en route to an appearance in the ]. The teams matched up again in the ], in which the Diamondbacks returned the favor with a 3–0 sweep of their own en route to a ] appearance, their first since 2001. The Dodgers lead the all-time series 269–202 with a 3–3 split in the postseason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcubed.net/mlb/la/ari.shtml|title=LAD vs ARI history 1998-Present}}</ref> | |||
| Due to not having a team until 1998, many Arizona residents supported the Dodgers prior to the creation of the Diamondbacks franchise. Because of this, there is often a split crowd when they play Los Angeles at their home park, ], due in no small part to the Dodgers' extensive fanbase across the southwestern United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luciano |first=Mike |date=2022-01-13 |title=Dodgers: Passionate LA fans made Chase Field look like Dodger Stadium |url=https://dodgersway.com/2021/06/20/dodgers-fans-chase-field-dodger-stadium/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Dodgers Way |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cluff |first=Jeremy |title=Your take: Is the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field an 'absolute dump'? |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2023/03/28/mlb-stadium-rankings-reaction-arizona-diamondbacks-chase-field-dump/70057490007/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ===Inter-Divisional=== | |||
| ====St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers==== | |||
| {{main|Cardinals–Dodgers rivalry}} | |||
| Both the Dodgers and Cardinals are two of the oldest franchises in MLB, having first met during the 1900 season during the league's infancy; the Cardinals in 1882 and the Dodgers (originally known as the Bridegrooms) in 1883. Historically; both teams have not played in the same division; however frequent close pennant races and matchups in the postseason caused the rivalry to grow in intensity through the decades. This was on display from 1963 to 1968 when either team represented the National League in the World Series or the 2000s when the two teams regularly met in the postseason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saxon |first=Mark |date=2014-06-28 |title=Dodgers-Cardinals rivalry going strong |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-report/post/_/id/10876/dodgers-cardinals-rivalry-going-strong |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-11 |title=NLCS 2013: Long-time rivals Cardinals, Dodgers staged first playoff series {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/nlcs-2013-long-time-rivals-cardinals-dodgers-staged-first-playoff-series/99hb76xix8z1gu1eh4lnmioj |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=] |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.i70baseball.com/2014/01/21/cardinals-dodgers-could-be-next-major-national-league-rivalry/|title=Cardinals-Dodgers could be next major National League rivalry|first=Jacob|last=Mayer|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Houston |date=2021-10-04 |title=The one-sided head-to-head playoff history of the Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2021-10-04/the-head-to-head-playof-history-of-the-los-angeles-dodgers-and-st-louis-cardinals |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ==Interleague== | ==Interleague== | ||
| Line 168: | Line 157: | ||
| ====Early discussions about interleague play==== | ====Early discussions about interleague play==== | ||
| Interleague or interconference matchups have long been the norm in other professional sports leagues such as the ].<ref name="InterleaguePlay"/> Regular |
Interleague or interconference matchups have long been the norm in other professional sports leagues such as the ].<ref name="InterleaguePlay"/> Regular-season interleague play was discussed for baseball's major leagues as early as the 1930s. In December 1956, Major League owners considered a proposal by ] general manager and minority-owner ] to implement limited interleague play beginning in 1958.<ref name="InterlagueProposal">{{cite news|title=Player Limit, Interleague Games Toy Issues on Majors' Agenda|first=John|last=Drebinger|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 9, 1956|page=235}}</ref> | ||
| Under Greenberg's proposal, each team would continue to play 154-games in the season, 126 of which would be within the league, and 28 against the |
Under Greenberg's proposal, each team would continue to play 154-games in the season, 126 of which would be within the league, and 28 against the 8 clubs in the other league. The interleague games would all be played during a period immediately following the All-Star Game. Notably, under Greenberg's proposal, all results would count in regular season game standings and league statistics.<ref name="InterlagueProposal"/> While this proposal was not adopted, the current system shares many elements. ] predicted in 1963 that Major League Baseball would someday have interleague play.<ref>{{cite news|first=Hy|last=Hurwitz|title=Veeck Predicts Big Time Will Adopt Interloop Play|date=May 4, 1963|publisher=]|pages=4}}</ref> The concept did not take hold until the 1990s (at least in part as an effort to renew the public's interest in MLB following the ]).<ref name="InterleaguePlay">{{cite news|title=Owners Approve Interleague Play; Don't See DH as Problem|date=January 18, 1996|first=Ronald|last=Blum|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> | ||
| ====First Interleague games==== | ====First Interleague games==== | ||
| MLB's first regular season interleague game took place on June 12, 1997, when the ] hosted the ] at ].<ref name=FirstGames>{{cite news|title=Baseball Crosses Great Divide: AL 3, NL 1| |
MLB's first regular season interleague game took place on June 12, 1997, when the ] hosted the ] at ].<ref name="FirstGames">{{cite news |last=Chass |first=Murray |date=June 13, 1997 |title=Baseball Crosses Great Divide: AL 3, NL 1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/13/sports/baseball-crosses-great-divide-al-3-nl-1.html |newspaper=] |page=B9}}</ref> There were four interleague games on the schedule that night, but the other three were played on the West Coast, so the Giants–Rangers matchup started a few hours earlier than the others.<ref name=FirstGames/> Texas' ] threw the game's first pitch and San Francisco outfielder ] was the first ] used in a regular-season game by a ] team.<ref name=FirstGames/> San Francisco's ] hit the first home run in interleague play, and the Giants won the game 4–3.<ref name=FirstGames/> | ||
| For the first five seasons of Interleague Play, each division played against the same division from the other league (NL East vs. AL East, NL Central vs. AL Central and NL West vs. AL West), typically scheduled to alternate between home and away in consecutive years.<ref name="Matchups">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/interleague/index.jsp|title=Interleague History|work=MLB.com|access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> However, in 2002, a new format to Interleague Play was instituted where teams play Interleague games against various divisions.<ref name="Matchups"/> Matchups which had been of particular interest prior to this format—mainly geographic rivals—were preserved. This is expected to be the continuing format of the interleague schedule. Corresponding divisions however, were skipped once when this rotation began, but were put back in the rotation in 2006. | |||
| From 2002 to 2012, all interleague games were played prior to the ]. Most games were played in June, though May games have been scheduled since 2005. Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 played six games every year, which were scheduled in two three-game series "home and home", or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state. | |||
| For the first five seasons of Interleague Play, each division played against the same division from the other league (NL East vs. AL East, NL Central vs. AL Central and NL West vs. AL West), typically scheduled to alternate between home and away in consecutive years.<ref name="Matchups">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/interleague/index.jsp|title=Interleague History|work=MLB.com|accessdate=May 20, 2011}}</ref> However, in 2002, a new format to Interleague Play was instituted where teams play Interleague games against various divisions.<ref name="Matchups"/> Matchups which had been of particular interest prior to this format—mainly geographic rivals—were preserved. This is expected to be the continuing format of the interleague schedule. Corresponding divisions however, were skipped once when this rotation began, but were put back in the rotation in 2006. | |||
| Starting in 2023, MLB teams will play every other team in baseball at least once.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leitch |first1=Will |title=7 fun takeaways from new '23 schedule format |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-new-balanced-schedule-2023-best-takeaways |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| From 2002-12, all interleague games were played prior to the ]. Most games were played in June, though May games have been scheduled since 2005. Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 played six games every year, which were scheduled in two three-game series "home and home," or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state. | |||
| ===East=== | |||
| ===Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals=== | |||
| ====Battle of the Beltways: Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals==== | |||
| {{main|Beltway Series}} | {{main|Beltway Series}} | ||
| Known as the '''Beltway |
Known as the '''Beltway Battle''' and as the '''Battle of the Beltways''', after Washington's ] and Baltimore's ]. The two teams first met in 2006, one year after the ] relocated from ] to ], to become the ]. Much of this rivalry is dominated by off-the field issues. Baltimore owner ] publicly opposed relocating the Expos to Washington, which he believed was a part of his territorial rights after the departure of the second incarnation of the Washington Senators after the ]. There are also controversies surrounding the value of the Nationals' television rights and their coverage on the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Josh |date=2023-06-22 |title=Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles agree settlement for past MASN payments, say reports |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/washington-nationals-baltimore-orioles-masn-rights-fee-payments-settlement-2012-2016/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Hayes |date=2023-12-15 |title=Orioles and Nationals confirm MASN rights fees from 2017 to 2021 without protracted litigation |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/12/15/orioles-nationals-masn-dispute-latest/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| === |
====Subway Series: New York Mets vs. New York Yankees==== | ||
| {{main|Mets–Yankees rivalry}} | |||
| The '''Mets–Yankees rivalry''' is the latest incarnation of the ], the competition between New York City's Major League Baseball teams, the AL Yankees and NL Mets. Until ] started, the two teams had only met in exhibition games. Since the inception of interleague play the teams have met in every season since 1997 and faced off in the ] with the Yankees winning in five games. | |||
| ====Citrus Series: Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays==== | |||
| The Citrus Series is the name given to the interleague series between the ] and ] in Major League Baseball. The Marlins entered the league in 1993 as the Florida Marlins, while the Rays had their first season in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The first meeting between the two teams took place on June 22, 1998, at ] in St. Petersburg, Florida during the Rays' inaugural season. The Marlins moved into Marlins Park in the 2012 season; from 1998 to 2011, the games were played at the NFL's Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium (as it is currently named), though it has been known by several names in its existence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Topkin |first=Marc |date=June 30, 2018 |title=Rays Tales: Which team would you rather be, Marlins or Rays? |url=https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/2018/06/30/rays-tales-which-team-would-you-rather-be-marlins-or-rays/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dill |first=Jason |date=August 5, 2019 |title=The Miami Marlins showed a video highlight. It sparked a Twitter beef with the Rays |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article233544707.html |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
| ===Central=== | |||
| ====Border Battle: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Minnesota Twins==== | |||
| The Border Battle is an annual interleague rivalry between the ] (NL-Central) and the ] (AL-Central). The rivalry started and was most heated when the Brewers were still in the American League before transitioning to the National League.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://puckettspond.com/2018/05/18/minnesota-twins-border-battle/ |title= Minnesota Twins: Breaking down the big border battle |author= John Geiger II |date= 18 May 2018 |publisher= Puckett's Pond }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geiger II |first=John |date=2022-01-13 |title=Minnesota Twins: Breaking down the big border battle |url=https://puckettspond.com/2018/05/18/minnesota-twins-border-battle/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Puckett's Pond |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://quickcountry.com/mlb-schedule-weather-ruin-twinsbrewers-border-battle/ |title= MLB Schedule, Weather Ruins Twins/Brewers BORDER BATTLE |author= Curt St. John |date= 19 April 2016 |publisher= Quick Country 96.5 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=John |first=Curt St. |date=2016-04-19 |title=MLB Schedule, Weather Ruin Twins/Brewers Border Battle |url=https://quickcountry.com/mlb-schedule-weather-ruin-twinsbrewers-border-battle/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Quick Country 96.5 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ====Crosstown Classic: Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs==== | |||
| {{main|Cubs–White Sox rivalry}} | {{main|Cubs–White Sox rivalry}} | ||
| The ''' |
The '''Cubs–White Sox rivalry''' (also known as the Wintrust Crosstown Cup, Crosstown Classic, The Windy City Showdown, Red Line Series, City Series, Crosstown Series,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilkins |first=Ernest |title=The Great Chicago Rivalry: Cubs/White Sox and What It Means to Us |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/200098-the-great-chicago-rivalry-cubswhite-sox-and-what-it-means-to-us |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> Crosstown Cup, or Crosstown Showdown) refers to the rivalry between two ] teams that play their home games in ], ]. The Chicago Cubs of the NL play their home games at ] located on the city's ], while the ] of the AL play their home games at ] on the city's ]. The terms "North Siders" and "South Siders" are synonymous with the respective teams and their fans, setting up an enduring rivalry. The ]'s ] runs north–south through Chicago's ], stopping at ] on Addison Street and ] on 35th Street. | ||
| Notably this rivalry actually predates the ] Era, with the only postseason meeting occurring in the ]. It was the first ] between teams from the same city. The |
Notably this rivalry actually predates the ] Era, with the only postseason meeting occurring in the ]. It was the first ] between teams from the same city. The ] won the series 4 games to 2, over the highly favored ] who had won a record 116 games during the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Linze |date=2024-05-22 |title=The Cubs-White Sox Rivalry Goes Back To A Baseball 'War' In 1900. Here's Why It Still Rages On |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/05/22/the-cubs-white-sox-rivalry-goes-back-to-a-baseball-war-in-1900-heres-why-it-still-rages-on/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=2024-06-04 |title=Column: A brief history of the 118-year-old Cubs-White Sox rivalry, from ‘bitter dregs’ to booing Michael Jordan |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/06/04/chicago-cubs-white-sox-rivalry/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> The rivalry continued through of exhibition games, culminating in the Crosstown Classic from 1985 to 1995, in which the White Sox were undefeated at 10–0–2. | ||
| ===Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland |
====Battle of Ohio: Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Guardians==== | ||
| {{main|Ohio Cup}} |
{{main|Ohio Cup}} | ||
| The |
The Ohio Cup is between the ] (NL)'s ] and the ] (AL)'s ]. Both teams' cities are about 250 miles away via I-71. | ||
| === |
====I-70 Series: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals==== | ||
| The rivalry between the ] of the ] and ] of the ] is a ] series sometimes known as the '''I-70 Series''' or the '''Show-Me Series'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FLM |date=2019-08-13 |title=Royals back home for I-70 series vs. Cards |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/royals-back-home-for-i-70-series-vs-cards/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> This rivalry is so called because the two cities are located in the state of ], whose nickname is the "Show Me State", and both cities are located along ]. They played each other for the first time in the ], which saw the Royals overcome a 2–0 and 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. Owing to their geographical proximity, the teams face each other every regular season in ]. | |||
| {{main|Cardinals–Royals rivalry}} | |||
| The rivalry between the ] of the ] and ] of the ] is a ] series sometimes known as the '''I-70 Series''' or the '''Show-Me Series'''. This rivalry is so called because the two cities are located in the state of ], whose nickname is the "Show Me State", and both cities are located along ]. They played each other for the first time in the ], which the Royals won in seven games. Owing to their geographical proximity, the teams face each other every regular season in ]. | |||
| This prominent rivalry began with Royals' successes in the early '80's and fueled by the Royals' victory over the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series. The series is still a source of contention among fans, notably the controversial call in the bottom of the ninth of game 6 in which Jorge Orta was called safe on a play that replays later showed him out. A Royals rally let them tie and later win the game and then later the series. | This prominent rivalry began with Royals' successes in the early '80's and fueled by the Royals' victory over the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series. The series is still a source of contention among fans, notably the controversial call in the bottom of the ninth of game 6 in which Jorge Orta was called safe on a play that replays later showed him out. A Royals rally let them tie and later win the game and then later the series. | ||
| ===West=== | |||
| ===Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Los Angeles Dodgers=== | |||
| ====Freeway Series: Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers==== | |||
| {{main|Freeway Series}} | {{main|Freeway Series}} | ||
| The term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between ]'s ] of the ] and ] of the ]. The series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, the home of both teams; one could travel from one team's stadium to the other simply by traveling along ]. The Freeway series is extremely popular in Los Angeles and normally sells out their games due to the close proximity of both teams and their fans. | The term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between ]'s ] of the ] and ] of the ]. The series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, the home of both teams; one could travel from one team's stadium to the other simply by traveling along ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiGiovanna |first=Mike |date=2023-06-19 |title=Dodgers-Angels among MLB's best rivalries? 'Not even in the same stratosphere' |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-06-19/dodgers-angels-freeway-series-mookie-betts-shohei-ohtani |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Houston |date=2023-06-20 |title=The Sports Report: Is Dodgers-Angels a true rivalry? |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/newsletter/2023-06-20/dodgers-angels-sports-report |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The Freeway series is extremely popular in Los Angeles and normally sells out their games due to the close proximity of both teams and their fans. The closest the two teams came to playing in a World Series together was in {{mlby|2009}}, when they both made their respective league championship series before losing. Another recent point of contention between the two fanbases occurred on December 9, 2023, when Angels’ star ] signed with the Dodgers for $700 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |date=March 16, 2024 |title=LIVE: Dodgers-Angels Spring Breakout |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-angels-spring-breakout-2024-faq |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref> Ohtani's decision to leave the Angels to sign with the Dodgers led to some Angels fans dubbing him a "traitor" and "sell-out".<ref>{{cite web |last=Ardaya |first=Fabian |last2=Drellich |first2=Evan |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Shohei Ohtani to defer $68 million per year in unusual arrangement with Dodgers: Sources |url=https://theathletic.com/5129506/2023/12/11/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-contract-deferrals/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211235259/https://theathletic.com/5129506/2023/12/11/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-contract-deferrals/ |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=The Athletic}}</ref> Although the Dodgers have been the more historically successful franchise, the Angels hold a slight edge in the head-to-head advantage in meetings between the two teams. | ||
| === |
====Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers==== | ||
| The series between the ] and the ] started as a divisional matchup, but hostility waned following Houston's move from the NL West to the NL Central in 1994, and later move to the American League in 2013. In 2017, the two teams played one another in the ] in which the Astros won the championship in 7 games. The rivalry re-intensified after the Astros' ], in which it was revealed the team had utilized a complex system to steal pitch signs, including during the 2017 World Series. As a result of the scandal, hostility grew immensely between the two teams and their fans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=R.J. |date=2020-09-12 |title=Dodgers vs. Astros: Three things to know as L.A. and Houston rekindle rivalry at Dodger Stadium |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/dodgers-vs-astros-three-things-to-know-as-la-and-houston-rekindle-rivalry-at-dodger-stadium/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> The 2017 World Series was also the start of an era defined by these two franchises. All but one World Series from 2017 through 2024 featured either the Astros or Dodgers, with both teams making four appearances each. In the same period, the Astros won the ], while the Dodgers won in ] and ]. | |||
| {{main|Mets–Yankees rivalry}} | |||
| The '''Mets–Yankees rivalry''' is the latest incarnation of the ], the competition between ]'s Major League Baseball teams, the AL Yankees and NL Mets. Until ] started, the two teams had only met in exhibition games. Since the inception of interleague play the teams have met in every season since 1997 and faced off in the ]. | |||
| === |
====Vedder Cup: San Diego Padres vs. Seattle Mariners==== | ||
| An unlikely matchup between two interleague opponents; the ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Geoff |date=2012-06-12 |title=Western Front: A Brief History of the Vedder Cup |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/17243/western-front-a-brief-history-of-the-vedder-cup/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Baseball Prospectus}}</ref> The rivalry has been a part of local hometown lore; often called the '''Eddie Vedder Cup''' in regards to both Seattle and San Diego being hometowns for ] frontman ], who lived in ] during the latter half of his adolescence before forming Pearl Jam in Seattle (ironically, Vedder himself is a fan of the ]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-04 |title=PADRES: Rehashing the Vedder Cup |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2012/03/04/padres-rehashing-the-vedder-cup/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Larry |date=2015-03-03 |title=For Vedder or worse, M's and Padres on collision course |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/unlike-past-years-vedder-cup-series-between-ms-and-padres-will-have-intrigue/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Patton |first=Andy |date=2019-05-24 |title=The Rotation: A History of the Vedder Cup, Baseball's Strangest Rivalry |url=https://pitcherlist.com/the-rotation-history-vedder-cup-baseballs-strangest-rivalry/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Pitcher List |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brock |first=Corey |last2=Lin |first2=Dennis |title=A Vedder Cup unlike any other: Simming the 2022 World Series |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1758263/2020/04/20/a-vedder-cup-unlike-any-other-simming-the-2022-world-series/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The two teams have met each other every season excluding 2017 since interleague play was introduced in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Togerson |first=Derek |date=2016-05-30 |title=How The Vedder Cup Came To Be |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/how-the-vedder-cup-came-to-be/60870/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=NBC 7 San Diego |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the introduction of interleague play; one of the 15 naturalized rivalries designated were to include Seattle and San Diego.<ref>{{Cite web |last=theJovialBison |date=2013-03-14 |title=Mariners "Heating Up" the Rivalry |url=https://www.gaslampball.com/2013/3/14/4104230/mariners-heating-up-the-rivalry |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Gaslamp Ball |language=en}}</ref> The rivalry often involved both teams in the depths of playoff failure as the Padres failed to win a single playoff series from 1999 to 2019, while the Mariners had failed to make a single playoff appearance from 2002 to 2021; thus forcing both teams to compete for draft picks and prospects as they also share the ] as their spring training facility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiner |first=Rick |title=Power Ranking Every 'Hometown' Interleague Rivalry |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1652895-power-ranking-every-hometown-interleague-rivalry |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> Though very little on the surface initially linked any animosity between the two teams as they play in separate leagues and both cities lie approximately 1,250 miles apart. The rivalry often exists with more respect between the two teams and fans alike as more of a humorous contest for both sides.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gorra |first=Jeff |date=2016-06-03 |title=The Legacy of the Vedder Cup |url=https://artistwaves.com/the-legacy-of-the-vedder-cup/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Artist Waves – a voice of the artist platform |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=jbox |date=2013-05-31 |title=To #VedderCup or not to #VedderCup |url=https://www.gaslampball.com/2013/5/31/4384864/the-vedder-cup-backlash |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Gaslamp Ball |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-05 |title=Vedder Cup has finally got some intrigue {{!}} Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/mar/05/vedder-cup-has-finally-got-some-intrigu/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.nwaonline.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| {{main|Bay Bridge Series}} | |||
| The '''Bay Bridge Series''' is the name of the games played between—and rivalry of—the ] of the AL and ] of the NL. The series takes its name from the ] which links the cities of ] and ]. Although competitive, the regional rivalry between the A's and Giants is considered a friendly one with mostly mutual companionship between the fans, as opposed to Cubs–White Sox, or Mets–Yankees games where animosity runs high. While many fans have a very strong dislike for the other team, some others actually like both. Bay Area baseball fans tend to disagree with each other on this topic. | |||
| ==Historical== | |||
| The series is also occasionally referred to as the "BART Series" for the ] system that links Oakland to San Francisco. However, the name "BART Series" has never been popular beyond a small selection of history books and national broadcasters and has fallen out of favor. Bay Area locals almost exclusively refer to the rivalry as the "Bay Bridge Series". | |||
| ===American League=== | |||
| ====Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees==== | |||
| Despite never playing in the same division, the Royals and Yankees developed quite a disdain for each other from mid 70s through the mid 80s. Starting in 1976, they met in the ] for four out of the five seasons (1976-1978 and 1980), with the Yankees winning the first three, and Kansas City sweeping New York in ]. The rivalry continued in 1983, which featured the ], in which ] requested that the umpires inspect ]'s bat after he hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that gave Kansas City a 4–3 advantage. The umpires ruled that the amount of pine tar on the bat exceeded the amount allowed by rule, nullified Brett's home run, and called him out. As Brett was the third out in the ninth inning with the home team in the lead, the game ended with a Yankees win. The Royals protested the game, and American League president ] upheld their protest. MacPhail ordered that the game be continued from the point of Brett's home run.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Ben |title=Looking back on the fabled Royals/Yankees rivalry |url=https://www.pinstripealley.com/2015/11/7/9688312/yankees-royals-rivalry-george-brett-alcs-chambliss-champions |website=Pinstripe Alley |access-date=20 July 2022 |language=en |date=7 November 2015}}</ref> The game was resumed 25 days later on August 18, and officially ended with the Royals winning 5–4. The rivalry died when many of the main characters in the rivalry retired or moved to other teams via ] (a new concept in the early 1980s). The Royals also went on a long re-build after team owner ] died in 1993. From 1999 to 2010, Kansas City did not win a single series against New York.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bois |first1=Jon |title=Royals-Yankees: No Longer A Rivalry (But Totally Still A Rivalry) |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2010/7/22/1583076/royals-yankees-rivalry-2010-kansas-city-new-york-playoff-history |website=SBNation.com |access-date=20 July 2022 |language=en |date=22 July 2010}}</ref> The teams met in the ], which the Yankees won 3–1. | |||
| ===National League=== | |||
| Originally, the term described a series of exhibition games played between the two clubs after the conclusion of ], immediately prior to the start of the regular season. It was first used to refer to the ] in which the Athletics won their most recent championship and the first time both teams had met since they moved to the ]. Today, it also refers to games played between the teams during the regular season since the commencement of ] in 1997. Through August 2015, the A's have won 53 games, and the Giants have won 50.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/games/head2head-games.cgi?team1=OAK&team2=SFG&from=1901&to=2014|work=baseball-reference.com|title=Head-to-Head record for Oakland Athletics against the listed opponents from 1997 to 2014|publisher=Sports Reference LLC.}}</ref> | |||
| ====Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers==== | |||
| The '''Dodgers–Reds rivalry''' was one of the most intense during the 1970s through the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.mlb.com/news/book-explores-reds-dodgers-rivalry-c233919226|title=Book Explores Reds-Dodgers Rivalry|date=June 7, 2017|last1=Hagen|first1=Paul|work=]|access-date=June 15, 2022}}</ref> They often competed for the NL West division title. From 1970 to 1990, they had eleven 1–2 finishes in the standings, with seven of them being within 5½ games or fewer. Both teams also played in numerous championships during this span, combining to win 10 NL Pennants and 5 World Series titles from {{wsy|1970}}–{{wsy|1990}}, most notably as the ] teams clashed frequently with the ]-era Dodgers teams. Reds manager ] once said, "I don't think there's a rivalry like ours in either league. The Giants are supposed to be the Dodgers' natural rivals, but I don't think the feeling is there anymore. It's not there the way it is with us and the Dodgers."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Los+Angeles+and+Cincinnati+have+the+most+inflammatory+-+04.28.75+-+SI+Vault&urlID=455502997&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1089769%2Findex.htm%257Ctitle%3DWhere|title=Where There's Smoke There's Ire|date=April 28, 1975|first=Ron|last=Fimrite|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=June 26, 2011|archive-date=March 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312043515/http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Los+Angeles+and+Cincinnati+have+the+most+inflammatory+-+04.28.75+-+SI+Vault&urlID=455502997&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http:%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1089769%2Findex.htm%7Ctitle=Where|url-status=dead}}</ref> The rivalry ended when division realignment moved the Reds to the NL Central. However, they did face one another in the ]. | |||
| === |
====Montreal Expos vs. Philadelphia Phillies==== | ||
| {{main| |
{{main|Nationals–Phillies rivalry}} | ||
| The ] and ] were originally rivals as charter members of the NL East following the ] in which the Expos were one of four new teams added to the league. The two teams grew a history of fights and pitches repeatedly tossed at one another, culminating in both teams regularly battling for control of the division during much of the early 1980s and mid 1990s. Notable games such as Mike Schmidt's game-winning home run helped Philadelphia clinch the division during their penultimate game against the Expos during the tail end of the 1980 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/schmidts-homer-gives-phillies-1980-nl-east-title#:~:text=On%20Saturday%2C%20Oct.,League%20East%20title%20for%20Philadelphia.|title=SCHMIDT'S HOMER GIVES PHILLIES 1980 NL EAST TITLE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-5-1980-expos-ron-leflore-becomes-first-player-to-win-nl-and-al-stolen-base-crowns/|title=October 5, 1980: Expos' Ron LeFlore becomes first player to win NL and AL stolen-base crowns}}</ref> The Expos responded the following season by beating the Phillies in the NLDS 3–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/1981-expos-phillies-nlds-recap|title=1981 Expos-Phillies NLDS recap|website=] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/montreal-expos-philadelphia-phillies-meet-in-game-5-of-the-1981-nlds-on-tsn-1.1488984|title=Expos, Phillies meet for trip to 1981 NLCS on TSN|date=24 June 2020 }}</ref> The rivalry regrew following the Expos' relocation to Washington DC in 2005 to become the Nationals franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thatballsouttahere.com/2019/08/10/phillies-top-five-rivalries/4/|title=Phillies top five rivals of all-time: Which teams are hated the most?|date=10 August 2019 }}</ref> | |||
| ====Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates==== | |||
| ==Historical== | |||
| {{main|Phillies–Pirates rivalry}} | |||
| The rivalry between the ] and ] was considered by some to be one of the best rivalries in the NL.<ref name=Forbes>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/04/28/baseball-best-rivalries-lifestyle-sports-baseball.html|title=In Depth: Baseball's Most Intense Rivalries|work=Forbes|first=Matt|last=Woolsey|date=April 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name=LostRivalry>{{cite news|title=Pirates—Phillies: A Rivalry Lost and Missed|date=July 4, 2005|first=Gene|last=Collier|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=D1}}</ref><ref name=PhilliesPirates>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|title=Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading|date=July 7, 2005|access-date=January 3, 2011|first=George|last=Von Benko|website=Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=MLB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714103810/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> The rivalry started when the Pittsburgh Pirates entered play in 1887, four years after the Phillies.<ref name=PhilliesRealignment>{{cite news|title=Baseball Owners Vote to Break Each League Into Three Divisions|date=September 10, 1993|first=Jayson|last=Stark|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|page=A1|author-link=Jayson Stark}}</ref> | |||
| The Phillies and Pirates remained together after the National League split into two divisions in {{mlby|1969}}. During the period of two-division play (1969–{{mlby|1993}}), the two ] division rivals won the two highest numbers of division championships, the Pirates 9, the Phillies 6; together, the two teams' 15 championships accounted for more than half of the 25 NL East championships during that span.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pirates, Phillies Have Owned the Outgoing NL East Division|date=September 27, 1993|first=Gene|last=Collier|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=D1}}</ref> | |||
| ===Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers=== | |||
| The '''Reds–Dodgers rivalry''' was one of the most intense during the 1970s and '80s. They often competed for the NL West division title. From 1970–90, they had eleven 1-2 finishes in the standings, with seven of them being within 5½ games or fewer. Both teams also played in numerous championships during this span, combining to win 10 NL Pennants and 5 World Series titles from {{wsy|1970}}–{{wsy|1990}}. Reds manager ] once said, "I don't think there's a rivalry like ours in either league. The Giants are supposed to be the Dodgers' natural rivals, but I don't think the feeling is there anymore. It's not there the way it is with us and the Dodgers."<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Los+Angeles+and+Cincinnati+have+the+most+inflammatory+-+04.28.75+-+SI+Vault&urlID=455502997&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1089769%2Findex.htm%257Ctitle%3DWhere|title=Where There's Smoke There's Ire|date=April 28, 1975|first=Ron|last=Fimrite|journal=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> The rivalry ended when division realignment moved the Reds to the NL Central. However, they did face one another in the ]. | |||
| However, after the Pirates moved to the ] in {{mlby|1994}}, the rivalry ended. The teams have since faced each other only in two series per year and the rivalry has effectively died in the years since the Pirates moved out of the NL East.<ref name=LostRivalry/><ref name=PhilliesPirates/> | |||
| ===Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees=== | |||
| During the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, there was a '''major rivalry between the ] and ]''', and was considered one of the greatest postseason rivalries in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/bondy-yankees-royals-great-baseball-rivalry-article-1.1820915|title=Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals used to be a great baseball rivalry|date=June 7, 2014|accessdate=July 27, 2014|first=Bondy|last=Filip|work=N.Y. Daily News|publisher=New York Daily News}}</ref> The 2 teams were considered the best in the entire ], and met 4 times in the ALCS, from ] to ]. The first 2 championships between the 2 teams ended in 5 games, with the 1976 edition ending on a memorable ] walk-off homerun in the 9th inning. The 1977 edition would end on yet another Yankees comeback, battling down 2 games to 1 and rallying in the final 2 innings in Kansas City, down 1-3, and winning 5-3, and going on to win the ]. However, in 1980, the roles would be reversed, with Kansas City sweeping New York, though would fall to the ] in the World Series. | |||
| ====St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets==== | |||
| Perhaps the most infamous moment between the 2 teams though, was the ], in which ] blasted a 2 run home run in a game between the 2 teams on July 24, 1983 in Yankee Stadium. Yankees skipper ] protested the home run, noticing a large amount of pine tar on Brett's bat. The umpires agreed with Martin, ruling the amount of pine tar exceeded what was allowed, and therefore Brett was called out. The Royals protested this decision, and AL president at the time ] agreed, and restarted the game after Brett's home run on August 18, with the Royals holding on to a 5-4 lead. | |||
| The rivalry between the ] and the ] peaked during the 1980s when both teams contended for ] supremacy. The rivalry began with the 1983 trade that brought ] from the Cardinals to the Mets, essentially turning the latter into contenders.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ladson|first=Bill|title=How the trade that made Keith Hernandez a Met came to be|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/keith-hernandez-mets-trade-anniversary|publisher=]|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref> Between 1985 and 1988, the division was dominated by either of the two teams, and in three of those years, the NL East winner went on to the World Series. In 1994, the Cardinals were moved to the ], and the rivalry faded soon after. The two teams would meet in the {{nlcsy|2000}} and {{nlcsy|2006}} ], briefly rekindling the rivalry.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nora|last=Farrell|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/cardinals-and-mets-have-long-and-colorful-rivalry/63-368155048|title=Cardinals and Mets have long and colorful rivalry|website=]|date=June 1, 2012|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Muratore|first=Elizabeth|title=Mets and Cardinals rivalry goes back much further than 2006|url=https://risingapple.com/2020/06/16/mets-cardinals-rivalry-history/|publisher=] (Rising Apple)|date=June 16, 2020|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Crisafulli|first=Alex|title=The Cardinals - Mets rivalry was the best rivalry|url=https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2016/8/25/12637064/the-cardinals-mets-rivalry-keith-hernandez-jack-clark-1985-1987|publisher=] (Viva El Birdos)|date=August 25, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Brian|title=Memorable Games in Mets-Cardinals History|url=https://metsmerizedonline.com/memorable-games-in-mets-cardinals-history/|publisher=Metsmerized Online|date=May 17, 2022|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref> | |||
| ===Interleague=== | |||
| ===Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees=== | |||
| ====Toronto Blue Jays vs. Montreal Expos==== | |||
| {{main|Pearson Cup}} | |||
| Being the only two ] baseball teams in the major leagues, a rivalry between the ] and the ] was inevitable. This rivalry was assisted by the presence of the ], an award that was given to the winner of a special midseason match (later incorporated into the MLB interleague schedule). However, this rivalry was subdued, as the two teams played in different leagues. In 2004, the rivalry came to an end when the Expos moved to Washington to become the ]. | |||
| With the end of the rivalry between the Blue Jays and the Expos in Montreal at the conclusion of the 2004 season, the Blue Jays won the series 24–19; the two teams never met in the postseason. | |||
| ====Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals==== | |||
| This rivalry was mainly played out in the ], in which the two teams met four times and split two series. The Cardinals won the first two meetings; in {{wsy|1946}}, St. Louis prevailed in large part to ]'s ] late in Game 7, and in {{wsy|1967}}, pitcher ] outlasted Red Sox ace ] in Game 7 to dash Boston's ]. The Red Sox then won the next two meetings; in {{wsy|2004}}, Boston ended their ] with a four-game sweep, and in {{wsy|2013}}, they won their third World Series in a ten-year span with a six-game win, capped off by winning the championship at ] for the first time since {{wsy|1918}}. | |||
| ====Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees==== | |||
| {{main|Dodgers–Yankees rivalry}} | {{main|Dodgers–Yankees rivalry}} | ||
| The '''Dodgers–Yankees rivalry''' is one of the most well-known rivalries in Major League Baseball.<ref name=YankeesDodgers>{{cite news|title=Oscars of interleague: Stars coming out for Yankees-Dodgers|date=June 25, 2010|first=Bob|last=Nightengale|newspaper=USA Today|page=C4|url= |
The '''Dodgers–Yankees rivalry''' is one of the most well-known rivalries in Major League Baseball.<ref name=YankeesDodgers>{{cite news|title=Oscars of interleague: Stars coming out for Yankees-Dodgers|date=June 25, 2010|first=Bob|last=Nightengale|newspaper=USA Today|page=C4|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2010-06-24-yankees-dodgers-preview_N.htm}}</ref> The strength of the rivalry has its foundation in the record twelve ] matchups between the franchises, the teams' shared home of ] during the first half of the 20th century, and the present-day cultural rivalry between the cities of New York and Los Angeles. | ||
| The city of New York was home to both franchises from the time of the Yankees' inception in the early 20th century. For close to fifty years, the teams represented different boroughs and different leagues: the Yankees in ] as a member of the American League and the Dodgers in ] as a member of the National League. The neighboring teams finally met in the World Series in ], resulting in a Yankees victory. The teams would ultimately face off in the World Series seven times in a 16-year span from 1941 to 1956, with the Yankees dominating; it wasn't until the sixth meeting in ] that the Dodgers finally broke through for their first-ever championship. | |||
| ===New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants=== | |||
| In 1958, the Dodgers moved across the country from New York to Los Angeles. The move has added a new element of competitiveness to the rivalry, as the teams now represent the two dominant media markets and cultural capitals on each coast of the United States, and ], the two largest cities in the United States. Since the Dodgers' move, the teams have faced each other five more times in the World Series, with more even results: the Los Angeles Dodgers have won three of five matchups, including the most recent in ]. | |||
| ====New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants==== | |||
| {{main|Giants–Yankees rivalry}} | {{main|Giants–Yankees rivalry}} | ||
| The |
The rivalry between the ] and ] was briefly intense during the 1920s as both teams not only inhabited New York City but also, for a time, the same ballpark.<ref>{{cite book|title=1921: The Yankees, the Giants, and the Battle for Baseball Supremacy in New York|first1=Lyle|last1=Spatz|first2=Steve|last2=Steinberg|year=2010|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|location=Lincoln, Ne.}}</ref> During that era the opportunities for them to meet could only have been in a ]. Both teams kicked off the first ] between the NL and AL in 1921. The teams met once since the Giants moved to California, in the ], with the Yankees winning in seven. Following the World Series matchup, the rivalry has cooled off greatly in the years afterwards. | ||
| ====Bay Bridge Series: Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants==== | |||
| ===Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates=== | |||
| {{main| |
{{main|Bay Bridge Series}} | ||
| The '''Bay Bridge Series''' was the name of the games played between—and rivalry of—the ] of the AL and ] of the NL, whilst the Athletics were still located in Oakland. The series took its name from the ] which links the cities of ] and ]. Although competitive, the regional rivalry between the A's and Giants was considered more friendly, with mostly mutual companionship between the fans, as opposed to the Chicago series (Cubs–White Sox), or the New York series (Mets–Yankees), where animosity runs high.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-17 |title=This Weekend Is the Last-Ever A’s-Giants ‘Bay Bridge Series’ Before the A’s Leave |url=https://sfist.com/2024/08/16/this-weekend-is-the-last-ever-as-giants-bay-bridge-series-before-the-as-leave/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| The '''rivalry between the ] and ]''' was considered by some to be one of the best rivalries in the NL.<ref name=Forbes>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/28/baseball-best-rivalries-lifestyle-sports-baseball.html|title=In Depth: Baseball's Most Intense Rivalries|publisher=Forbes|first=Matt|last=Woolsey|date=April 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name=LostRivalry>{{cite news|title=Pirates—Phillies: A Rivalry Lost and Missed|date=July 4, 2005|first=Gene|last=Collier|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=D1}}</ref><ref name=PhilliesPirates>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|title=Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading|date=July 7, 2005|accessdate=January 3, 2011|first=George|last=Von Benko|work=Phillies.MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball}}</ref> The rivalry started when the Pittsburgh Pirates entered play in 1887, four years after the Phillies.<ref name=PhilliesRealignment>{{cite news|title=Baseball Owners Vote to Break Each League Into Three Divisions|date=September 10, 1993|first=Jayson|last=Stark|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|page=A1|authorlink=Jayson Stark}}</ref> | |||
| The series was also occasionally referred to as the "BART Series" for the ] system that links Oakland to San Francisco. However, the name "BART Series" has never been popular beyond a small selection of history books and national broadcasters and has fallen out of favor. Bay Area locals almost exclusively referred to the rivalry as the "Bay Bridge Series". | |||
| The Phillies and Pirates remained together after the National League split into two divisions in {{mlby|1969}}. During the period of two-division play (1969–{{mlby|1993}}), the two ] division rivals won the two highest numbers of division championships, the Pirates 9, the Phillies 6; together, the two teams' 15 championships accounted for more than half of the 25 NL East championships during that span.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pirates, Phillies Have Owned the Outgoing NL East Division|date=September 27, 1993|first=Gene|last=Collier|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=D1}}</ref> | |||
| Originally, the term described a series of exhibition games played between the two clubs after the conclusion of ], immediately prior to the start of the regular season. It was first used to refer to the ] in which the Athletics won their most recent championship and the first time both teams had met since they moved to the ]. The moniker stuck to games played between the teams during the regular season since the commencement of ] in 1997 until the Athletics relocated in 2025. | |||
| However, after the Pirates moved to the ] in {{mlby|1994}}, the rivalry ended. The teams have since faced each other only in two series per year and the rivalry has effectively died in the years since the Pirates moved out of the NL East.<ref name=LostRivalry/><ref name=PhilliesPirates/> | |||
| ====Philadelphia Phillies vs. Philadelphia Athletics==== | |||
| {{main|City Series (Philadelphia)}} | |||
| The rivalry between the ] and ], also known as the '''Philadelphia City Series''' was at its most intense from 1901 to 1955, when the Athletics played in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/philadelphia-city-series-phillies-a-s|title=City Series set to return to Philadelphia|website=] }}</ref> The rivalry was significant not only because both teams played in Philadelphia, but because of the strong competition between the National and American Leagues. The competition between the leagues was so strong that the A's and Phillies did not play at all from 1901 to 1902 because of legal warring between the two parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billypenn.com/2022/04/09/phillies-athletics-city-series-baseball-history/|title=Baseball history: The Phillies and the A's faced off in the 'City Series' for over 50 years|date=9 April 2022 }}</ref> Related to growing tensions between the rival leagues, superstar ] had played for several years on the Phillies, but was displeased with the salary cap of $2,400 placed by the National League. When the American League was formed in 1901 and the A's joined it, Lajoie was offered a contract by Frank Hough of the Athletics on behalf of A's manager ]. When asked by a reporter what motivated him to leave, he responded " Hough offered me $24,000 ($682,656 in current dollar terms) for four years. You can bet I signed in a hurry!" As a result, the Phillies filed a lawsuit to the ] banning Lajoie from playing for any professional team. However, the decree only applied to teams in Pennsylvania, so Lajoie signed with the Cleveland Bronchos. When the decree expired, the Phillies chose not to file it again, and Lajoie left Cleveland to sign with the A's. | |||
| When the National League and American League merged in 1903, the rivalry became more friendly. Games between the two teams were played in many different stadiums throughout Philadelphia as older ones fell into disrepair and newer ones were built. Stadiums included ], ], as well as others. The final City Series game was played in 1954. In 1955, the Athletics moved to ] after another dismal season in Philadelphia. The rivalry continued in spring training games until the Athletics moved to their permanent spring training facility in ]. The rivalry has effectively died since then. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| {{Portal|Baseball}} | {{Portal|Baseball}} | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| ===Bibliography=== | ===Bibliography=== | ||
| * {{cite book|title=Red Sox vs. Yankees: The Great Rivalry| |
* {{cite book|title=Red Sox vs. Yankees: The Great Rivalry|first1=Harvey|last1=Frommer|first2=Frederic J.|last2=Frommer|publisher=Sports Publishing, LLC|year=2004|isbn=1-58261-767-8}} | ||
| * {{cite book|last=Shaughnessy|first=Dan|title=Reversing the ]|year=2005|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company|location=Boston|isbn=0-618-51748-0| |
* {{cite book|last=Shaughnessy|first=Dan|title=Reversing the ]|year=2005|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company|location=Boston|isbn=0-618-51748-0|author-link=Dan Shaughnessy}} | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| {{MLB rivalries}} | {{MLB rivalries}} | ||
| {{MLB}} | |||
| {{Subway Series}} | {{Subway Series}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 01:12, 24 December 2024
North American professional baseball | This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality, and to make it neutral in tone. (April 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Throughout its history, Major League Baseball rivalries have occurred between many teams and cities. Rivalries have arisen for many different reasons, the primary ones including geographic proximity, familiarity with opponents, various incidents, and cultural, linguistic, or national pride.
Background
Further information: Major League Baseball scheduleIn the "Original 16" era (1901–1960), there were 8 teams in each league and teams in each league played each other 22 times a season. With the second American League incarnation of the Washington Senators (now the Texas Rangers) and the Los Angeles Angels entering play as expansion teams in 1961, MLB increased the total number of games American League teams played to 162, which meant teams would play each other 18 times a season. The National League did not implement this until the following year when the New York Mets and Houston Colt .45s (now the Houston Astros) entered play.
In 1969, with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Pilots, Kansas City Royals, and Montreal Expos entering play as expansion teams, MLB split both leagues into two divisions with six teams each. Teams played a total of 90 intra-divisional games, playing teams within the division 18 times each, and 72 inter-divisional games, playing each team in the other division 12 times. However, in 1977, the addition of the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays reduced the number of intra-divisional games American League teams played to 78, as each team would play each team within the division 13 times. However, they still played each team in the other division 12 times, but the total number of inter-divisional games increased to 84. The National League did not institute this until 1993, when the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies entered play.
In 1994, MLB split each league into three divisions, but kept the 1993 format in scheduling. In 1997, with MLB adopting interleague play, the schedules were changed. The schedule for interleague play comprised 84 three-game series, namely six series (eighteen games) for each of fourteen AL teams and as many as six for each of sixteen NL teams.
MLB changed its scheduling format in 2001, further intensifying division matchups throughout the league. The new "unbalanced schedule" allowed for additional games in each season between divisional rivals, replacing additional series with teams outside the division. Due to the change, division rivals now played each other 17 or more times each season. The scheduling drew criticism both when it was enacted and after the fact, with some analysts even positing that the unbalanced schedule hurt intra-divisional play.
With the Astros moving to the American League West in 2013, MLB changed its scheduling formula as a result of each division having five teams. Teams play a total of 76 intra-divisional games, playing teams within the division 19 times each, and six or seven games against other teams in their leagues and 20 interleague games. The move of the Astros led to interleague play throughout the season. The number of interleague games against natural rivals was reduced from six to four. Beginning in 2023, intradivisional games were reduced to 13 while teams get three interleague games against each non-natural opponent and four against a natural rival.
American League
American League East
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Main article: Yankees–Red Sox rivalryThe Yankees–Red Sox rivalry is one of the oldest, most famous, and fiercest rivalries in American sports. For more than 120 years, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have been intense rivals.
The rivalry is often a heated subject of conversation in the Northeastern United States. Since the inception of the wild card team and an added Division Series, the AL East rivals have squared off in the American League Championship Series three times: The Yankees won in 1999 and 2003, and the Red Sox won in 2004. The two also faced off in the American League Division Series in 2018, with the Red Sox winning in four games. The teams most recently played in a One-game playoff after the 2021 season, in which the Sox topped the Yanks at Fenway Park. In addition, the teams have twice met in the last regular-season series of a season to decide the league title, in 1904 (when the Red Sox won) and 1949 (when the Yankees won).
The teams also finished tied for first in 1978, when the Yankees won a high-profile one-game playoff for the division title. The 1978 division race is memorable for the Red Sox having held a 14-game lead over the Yankees more than halfway through the season. Similarly, the 2004 ALCS is famous for the Yankees leading 3–0 and ultimately losing a best-of-7 series.
In 2019, the rivalry was showcased in the first London Series, with the Yankees winning both games.
The rivalry is often termed the "greatest rivalry in all of sports." Games between the two teams often generate a great deal of interest and get extensive media coverage, including being broadcast on national television. In the stands, it is very common for Yankees fans and Red Sox fans to taunt each other and get into fistfights, so security at both Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park is heavy when either team comes to town.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Main article: Rays–Red Sox rivalryThe Rays–Red Sox rivalry is contested between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. Though this rivalry is more recent than the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry, both teams have regularly competed for the AL East title since 2008, winning it a combined seven times in the past 13 years. They have also met in the postseason several times, most recently in 2021. Due to this level of close competition, the rivalry has been called one of the most competitive in the modern American League.
American League Central
Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox
Main article: Tigers–White Sox rivalryThe rivalry between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox is one of the oldest active rivalries in the league today. Both teams joined the American League in 1901 and have actively played one another regularly for over 120 years. There are other professional sports teams rivalries between Chicago and Detroit, such as the Bulls–Pistons rivalry in the NBA and the Bears-Lions rivalry in the NFL. Despite playing one another for over 2,200 games, both teams have yet to meet in the postseason in their 122-year series.
As of June 23, 2024, the Tigers lead the series 1,133–1,107–15; the two teams have yet to meet in the postseason.
Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox
Main article: Twins–White Sox rivalryThe Twins–White Sox rivalry is contested between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox. Though both teams are charter members of the American League, the rivalry did not begin in earnest until the 2000s, when the White Sox and Twins consistently battled for the AL Central crown. In the 2000s, they combined to win 8 out of the 10 AL Central division titles of the decade. Their most prominent meeting occurred in the 2008 American League Central tie-breaker game, which was necessitated by the two clubs finishing the season with identical records.
American League West
Lone Star Series: Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros
Main article: Lone Star Series
The Lone Star Series (also, Silver Boot Series) is a Major League Baseball rivalry featuring Texas' two major league franchises, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. It is an outgrowth of the "natural rivalry" established by MLB as part of interleague play as the Rangers are a member of the American League and the Astros were a member of the National League until 2012.
During interleague play, the winner of the 6-game series was awarded the Silver Boot. A 30-inch (760 mm) tall display of a size-15 cowboy boot cast in silver, complete with a custom, handmade spur. If the series was split (3–3), the winner was the club which scored the most runs over the course of the series.
In 2013, the Astros were forced into the American League West with the Rangers and changed their rivalry from an interleague to an intra-division rivalry, the Astros played their first game in the American League against the Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball that season. In 2015, both teams made the playoffs and were in a tight division race during most of the season.
In 2023, the Rangers and Astros qualified for the postseason, marking the first time since 2015 that both teams made the postseason. While both teams finished the regular season with identical records (90–72), the Astros had the better head-to-head record (9–4). As such, the Astros won their third consecutive division title (and sixth in seven years), whilst the Rangers were relegated to the wild card berth. The two teams had their first postseason matchup in the ALCS. With the visiting team winning every game, the Rangers won the series in seven games en route to their first World Series title, which they achieved by defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics
Main article: Angels–Athletics rivalryThe Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics have held a steady rivalry since their relocation to California and to the AL West in 1969. Though not as intense as the Dodgers–Giants rivalry equivalent in the National League, the A's and Angels have often been competitive in their own battle for the division through the decades. The peak of the rivalry was during the early part of the millennium as both teams were stellar and perennial contenders. But even then, there were only two down-to-the-wire finishes between the Angels and the A's during that time. During the 2002 season; both teams were proving to be contenders as The A's famous Moneyball tactics led them to a league record 20 game win streak; knocking the Angels out of the 1st seed in the division, finishing 4 games ahead while the Angels secured the Wild Card berth. Despite the 103 win season for Oakland; they fell in an upset to the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS. The Angels managed to pull off a victory over both the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins and culminated in the franchise's first and only World Series victory. During the 2004 season, both teams came down to the wire: tied for wins headed into the final week of September with the last three games being played in Oakland against the Angels. Both teams were battling to secure the lowest remaining wild card spot, however; Oakland fell in 2 losses to the Angels with only one victory in the series coming in the final game. Oakland found themselves eliminated from the playoff hunt, though the Angels suffered a sweep at the hands of the eventual champion Boston Red Sox.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers
See also: Mike Witt's perfect game and Kenny Rogers' perfect game Main article: Angels–Rangers rivalryThe Angels–Rangers rivalry has been said to have developed over a domination in the division between the two teams, and also in recent years more animosity between the two teams due to players who have played for both teams, including Nolan Ryan, Mike Napoli, Darren Oliver, Vladimir Guerrero, C. J. Wilson, and Josh Hamilton. In 2012, Wilson played a joke on Napoli, his former teammate, by tweeting his phone number, causing Napoli to exchange words with Wilson. The feuds go back to two incidents between Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy and Rangers catcher Gerald Laird which led to punches being thrown.
The Angels and Rangers have each pitched a perfect game against each other, making them the only pair of MLB teams to have done so. Mike Witt pitched a perfect game for the Angels against the Rangers in 1984 at Arlington Stadium and Kenny Rogers for the Rangers against the Angels in 1994.
Inter-divisional
Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees
While fairly recent, as the teams have rarely met historically before interleague play due to the Astros originally being in the National League, the Astros–Yankees rivalry has taken over baseball. One of their most notable historic meetings came in an exhibition game on April 9, 1965, the inaugural game played at the Astrodome and the first under the Astros team name; the Astros won the game 2–1. As with other teams, the Yankees are known for signing away several star players from the Astros, including Roger Clemens, Lance Berkman, and Gerrit Cole. The Astros are the only team to no hit the Yankees twice, with two combined no-hitters in 2003 and 2022; they are also the only team to no-hit them since 1958. Since 2015, the Astros and Yankees, along with the Boston Red Sox, also tend to have the most wins in the American League.
Since the Astros moved to the American League in 2013, the two teams have met in the postseason on four separate occasions, all of which have been won by the Astros. The first was the 2015 American League Wild Card Game, which Houston won 3–0; the second was the 2017 American League Championship Series, which Houston won in seven games; and the third was in the 2019 American League Championship Series, with the Astros winning in six games. The animosity between the two teams has only grown stronger in recent years, especially due to the revelations of the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, with some believing that the sign stealing cost the Yankees the 2017 pennant; others, meanwhile, cite that the Yankees' poor offensive numbers meant they were likely to lose regardless. Many Yankees and their fans also accused the Astros of cheating during the 2019 ALCS; however, this was debunked by MLB. The fourth postseason meeting occurred during the 2022 American League Championship Series. Amidst chants by Yankees fans of "We Want Houston!" before the series, the Astros dominated the Yankees in a four-game sweep, becoming the first team to beat the Yankees in a postseason series four times.
New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians
A long-standing rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians (formerly known as the Cleveland Indians) developed in the 1920s, when Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman died on the field after Yankees pitcher Carl Mays hit Chapman in the head with a fastball. Cleveland would rally following the incident, winning their first World Series title in 1920, but the Yankees' subsequent dynastic run between 1921 and 1964 prevented Cleveland from attaining further success, other than another World Series title in 1948 and several winning seasons that followed. As a result, animosity ensued between the two franchises, pitting the perennially free-spending and dominant Yankees against the more conservative and underdog Indians.
George Steinbrenner would also be involved in the rivalry, in which he nearly purchased the Indians in the early 1970s; instead, he acquired majority ownership of the Yankees and led the team to seven World Series titles under his ownership. Since the advent of divisional playoffs in 1995, both teams faced off in seven postseason series, most recently in the 2024 American League Championship Series, with the Yankees winning five of the seven meetings.
National League
National League East
Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets
Main article: Braves–Mets rivalryThe Braves–Mets rivalry is a rivalry between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, who are both members of the National League (NL) East division. The rivalry was particularly fierce during the late 1990s and early 2000s, as both teams competed for postseason berths and, most notably, faced each other in the 1999 NLCS. The rivalry's fierceness would return during the 2022 season, when both teams competed for the NL East division title and first-round bye, with the Braves eventually coming out on top. Historically, the two teams have often been considered the best in their division.
New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Main article: Mets–Phillies rivalryThe Mets–Phillies rivalry is a rivalry between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. Both clubs are members of MLB's National League (NL) East division. The rivalry between the two clubs is said to be among the most fiercely contested in the NL. The two NL East divisional rivals have met each other recently in playoff, division, and Wild Card races.
Aside from several brawls in the 1980s, the rivalry remained relatively low-key before the 2006 season, as the teams had seldom been equally good at the same time. A notable moment in their early meetings was Jim Bunning's perfect game on Father's Day of 1964, the first perfect game in Phillies history, which happened when the Mets were on a losing streak. The Phillies were near the bottom of the NL East when the Mets won the 1969 World Series and the National League pennant in 1973, while the Mets did not enjoy success in the late 1970s when the Phillies won three straight division championships. Although both teams each won a World Series in the 1980s, the Mets were not serious contenders in the Phillies' playoff years (1980, 1981, and 1983), nor did the Phillies seriously contend in the Mets' playoff years (1986 and 1988). The Mets were the Majors' worst team when the Phillies won the NL pennant in 1993, and the Phillies did not post a winning record in either of the Mets' wild-card-winning seasons of 1999 or 2000, when the Mets faced the New York Yankees in the 2000 World Series.
As the rivalry has intensified in recent years, the teams have battled more often for playoff position. The Mets won the division in 2006, while the Phillies won five consecutive division titles from 2007 to 2011. The Phillies' 2007 championship was notable given they won it on the last day of the season as the Mets lost a seven-game lead with 17 games remaining. The Phillies broke the Curse of Billy Penn to win the 2008 World Series, while the Mets' last title came in the 1986 World Series.
In 2015, the Mets won the National League Championship Series for their fifth pennant while the Phillies entered a rebuild phase. The Mets beat the Phillies 14 times and lost 5 for a lopsided season series. The season still provided contentious moments such as, Mets pitcher Matt Harvey drilling Phillies 2nd baseman Chase Utley in retaliation for Mets players getting hit by Phillies pitchers, a benches clearing argument between Phillies coach Larry Bowa in regards to a quick pitch by Hansel Robles and a bat flip by Daniel Murphy.
There is a long-standing bitter rivalry between the sports fans from New York City and Philadelphia, which are approximately two hours apart by car, seen also between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League, and the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in National Hockey League. Games between the two teams at Citi Field and Citizens Bank Park are often very intense, hard-hitting affairs, as each home crowd does its best to create an unfriendly, sometimes volatile atmosphere for any visiting-team fans.
Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Main article: Nationals–Phillies rivalryThe rivalry between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies extends back to the Nationals' original tenure as the Montreal Expos. Previously the Expos–Phillies rivalry, the two teams repeatedly battled for control of the division in the early 1980s and mid 1990s. Following the franchise's relocation to Washington DC in 2005; the rivalry increased in geographic tension due to Washington's proximity to Philadelphia. The rivalry quickly spiked in intensity during the 2010s after Nationals team management introduced a campaign to block Phillies fans from overtaking home games. In 2019; star-outfielder Bryce Harper further fueled tensions after signing a 13-year $330 million contract with the Phillies as a free agent. The Nationals later won the 2019 World Series during the first year of Harper's absence. The Phillies currently lead the series 482–445, but the Nationals lead the postseason series: The Expos defeated the Phillies 3–2 in the 1981 NLDS.
National League Central
I-94 Series: Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Main article: Brewers–Cubs rivalryThe Brewers–Cubs rivalry (also known as the I-94 rivalry because the clubs' ballparks are connected by an 83.3-mile drive along Interstate 94) refers to games between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs. The rivalry followed a 1969–97 rivalry between the Brewers, then in the American League, and the Chicago White Sox. The proximity of the two cities and the Bears-Packers football rivalry helped make the Cubs–Brewers rivalry one of baseball's best. In the 2018 season, the teams faced off in a Game 163 for the NL Central division title, which Milwaukee won 3 to 1.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Main article: Cardinals–Cubs rivalryThe Cardinals–Cubs rivalry (also called the Route 66 rivalry and The I-55 rivalry) refers to games between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. The Cubs lead the series 1,091–1,044 through 2010, while the Cardinals lead in National League pennants with 19 against 17 for the Cubs. However, the Cardinals have a clear edge when it comes to World Series successes, having won 11 championships (most recently in 2011), while the Cubs have only won 3 (last winning in 2016). Cardinals–Cubs games see numerous visiting fans in either St. Louis' Busch Stadium or Chicago's Wrigley Field. When the National League split into two, and then three divisions, the Cardinals and Cubs remained together. They had 3 pennant races in 1930, 1935, and 1945. The two teams met in the World Series of the nineteenth century when the Cardinals, then known as the Browns, were part of the American Association. The teams tied in 1885 and St. Louis won in 1886. St. Louis, however, has officially vacated their history from the AA. The first modern postseason meeting between the two teams was the 2015 NLDS, which the Cubs won 3 games to 1 before losing the 2015 NLCS to the New York Mets.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds
Main article: Pirates–Reds rivalryThe Pirates–Reds rivalry is a historic series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds. At one point in time was one of the fiercest matchups in the National League during the 1970s; both teams often met in the postseason multiple times prior to both being realigned to the National League Central in 1994. The two teams date far into the infancy of MLB, having both been founded in the 1880s, and first met during the 1900 MLB season. Both teams combine for 10 World Series championships and 18 pennants. The Pirates and Reds met 5 times during the NLCS in 1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, and 1990. Most recently; both teams met again during the 2013 NL Wild Card Game.
National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants
Main article: Dodgers–Giants rivalryThe Dodgers–Giants rivalry is one of the oldest, fiercest, and most competitive rivalries in professional sports. It began in the late 19th century when both clubs were based in New York City, with the Dodgers playing at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn and the Giants at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. After the 1957 season, Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley decided to move the team to Los Angeles for financial reasons, among others. Along the way, he managed to convince Giants owner Horace Stoneham (who was considering moving his team to Minnesota) to preserve the rivalry by bringing his team to California as well. New York baseball fans were stunned and heartbroken by the move. Given that the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have long been competitors in economic, cultural, and political arenas, the new venue in California became fertile ground for its transplantation.
Each team's ability to have endured for over a century while leaping across an entire continent, as well as the rivalry's growth in intensity from a cross-city to a cross-state engagement, have led to the rivalry being considered one of the greatest in sports history.
Unlike many other historic baseball match-ups in which one team remains dominant for most of their history, the Dodgers–Giants rivalry has exhibited a persistent balance in the respective successes of the two teams, and remains immensely fierce today. As of the conclusion of the 2024 season, the teams have faced each other 2,585 times since 1889 (including playoffs), with the Giants leading the all-time series by just four games (1,286 to 1,282 with 17 ties). Both franchises have won eight World Series titles, and the teams rank first and second all-time in National League pennants (25 for the Dodgers and 23 for the Giants). Across all of Major League Baseball, the two franchises have more wins all-time than another other teams (Giants ranked first, Dodgers second).
Since moving to California, the Dodgers hold the edge in pennants (13-6) and World Series titles (7-3). For all their history, the 2021 NLDS marked the first time the two teams had ever played each other in the postseason with Los Angeles beating San Francisco in a winner-takes-all Game 5.
I-5 Series: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres
Main article: Dodgers–Padres rivalryThe Dodgers–Padres rivalry is occasionally called the I-5 rivalry, as Southern California's two largest cities of Los Angeles and San Diego are located approximately 130 miles apart along Interstate 5.
For much of the teams' history, matchups had often been lopsided in favor of the Dodgers: Los Angeles leads the all-time series with a .551 winning percentage. However, since 2020 both franchises have fielded several highly competitive teams simultaneously, resulting in five playoff appearances for Los Angeles and three for San Diego. The two teams faced each other in the Division Series in all three of the Padres' most recent playoff appearances: Los Angeles won in 2020 and 2024, while San Diego won in 2022. The recent shared competitiveness and high-stakes playoff matchups have added intensity to a growing rivalry in Southern California. Off the field, the rivalry has been just as competitive, as the two teams have aggressively battled on the trade market and free agency over star players, such as Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, Max Scherzer, and Trea Turner. Some high-profile stars have also played for both teams in recent years, including Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Manny Machado.
Beyond baseball, San Diego sports fans have often harbored animosity towards Los Angeles due in small part to San Diego being an unstable home for their sports teams as both the Chargers and the Clippers both relocated to Los Angeles after being unable to find a secure future in San Diego.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Main article: Diamondbacks–Dodgers rivalryThe rivalry between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers developed due to proximity when the Diamondbacks entered the league in 1998. It peaked and became one of the fiercest divisional matchups for several years in the 2010s. During the 2010s, animosity rose immensely between both sides. An infamous example occurred on September 19, 2013. After eliminating the Diamondbacks from postseason contention and clinching their division, multiple Dodgers players celebrated the win by jumping into the pool at Arizona's Chase Field. The two sides met during the 2017 National League Division Series, where the Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks en route to an appearance in the World Series. The teams matched up again in the 2023 National League Division Series, in which the Diamondbacks returned the favor with a 3–0 sweep of their own en route to a World Series appearance, their first since 2001. The Dodgers lead the all-time series 269–202 with a 3–3 split in the postseason.
Due to not having a team until 1998, many Arizona residents supported the Dodgers prior to the creation of the Diamondbacks franchise. Because of this, there is often a split crowd when they play Los Angeles at their home park, Chase Field, due in no small part to the Dodgers' extensive fanbase across the southwestern United States.
Inter-Divisional
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Main article: Cardinals–Dodgers rivalryBoth the Dodgers and Cardinals are two of the oldest franchises in MLB, having first met during the 1900 season during the league's infancy; the Cardinals in 1882 and the Dodgers (originally known as the Bridegrooms) in 1883. Historically; both teams have not played in the same division; however frequent close pennant races and matchups in the postseason caused the rivalry to grow in intensity through the decades. This was on display from 1963 to 1968 when either team represented the National League in the World Series or the 2000s when the two teams regularly met in the postseason.
Interleague
Background
Further information: Interleague playEarly discussions about interleague play
Interleague or interconference matchups have long been the norm in other professional sports leagues such as the National Football League. Regular-season interleague play was discussed for baseball's major leagues as early as the 1930s. In December 1956, Major League owners considered a proposal by Cleveland general manager and minority-owner Hank Greenberg to implement limited interleague play beginning in 1958.
Under Greenberg's proposal, each team would continue to play 154-games in the season, 126 of which would be within the league, and 28 against the 8 clubs in the other league. The interleague games would all be played during a period immediately following the All-Star Game. Notably, under Greenberg's proposal, all results would count in regular season game standings and league statistics. While this proposal was not adopted, the current system shares many elements. Bill Veeck predicted in 1963 that Major League Baseball would someday have interleague play. The concept did not take hold until the 1990s (at least in part as an effort to renew the public's interest in MLB following the 1994 players' strike).
First Interleague games
MLB's first regular season interleague game took place on June 12, 1997, when the Texas Rangers hosted the San Francisco Giants at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. There were four interleague games on the schedule that night, but the other three were played on the West Coast, so the Giants–Rangers matchup started a few hours earlier than the others. Texas' Darren Oliver threw the game's first pitch and San Francisco outfielder Glenallen Hill was the first designated hitter used in a regular-season game by a National League team. San Francisco's Stan Javier hit the first home run in interleague play, and the Giants won the game 4–3.
For the first five seasons of Interleague Play, each division played against the same division from the other league (NL East vs. AL East, NL Central vs. AL Central and NL West vs. AL West), typically scheduled to alternate between home and away in consecutive years. However, in 2002, a new format to Interleague Play was instituted where teams play Interleague games against various divisions. Matchups which had been of particular interest prior to this format—mainly geographic rivals—were preserved. This is expected to be the continuing format of the interleague schedule. Corresponding divisions however, were skipped once when this rotation began, but were put back in the rotation in 2006.
From 2002 to 2012, all interleague games were played prior to the All-Star Game. Most games were played in June, though May games have been scheduled since 2005. Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 played six games every year, which were scheduled in two three-game series "home and home", or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state.
Starting in 2023, MLB teams will play every other team in baseball at least once.
East
Battle of the Beltways: Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals
Main article: Beltway SeriesKnown as the Beltway Battle and as the Battle of the Beltways, after Washington's Capital Beltway (I-95/I-495) and Baltimore's Baltimore Beltway (I-695). The two teams first met in 2006, one year after the Montreal Expos relocated from Montreal to Washington, D.C., to become the Washington Nationals. Much of this rivalry is dominated by off-the field issues. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos publicly opposed relocating the Expos to Washington, which he believed was a part of his territorial rights after the departure of the second incarnation of the Washington Senators after the 1971 season. There are also controversies surrounding the value of the Nationals' television rights and their coverage on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.
Subway Series: New York Mets vs. New York Yankees
Main article: Mets–Yankees rivalryThe Mets–Yankees rivalry is the latest incarnation of the Subway Series, the competition between New York City's Major League Baseball teams, the AL Yankees and NL Mets. Until interleague play started, the two teams had only met in exhibition games. Since the inception of interleague play the teams have met in every season since 1997 and faced off in the 2000 World Series with the Yankees winning in five games.
Citrus Series: Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays
The Citrus Series is the name given to the interleague series between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball. The Marlins entered the league in 1993 as the Florida Marlins, while the Rays had their first season in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The first meeting between the two teams took place on June 22, 1998, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida during the Rays' inaugural season. The Marlins moved into Marlins Park in the 2012 season; from 1998 to 2011, the games were played at the NFL's Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium (as it is currently named), though it has been known by several names in its existence.
Central
Border Battle: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Minnesota Twins
The Border Battle is an annual interleague rivalry between the Milwaukee Brewers (NL-Central) and the Minnesota Twins (AL-Central). The rivalry started and was most heated when the Brewers were still in the American League before transitioning to the National League.
Crosstown Classic: Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs
Main article: Cubs–White Sox rivalryThe Cubs–White Sox rivalry (also known as the Wintrust Crosstown Cup, Crosstown Classic, The Windy City Showdown, Red Line Series, City Series, Crosstown Series, Crosstown Cup, or Crosstown Showdown) refers to the rivalry between two Major League Baseball teams that play their home games in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs of the NL play their home games at Wrigley Field located on the city's North side, while the Chicago White Sox of the AL play their home games at Rate Field on the city's South side. The terms "North Siders" and "South Siders" are synonymous with the respective teams and their fans, setting up an enduring rivalry. The Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line runs north–south through Chicago's neighborhoods, stopping at Wrigley Field on Addison Street and Rate Field on 35th Street.
Notably this rivalry actually predates the Interleague Play Era, with the only postseason meeting occurring in the 1906 World Series. It was the first World Series between teams from the same city. The White Sox won the series 4 games to 2, over the highly favored Cubs who had won a record 116 games during the regular season. The rivalry continued through of exhibition games, culminating in the Crosstown Classic from 1985 to 1995, in which the White Sox were undefeated at 10–0–2.
Battle of Ohio: Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Guardians
Main article: Ohio CupThe Ohio Cup is between the National League (NL)'s Cincinnati Reds and the American League (AL)'s Cleveland Guardians. Both teams' cities are about 250 miles away via I-71.
I-70 Series: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
The rivalry between the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League and Kansas City Royals of the American League is a Major League Baseball series sometimes known as the I-70 Series or the Show-Me Series. This rivalry is so called because the two cities are located in the state of Missouri, whose nickname is the "Show Me State", and both cities are located along Interstate 70. They played each other for the first time in the 1985 World Series, which saw the Royals overcome a 2–0 and 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. Owing to their geographical proximity, the teams face each other every regular season in interleague play.
This prominent rivalry began with Royals' successes in the early '80's and fueled by the Royals' victory over the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series. The series is still a source of contention among fans, notably the controversial call in the bottom of the ninth of game 6 in which Jorge Orta was called safe on a play that replays later showed him out. A Royals rally let them tie and later win the game and then later the series.
West
Freeway Series: Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Main article: Freeway SeriesThe term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of the American League and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. The series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, the home of both teams; one could travel from one team's stadium to the other simply by traveling along Interstate 5. The Freeway series is extremely popular in Los Angeles and normally sells out their games due to the close proximity of both teams and their fans. The closest the two teams came to playing in a World Series together was in 2009, when they both made their respective league championship series before losing. Another recent point of contention between the two fanbases occurred on December 9, 2023, when Angels’ star Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers for $700 million. Ohtani's decision to leave the Angels to sign with the Dodgers led to some Angels fans dubbing him a "traitor" and "sell-out". Although the Dodgers have been the more historically successful franchise, the Angels hold a slight edge in the head-to-head advantage in meetings between the two teams.
Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers started as a divisional matchup, but hostility waned following Houston's move from the NL West to the NL Central in 1994, and later move to the American League in 2013. In 2017, the two teams played one another in the 2017 World Series in which the Astros won the championship in 7 games. The rivalry re-intensified after the Astros' sign stealing scandal, in which it was revealed the team had utilized a complex system to steal pitch signs, including during the 2017 World Series. As a result of the scandal, hostility grew immensely between the two teams and their fans. The 2017 World Series was also the start of an era defined by these two franchises. All but one World Series from 2017 through 2024 featured either the Astros or Dodgers, with both teams making four appearances each. In the same period, the Astros won the 2022 World Series, while the Dodgers won in 2020 and 2024.
Vedder Cup: San Diego Padres vs. Seattle Mariners
An unlikely matchup between two interleague opponents; the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. The rivalry has been a part of local hometown lore; often called the Eddie Vedder Cup in regards to both Seattle and San Diego being hometowns for Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, who lived in San Diego County during the latter half of his adolescence before forming Pearl Jam in Seattle (ironically, Vedder himself is a fan of the Chicago Cubs). The two teams have met each other every season excluding 2017 since interleague play was introduced in 1997. Following the introduction of interleague play; one of the 15 naturalized rivalries designated were to include Seattle and San Diego. The rivalry often involved both teams in the depths of playoff failure as the Padres failed to win a single playoff series from 1999 to 2019, while the Mariners had failed to make a single playoff appearance from 2002 to 2021; thus forcing both teams to compete for draft picks and prospects as they also share the Peoria Sports Complex as their spring training facility. Though very little on the surface initially linked any animosity between the two teams as they play in separate leagues and both cities lie approximately 1,250 miles apart. The rivalry often exists with more respect between the two teams and fans alike as more of a humorous contest for both sides.
Historical
American League
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
Despite never playing in the same division, the Royals and Yankees developed quite a disdain for each other from mid 70s through the mid 80s. Starting in 1976, they met in the American League Championship Series for four out of the five seasons (1976-1978 and 1980), with the Yankees winning the first three, and Kansas City sweeping New York in 1980. The rivalry continued in 1983, which featured the Pine Tar Game, in which Billy Martin requested that the umpires inspect George Brett's bat after he hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that gave Kansas City a 4–3 advantage. The umpires ruled that the amount of pine tar on the bat exceeded the amount allowed by rule, nullified Brett's home run, and called him out. As Brett was the third out in the ninth inning with the home team in the lead, the game ended with a Yankees win. The Royals protested the game, and American League president Lee MacPhail upheld their protest. MacPhail ordered that the game be continued from the point of Brett's home run. The game was resumed 25 days later on August 18, and officially ended with the Royals winning 5–4. The rivalry died when many of the main characters in the rivalry retired or moved to other teams via free agency (a new concept in the early 1980s). The Royals also went on a long re-build after team owner Ewing Kauffman died in 1993. From 1999 to 2010, Kansas City did not win a single series against New York. The teams met in the 2024 American League Division Series, which the Yankees won 3–1.
National League
Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers–Reds rivalry was one of the most intense during the 1970s through the early 1990s. They often competed for the NL West division title. From 1970 to 1990, they had eleven 1–2 finishes in the standings, with seven of them being within 5½ games or fewer. Both teams also played in numerous championships during this span, combining to win 10 NL Pennants and 5 World Series titles from 1970–1990, most notably as the Big Red Machine teams clashed frequently with the Tommy Lasorda-era Dodgers teams. Reds manager Sparky Anderson once said, "I don't think there's a rivalry like ours in either league. The Giants are supposed to be the Dodgers' natural rivals, but I don't think the feeling is there anymore. It's not there the way it is with us and the Dodgers." The rivalry ended when division realignment moved the Reds to the NL Central. However, they did face one another in the 1995 NLDS.
Montreal Expos vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Main article: Nationals–Phillies rivalryThe Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies were originally rivals as charter members of the NL East following the 1969 expansion in which the Expos were one of four new teams added to the league. The two teams grew a history of fights and pitches repeatedly tossed at one another, culminating in both teams regularly battling for control of the division during much of the early 1980s and mid 1990s. Notable games such as Mike Schmidt's game-winning home run helped Philadelphia clinch the division during their penultimate game against the Expos during the tail end of the 1980 season. The Expos responded the following season by beating the Phillies in the NLDS 3–2. The rivalry regrew following the Expos' relocation to Washington DC in 2005 to become the Nationals franchise.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Main article: Phillies–Pirates rivalryThe rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates was considered by some to be one of the best rivalries in the NL. The rivalry started when the Pittsburgh Pirates entered play in 1887, four years after the Phillies.
The Phillies and Pirates remained together after the National League split into two divisions in 1969. During the period of two-division play (1969–1993), the two National League East division rivals won the two highest numbers of division championships, the Pirates 9, the Phillies 6; together, the two teams' 15 championships accounted for more than half of the 25 NL East championships during that span.
However, after the Pirates moved to the National League Central in 1994, the rivalry ended. The teams have since faced each other only in two series per year and the rivalry has effectively died in the years since the Pirates moved out of the NL East.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets
The rivalry between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets peaked during the 1980s when both teams contended for National League East supremacy. The rivalry began with the 1983 trade that brought Keith Hernandez from the Cardinals to the Mets, essentially turning the latter into contenders. Between 1985 and 1988, the division was dominated by either of the two teams, and in three of those years, the NL East winner went on to the World Series. In 1994, the Cardinals were moved to the National League Central, and the rivalry faded soon after. The two teams would meet in the 2000 and 2006 National League Championship Series, briefly rekindling the rivalry.
Interleague
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Montreal Expos
Main article: Pearson CupBeing the only two Canadian baseball teams in the major leagues, a rivalry between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos was inevitable. This rivalry was assisted by the presence of the Pearson Cup, an award that was given to the winner of a special midseason match (later incorporated into the MLB interleague schedule). However, this rivalry was subdued, as the two teams played in different leagues. In 2004, the rivalry came to an end when the Expos moved to Washington to become the Washington Nationals.
With the end of the rivalry between the Blue Jays and the Expos in Montreal at the conclusion of the 2004 season, the Blue Jays won the series 24–19; the two teams never met in the postseason.
Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals
This rivalry was mainly played out in the World Series, in which the two teams met four times and split two series. The Cardinals won the first two meetings; in 1946, St. Louis prevailed in large part to Enos Slaughter's mad dash late in Game 7, and in 1967, pitcher Bob Gibson outlasted Red Sox ace Jim Lonborg in Game 7 to dash Boston's "Impossible Dream" season. The Red Sox then won the next two meetings; in 2004, Boston ended their 86-year title drought with a four-game sweep, and in 2013, they won their third World Series in a ten-year span with a six-game win, capped off by winning the championship at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees
Main article: Dodgers–Yankees rivalryThe Dodgers–Yankees rivalry is one of the most well-known rivalries in Major League Baseball. The strength of the rivalry has its foundation in the record twelve World Series matchups between the franchises, the teams' shared home of New York during the first half of the 20th century, and the present-day cultural rivalry between the cities of New York and Los Angeles.
The city of New York was home to both franchises from the time of the Yankees' inception in the early 20th century. For close to fifty years, the teams represented different boroughs and different leagues: the Yankees in the Bronx as a member of the American League and the Dodgers in Brooklyn as a member of the National League. The neighboring teams finally met in the World Series in 1941, resulting in a Yankees victory. The teams would ultimately face off in the World Series seven times in a 16-year span from 1941 to 1956, with the Yankees dominating; it wasn't until the sixth meeting in 1955 that the Dodgers finally broke through for their first-ever championship.
In 1958, the Dodgers moved across the country from New York to Los Angeles. The move has added a new element of competitiveness to the rivalry, as the teams now represent the two dominant media markets and cultural capitals on each coast of the United States, and since the 1980s, the two largest cities in the United States. Since the Dodgers' move, the teams have faced each other five more times in the World Series, with more even results: the Los Angeles Dodgers have won three of five matchups, including the most recent in 2024.
New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants
Main article: Giants–Yankees rivalryThe rivalry between the New York Giants and New York Yankees was briefly intense during the 1920s as both teams not only inhabited New York City but also, for a time, the same ballpark. During that era the opportunities for them to meet could only have been in a World Series. Both teams kicked off the first Subway Series between the NL and AL in 1921. The teams met once since the Giants moved to California, in the 1962 World Series, with the Yankees winning in seven. Following the World Series matchup, the rivalry has cooled off greatly in the years afterwards.
Bay Bridge Series: Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants
Main article: Bay Bridge SeriesThe Bay Bridge Series was the name of the games played between—and rivalry of—the Oakland Athletics of the AL and San Francisco Giants of the NL, whilst the Athletics were still located in Oakland. The series took its name from the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge which links the cities of Oakland and San Francisco. Although competitive, the regional rivalry between the A's and Giants was considered more friendly, with mostly mutual companionship between the fans, as opposed to the Chicago series (Cubs–White Sox), or the New York series (Mets–Yankees), where animosity runs high.
The series was also occasionally referred to as the "BART Series" for the Bay Area Rapid Transit system that links Oakland to San Francisco. However, the name "BART Series" has never been popular beyond a small selection of history books and national broadcasters and has fallen out of favor. Bay Area locals almost exclusively referred to the rivalry as the "Bay Bridge Series".
Originally, the term described a series of exhibition games played between the two clubs after the conclusion of spring training, immediately prior to the start of the regular season. It was first used to refer to the 1989 World Series in which the Athletics won their most recent championship and the first time both teams had met since they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. The moniker stuck to games played between the teams during the regular season since the commencement of interleague play in 1997 until the Athletics relocated in 2025.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Philadelphia Athletics
Main article: City Series (Philadelphia)The rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Athletics, also known as the Philadelphia City Series was at its most intense from 1901 to 1955, when the Athletics played in Philadelphia. The rivalry was significant not only because both teams played in Philadelphia, but because of the strong competition between the National and American Leagues. The competition between the leagues was so strong that the A's and Phillies did not play at all from 1901 to 1902 because of legal warring between the two parties. Related to growing tensions between the rival leagues, superstar Nap Lajoie had played for several years on the Phillies, but was displeased with the salary cap of $2,400 placed by the National League. When the American League was formed in 1901 and the A's joined it, Lajoie was offered a contract by Frank Hough of the Athletics on behalf of A's manager Connie Mack. When asked by a reporter what motivated him to leave, he responded " Hough offered me $24,000 ($682,656 in current dollar terms) for four years. You can bet I signed in a hurry!" As a result, the Phillies filed a lawsuit to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court banning Lajoie from playing for any professional team. However, the decree only applied to teams in Pennsylvania, so Lajoie signed with the Cleveland Bronchos. When the decree expired, the Phillies chose not to file it again, and Lajoie left Cleveland to sign with the A's.
When the National League and American League merged in 1903, the rivalry became more friendly. Games between the two teams were played in many different stadiums throughout Philadelphia as older ones fell into disrepair and newer ones were built. Stadiums included Shibe Park, Philadelphia Park, as well as others. The final City Series game was played in 1954. In 1955, the Athletics moved to Kansas City after another dismal season in Philadelphia. The rivalry continued in spring training games until the Athletics moved to their permanent spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona. The rivalry has effectively died since then.
See also
- Major League Soccer rivalries
- National Basketball Association rivalries
- National Football League rivalries
- National Hockey League rivalries
References
Inline citations
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Philadelphia fans hate New York fans and New York fans ...Eagles fans and Giants fans don't get along, and Flyers supporters haven't been known to break bread with those wearing Rangers jerseys.
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Bibliography
- Frommer, Harvey; Frommer, Frederic J. (2004). Red Sox vs. Yankees: The Great Rivalry. Sports Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1-58261-767-8.
- Shaughnessy, Dan (2005). Reversing the Curse. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-618-51748-0.
External links
- Regional Postseason Series, Retrosheet
- Subway Series Yankees vs. Mets history and boxscores from Newsday
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| Teams |
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| Stadiums |
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| World Series |
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| Histories | |||||||||
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