As I explain here, since the advent of divisional play and the introduction of the wild-card slot in 1995, the best team in a league doesn't always represent its league in the World Series. Here's the tally (National League teams listed first, * indicates winner of World Series):
1995 --There you have it. The last year in which the World Series featured both leagues' best teams was 1999. The only other time, for the years of interest here, was in 1996.
Atlanta Braves (division winner, best record)*
Cleveland Indians (division winner, best record)
1996 --
Atlanta Braves (division winner, best record)
New York Yankees (division winner, second-best record)*
1997 --
Florida Marlins (wild-card team, second-best record)*
Cleveland Indians (division winner, fourth-best record)
1998--
San Diego Padres (division winner, third-best record)
New York Yankees (division winner, best record)*
1999--
Atlanta Braves (division winner, best record)
New York Yankees (division winner, best record)*
2000--
New York Mets (wild-card team, fourth-best record)
New York Yankees (division winner, fourth-best record)*
2001--
Arizona Diamondbacks (division winner, third-best record)*
New York Yankees (division winner, second-best record)
2002--
San Francisco Giants (wild-card team, fourth-best record)
Anaheim Angels (wild-card team, third-best record)*
2003--
Florida Marlines (wild-card team, third-best record)*
New York Yankees (division winner, best record)
2004--
St. Louis Cardinals (division winner, best record)
Boston Red Sox (wild-card team, second-best record)*
2005--
Houston Astros (wild-card team, third-best record)
Chicago White Sox (division winner, best record)*
2006--
St. Louis Cardinals (division winner, fourth-best record)*
Detroit Tigers (wild-card team, third-best record)
2007--
Colorado Rockies (wild-card team, second-best record)
Boston Red Sox (division winner, tied for best record)*
Of the 13 Series from 1995 through 2007, five were won by the inferior team, as measured by the two teams' performance in their respective leagues. The best team in either league has won only five of the 13 Series.
Wild-card teams have gone on to play in seven of the 13 Series from 1995 through 2007. In 2002 there was an all-wild-card Series.
As always, the winner of this year's Series will be able to claim nothing more than having been the better team over a span of four to seven games.
