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The Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason consists of an elimination tournament that ultimately decides who competes in the Baseball World Series – the season’s annual culminating event. It typically runs for the entirety of October, although occasionally spills into early November.
The 2021 World Series was won by the Atlanta Braves, who defeated the Houston Astros 4-2.
In total, five teams from each league (the American League and National League) qualify for the MLB postseason. The first-place team in each of the three divisions winners qualifies, as do the two teams in each league with the next-best records – regardless of division.
The two non-division winners from each league, known as wildcard teams, play each other in a one-game playoff series. The four remaining teams in each league then play in the best-of-five Divisional Series. The top-seeded division winner takes on the victorious wildcard team, while the other two division winners play each other.
Following the Divisional Series, the two remaining teams in each league play in the best-of-seven League Championship Series. The two league champions then play in the best-of-seven World Series.
To date, the World Series has been dominated by the New York Yankees who have won 27 championships in 40 appearances. The St Louis Cardinals have won the second most titles with 11, while the Oakland Athletics have won the third most with nine.
| Recent World Series champions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Champions | Runners-up |
| 2021 | Atlanta Braves | Houston Astros |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 2019 | Washington Nationals | Houston Astros |
| 2018 | Boston Red Sox | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2017 | Houston Astros | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2016 | Chicago Cubs | Cleveland Indians |
| 2015 | Kansas City Royals | New York Mets |
| 2014 | San Francisco Giants | Kansas City Royals |
| 2013 | Boston Red Sox | St Louis Cardinals |
| 2012 | San Francisco Giants | Detroit Tigers |
| 2011 | St Louis Cardinals | Texas Rangers |
| 2010 | San Francisco Giants | Texas Rangers |
