The Fall Classic is Classic for a Reason

Throughout a long and chaotic season, we have finally made it to the World Series. The grueling nature of baseball makes the World Series unlike any other championship. While baseball may not be the most physically demanding sport, with comparatively limited contact, the season is nearly twice as long as the basketball and hockey season, and is almost ten times as long as the football season. The name of the game is endurance; 162 games set the playoff bracket, but teams must endure through the postseason as well.

Timeless History

The story of our baseball championship series started in the early 1900s. The established National League faced off against the up-and-coming American League to prove which league was better. In the first World Championship, as it was known then, the Boston Americans (Boston Red Sox today) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates five to three in a best-of-nine series. Boston was led by baseball legend Cy Young in a tremendous comeback. What started as a game between two rival baseball leagues became so much more.

Over the last 122 years, the World Series has given us some of the most iconic moments in baseball. Whether it is walk-off homeruns like Carlton Fisk’s, Kirk Gibson’s, and recently Freddie Freeman’s, or lights-out pitching performances from Madison Bumgarner and Randy Johnson, everything is elevated in the World Series. The World Series has an unmatched ability to provide hope to cities and take it away just as quickly. Every single game is important; the series keeps you glued to your seat waiting for the big moment that changes everything. A big homerun, a terrific catch, a two-out rally, or anything else can spark the comeback or insurance a team needs. After 122 years (120 World Series due to the cancellation of a couple of seasons), 25 of the 30 teams have hoisted the commissioner’s trophy, and I can’t wait to see who takes it home next.

Change is the Only Constant

As mentioned before, the World Series used to be a best-of-nine before switching to today’s best-of-seven, but this is far from the only change to happen to the World Series and postseason format. A new change over the past few years is the elimination of pitchers batting (except for Shohei Ohtani). Until 2022, pitchers in the National League were required to bat, while pitchers in the American League would have a designated hitter. Whenever teams from each league would clash in the World Series, the home ballpark determined the rules used for the game.

Another change is the postseason bracket that we are used to today; until the late 1960s, the best teams in the American League and National League would face off in the World Series. In 1969, the league expanded, resulting in a shift to an Eastern and Western division in both the AL and NL. The best teams in each division would face off in a best-of-five in the League Championship Series, and then the winners would face each other in the World Series. In the mid-nineties, the format changed once again to implement a divisional round, including the winners of each of the three divisions and one wild-card team that was the “best of the rest”. Later, a one-game wild-card round was introduced, leading the way to today’s three wild-card teams. While the format has changed throughout the years, the goal remains the same: win when the weather gets cold.

This Year and a Big Announcement

The 2025 season has been filled with ups and downs. There were epic collapses like that of the New York Mets, thrilling divisional battles like we saw with the Dodgers and Padres, and exciting faces we hadn’t seen in the postseason for some time, like the Mariners and Reds. All has led to a showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

For the Dodgers, this series means no one can question their dynasty. The Dodgers have been big spenders but have made wise decisions, leading to postseason success. The acquisition of Shohei Ohtani last year was remarkable and set the team up for success for many years to come. After the thrilling win over the Yankees in the 2024 World Series, the Dodgers have come out swinging in 2025, signing more big names to complete their powerful lineup. While no team has won back-to-back World Series titles since 2000, the Dodgers look like they are equipped for the task ahead.

The Blue Jays are a different story entirely. Toronto is coming off one of its worst years in franchise history. 2024 saw the Blue Jays in last place in the American League East and left little hope for this season. In early May, the bats came alive for Toronto, resulting in a surge ahead of the New York Yankees. Toronto hasn’t quit all year, with 49 comeback wins demonstrating their resilience. While they may lack the star power of Los Angeles, the Blue Jays have big names like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leading the charge. Throughout this postseason, the Dodgers’ starting pitching has been unhittable, and the Blue Jays’ bats have been white hot. Everything is shaping up for a competitive and wildly entertaining conclusion to this baseball season.

While the baseball season is winding down, I would like to make a special announcement about what is coming next for the Old Ballgame Blog. I will be attending the World Series in Los Angeles at the start of next week and will have a post coming out shortly afterward documenting the experience. It has been an absolute pleasure bringing stories of baseball’s past throughout this summer, and I can’t wait to get back into the groove as we look forward to another season of Major League Baseball.

Sources

Boston Americans History – Team Origin and Achievements. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://sportsteamhistory.com/boston-americans/

Division Series History. (n.d.). MLB.Com. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://www.mlb.com/postseason/history/division-series

Inc, B. A. (n.d.). 1903 World Series | Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1903ws.shtml

League Championship Series History. (n.d.). MLB.Com. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://www.mlb.com/postseason/history/league-championship-series