No-Hitter Alert

A no hitter is one of baseball's ultimate achievements--with possibly the only thing topping it is a perfect game. Shutting down an entire team's offense without allowing a hit is the pinnacle that every pitcher strives for every time they take the mound. It's commonly believed that only the best pitchers reach this lofty goal.

There have been 296 No-Hitters thrown in the history of Major League Baseball (including no-hitters through 9 innings that were broken up in extra innings, and rain-shortened games). Not all of them were thrown by pitchers at the top of the game. In fact, some seem like they were pitched against all odds when considering the rest of their career.

These are the 5 Worst Pitchers to Ever Throw a No-Hitter (in the last 25 Years)

5) Eric Milton

STATS: 11 Seasons, 16.6 WAR, 89-85 W/L (.511 Win%), 4.99 ERA, 1.339 WHIP, 1127 SO, 2.49 SO/BB

ACCOLADES: 4 winning seasons, 1x All Star,  2x league leader in Homeruns Allowed, 1x league leader in Earned Runs Allowed,

Milton began his career with such promise. He was a part of the Gardenhire-coached Twins that was a perennial playoff contender. On September 11, 1999, Milton shut out the Anaheim Angels achieving the lofty goal while striking out 13. It was definitely the pinnacle for Eric Milton as his career didn't come close to the goal. Milton finished his career a wink away from an anemic ERA of 5. Milton peaked at 15 wins, and only achieved a winning record 4 of his 11 seasons. His best season was in 2001 when he was an All-Star, went 15-7 and had his best ERA of... 4.27.

4) Jonathan Sanchez

STATS: 8 seasons, 3.1 WAR, 39-58 W/L (.402 Win%), 4.70 ERA, 1.464 WHIP, 796 SO, 1.82 SO/BB)

ACCOLADES: 1 winning season

Sanchez was a virtual unknown coming up in the San Francisco Giants farm system. He was a back end rotation man trying to grind out a win in between Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner starts. On July 10, 2009, Sanchez held the San Diego Padres hitless, and was only a Juan Uribe error away from a perfect game.

Sanchez never came close to being this dominant again. He had just 1 winning season in his career and finished every season with an ERA over 4. His career WHIP is highest among all-time no-hitter pitchers at 1.464. Sanchez had one moment in the sun with his no-hitter, and faded into obscurity shortly afterward.

3) Jose Jimenez

STATS: 7 seasons, 2.4 WAR, 24-44 W/L (.353 Win%), 4.92 ERA, 1.454 WHIP, 319 SO, 1.72 SO/BB)

ACCOLADES: 1 winning season

Jimenez was a rookie when he pitched his thrilling no-hitter on June 25, 1999. Not only that, but he outdueled Diamondback ace and Hall of Famer Randy Johnson to the tune of a 1-0 victory. Jimenez struck out 6 and walked 3 in his masterpiece, and he ended up with one of the all time great no-hitter duels in modern history.

To say that he played above his talent level would be an understatement however. To say he was bound for greatness was also hard to believe. Jimenez finished that season with a record of 5-14 with an ERA of 5.85 and a WHIP of nearly 1.5. The rest of Jimenez's career didn't fare any better. He was traded to the Rockies and relegated to the bullpen. He had one successful season as the Rockies' closer, tapping down 41 saves. But his performances didn't get better, and his stats showed, ending up with a career ERA near 5, and accounting for an infinitesimal 2.4 wins above replacement. Jimenez found himself without a job after parts of only 7 seasons.

2) Phil Humber

STATS: 8 seasons*, 0.9 WAR, 16-23 W/L (.410 Win%), 5.31 ERA, 1.420 WHIP, 272 SO, 2.11 SO/BB)

*Only 3 seasons with more than 5 games played

ACCOLADES: none

If the name Phillip Humber sounds familiar, it's because he was supposed to be the next pitching phenom set to anchor the New York Mets rotation when they made him the 3rd overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft. But Humber struggled to make waves in the minors. He made a few trips to the majors starting in 2006. By 2008, the Mets were tired of waiting and dumped him before he bounced around to the Twins' and Royals' minor league squads before finally landing a spot on the Chicago White Sox rotation. In his first season, Humber looked like he finally was showing off the talent that had brought him so much hype. He posted a 9-9 record and a decent 3.75 ERA.

It was his 2012 season that saw him reach the apex a starting pitcher can achieve. On April 21st--Humber's second start of the season--he retired all 27 batters he faced against the Seattle Mariners. Even more impressive, Humber did it all in 97 pitches including 9 strikeouts. It was a methodical shutdown of the Seattle Mariners leaving the Mets and other doubters eating their hat at what they let get away.

But Humber could hardly keep up with the phenomenal game. He ended the season with an ERA well over 6 and only mustered 5 wins while struggling with his command all season. Humber would only last one more season in the league before he involuntarily retired.

1) Bud Smith

STATS: 2 seasons, -0.4 WAR, 7-8 W/L (.467 Win%), 4.95 ERA, 1.447 WHIP, 81 SO, 1.76 SO/BB)

ACCOLADES: 1 winning season, 4th place in Rookie of the Year votes

The story of Bud Smith is almost tragic. Smith was a brilliant pitcher in the minor leagues. In the 2000 season, he won 17 games, threw 2 no-hitters, and was awarded with Baseball Weekly's coveted Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award. Smith seemed destined for a long tenure on board the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation. Smith's rookie season showed promise as he finished 6-3 in 14 starts with a respectable 3.83 ERA. It culminated on September 3, 2001 when Smith pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres, striking out 6 and walking 4. He was impressive achieving something some of the best in the game had never achieved. For Smith's efforts, he achieved enough votes to rank 4th in Rookie of the Year voting (an award won by teammate Albert Pujols).

If that was the dream season, his sophomore season was a nightmare. Smith couldn't repeat the momentum he gained from his rookie season, bouncing up and down between the majors and AAA Memphis. His numbers saw him appear in 10 games, going 1-5, and posting a dreadful 6.94 ERA. Smith was released before the end of the year. He was picked up and bounced around the minors yet again, but never appeared in the Majors again. Smith was attempting a comeback up until 2007 when he was pitching for the Long Island Armada in the Golden Baseball League. Smith had by far the shortest tenure in the majors of any pitcher in the No-Hitter Club.

A No-Hitter is presumed to be an honor that only the best in the game can achieve. The ability to get 27 outs without giving up a single hit sounds like something the greatest pitchers can accomplish. But the last No-No to be pitched by a pitcher who would find themselves entered into the Hall of Fame* was Randy Johnson in 2004. Before that, it was Nolan Ryan in 1991. Any given pitcher on any given day can be locked in enough to get it done.

*Justin Verlander (2007), Roy Halladay (2010, twice), Felix Hernandez (2012), and Clayton Kershaw (2014) have all thrown No-Hitters with a career trajectory toward Hall of Fame consideration.

Forgotten Champions: 9 Surprising Players Who Have World Series Rings

Some of the greatest players who ever played the game left the diamond without ever putting a World Series ring on their finger. Players like Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr., and Barry Bonds never had the unmitigated joy that comes with the pig pile on the mound after the final out of the season is recorded (or in Joe Carter’s and Luis Gonzalez’s case, after the game and series winning hit).

On the opposite of the spectrum, there are players who won’t ever be enshrined in Cooperstown that have a championship ring in their trophy case. This list looks back on the unexpected players who were ultimately forgettable that still hold one distinction over the likes of Ty Cobb and company: They won the World Series.

Cecil Fielder -- 1996 New York Yankees

During the 1996 campaign, the New York Yankees made a trade with the Detroit Tigers sending slugging DH Ruben Sierra and prospect in trade for the two-time MVP runner up Cecil Fielder. In 53 games that season, Fielder was an upgrade at designated hitter and saw some time at first base. Fielder made the most of his time in the playoffs hitting over .300 while knocking in 16 RBI’s, half of those accounted against Baltimore in the ALCS. Fielder’s career would end three teams and a season and a half later. But the man who brought baseball frenzy back to Detroit in the early 90’s collected his championship in pinstripes.

Bobby Bonilla - 1997 Florida Marlins

These days, Bobby Bonilla is best known for his unofficial baseball holiday. That would make it the second biggest victory he ever scored from the game of baseball. Bonilla was apart of the 97 Florida Marlins team that shocked the world with their victory over the Cleveland Indians. To call Bonilla’s presence integral to the team would be a bit of an overstatement (though he did drive in 95 runs during the regular season). Bonilla managed an OPS over .800 during the playoffs and hit a crucial home run in Game 7. A million dollars every July for nearly 20 years and a World Series ring. Bobby-Bo knows how to win at baseball.

Jose Canseco -- 2000 Yankees

Canseco won a ring early on his career in 1989 with fellow Bash Brother Mark McGwire in Oakland. But Canseco’s career took a downward turn as he became a journeyman bat for hire. One of those stops was in 2000 when he joined the Yankees mid-season after the Rays--excuse me, Devil Rays--passed him off to shed his salary. Canseco’s tenure with the Yankees was tumultuous due his clubhouse attitude and complaints of his playing time. Still, he drove in 19 runs in 37 regular season games. He only had one at bat in the entire 2000 playoffs; he struck out in the World Series. But he wore pinstripes that year, and he received his second World Series ring.

Nomar Garciaparra -- 2004 Red Sox

The age of Nomar in Boston heralded a rise in optimism and a dream that he would lead the Boston to their first title since 1918. Nomar started his career in dominating fashion winning Rookie of the Year in 1997 and finishing 2nd in the MVP voting in 1998. But as the century flipped, the Sox looked to improve while their star shortstop was on the decline. In the summer of 2004 the Sox did the unthinkable--they traded Nomar to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. Not exactly a blockbuster haul. But it was the right call. The move shored up Boston’s shaky defense--Mientkiewicz played errorless defense during the playoffs--and the Red Sox reversed the curse that fall. After the fanfare ended, the team cast a vote and declared that their former franchise superstar should receive a ring regardless of finishing the team in Chicago. Nomar may not have played in the Series, but he has the mark of a champion on his finger.

Sidney Ponson -- 2006 Cardinals

The Pride of Noord, Aruba, the tale of Sidney Ponson has two halves. The upstart innings horse capable of showing promise on the Baltimore Orioles, and the overweight journeyman who specialized in spot starting, long relief, and mop up work. Ponson had the makings of an ace until the wheels fell off. His 12 year career consists of an ERA over 5 and a winning percentage of .446. He found himself signing with the Cardinals in 2006 making 13 starts for the team before being released in July. Ponson didn’t join the pig pile after they defeated Detroit that year, but his World Series ring arrived by mail at his next home in Minnesota.

Eric Gagne -- 2007 Red Sox

In three seasons between 2002 and 2004, you could argue there was no better closer in the game than Gagne (Yes, even better than Mariano Rivera). In those three seasons, he posted 152 saves including a league record 67 converted save opportunities without a blown save, and posted a combined ERA under 2.00. If he entered the game, you know the Dodgers would finish with a win. And then the chickens came home to roost; Gagne was named in the ominous Mitchell Report as a proprietor of performance enhancing drugs. His cessation of the PED’s was immediately noticeable. He spent more time on the DL than on the mound and was eventually traded to the Rangers and then again to the Red Sox. He was hardly a shadow of his Cy Young award winning self. He had an ERA over 6 for the Sox, and only appeared in 4 games in the postseason giving up 4 runs in 5 and a third innings pitched. Still, when the Sox swept the Rockies, Gagne got the World Series victory he never got in Los Angeles.

Matt Stairs -- 2008 Phillies

Stairs blazed a trail through the MLB, playing for 12 teams between his rookie debut in 1992 to his outright release in 2011. His heyday was playing on the late 90’s pre-Moneyball era of the Oakland A’s. Playing in a lineup surrounded by the likes of Jason Giambi and Eric Chavez proved beneficial as he clobbered 122 homers in parts of 5 seasons in Oakland. Stairs began his bat-for-hire era shortly after. Lucky for him the Philadelphia Phillies made a waiver wire trade for him in 2008. Stairs played in only 16 games serving as predominantly a power hitting pinch hitter. He had 4 at-bats in the 08 postseason scoring one hit--a 2 run homerun against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. And for his limited contribution that year, he received a World Series ring during his brief stint in the City of Brotherly Love.

Lance Berkman -- 2011 Cardinals

Berkman was a household name in the early 2000’s, playing 12 seasons apart of the dreaded Killer B’s lineup of the Houston Astros featuring Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, and Derek Bell. Berkman was an RBI machine for the ‘Stros, and the team ended up winning an NL pennant in 2005 but lost to the whole enchilada to Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox. With father time working against him, Berkman set out from Houston making stops in New York, Texas, and St. Louis before hanging up his cleats. It was in 2011 that he hit paydirt, finding the fountain of youth to the tune of a .301 average, 31 homers, and 94 RBI’s. His numbers in the World Series were impressive, hitting over .400 with an OPS of 1.023 and 11 runs scored. Berkman may not have played his entire career in Houston like the other B’s, but he’s the only one who has a World Series ring on his finger at the backyard barbecues.

Dan Uggla -- 2014 Giants

Uggla began his career with promise. He finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting in Miami (back when they were still the Florida Marlins) and was an all star twice in his 6 years for the Fish. After his free agent signing with the Atlanta Braves, Uggla’s numbers dropped drastically. In 3 seasons in Atlanta, Uggla struggled at the plate never hitting higher than .233 and striking out over 160 times in all 3 seasons. It was bad enough in 2014 that the Braves released him midseason. The San Francisco Giants took a chance and signed him on August 1st. In 4 games with the team, Uggla went hitless in 12 at-bats, and he was subsequently released. The team took down the Royals that fall, and Dan Uggla now officially has more World Series rings with the Giants than he had hits.

Sometimes it pays to hang onto a fading career if it means winning it all. We’ll see if the Cubs offer Joe Nathan (4 innings pitched) a ring, or if Tom Gorzelanny and his 21.00 ERA (7 ER in 3 IP) will count as a World Series contribution for the Indians.

10 Greatest Wild Card Teams of All Time

The MLB Playoffs are set to begin on Tuesday as the Wild Card teams are set for a one-game showdown. It’ll be the New York Mets versus the San Francisco Giants in the NL with a date in Chicago on the line. And in the American League, AL East rivals converge as the Baltimore Orioles host the Toronto Blue Jays with the winner heading to Texas.

The Wild Card era of baseball officially began 21 years ago this season. While it was initially met with resistance, the additional round of baseball has created many harrowing moments in the game, and has even seen teams crowned champion who wouldn’t have the chance in the old playoff system.

Let’s look back and recall the 10 greatest Wild Card teams that appeared in the MLB Playoffs.

#10

San Francisco Giants (2002)

The Giants ended the ‘02 season with a record of 95-66, an impressive record for a second place team (finishing a scant 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks). 2002 was the height of the Barry Bonds era. Prior to this season, Bonds hadn’t had much success in the playoffs. But he was coming off a year in which he shattered an 80 year old slugging percentage record set by Babe Ruth himself. Bonds played a key role in the playoffs this season, smacking 7 homers including one that made an opposing player say “That’s the furthest homerun I’ve ever seen.” Other stand outs on the team included Jeff Kent (108 RBI) and a pitching staff anchored by Jason Schmidt.

The Giants took out the Atlanta Braves 3 games to 2 in the first round, then plugged the Mark McGwire led Cardinals in 5, making it to the World Series. In the Series, the Giants offense pushed the team as far as it could go, including planting 16 runs on the board in an all-important Game 5. But by Game 7, the sporadic pitching staff finally fell apart, and the offense couldn’t solve John Lackey and the Angels.

#9

St. Louis Cardinals (2011)

The Cards picked up the Wild Card nod with a 90-72 mark, edging out the Atlanta Braves by a single game. The interesting thing about this Cardinals team was their way to win unremarkably. They didn’t feature a single player with over 100 RBI’s (Albert Pujols led the team with 99) nor a pitcher with over 14 wins (Kyle Lohse, 14-8, 3.39 ERA). They weren’t a grand team, but they found ways to win. This wound up being Pujols’ final season in St. Louis, and he made the most of it.

The first round series against the 102-win Phillies was arguably their greatest challenge of the playoffs, culminating in a 5-game series ending when Chris Carpenter out-dueled Roy Halladay in a 1-0 clincher. They brought the lumber and took down the MVP Ryan Braun and the division winning Brewers in 6 games. And squaring off against the Texas Rangers, they again found any way they could to stay in the game (as the back and forth tussle of an 11-inning come from behind victory to stave off elimination could attest to.) The 2011 National League Wild Cards hoisted the World Series trophy thanks in large part to another gem by Chris Carpenter.

#8

Colorado Rockies (2007)

The Rockies finished in a virtual tie atop the NL West, but tiebreakers gave it to the Arizona Diamondbacks outright. At 90-72, the Rockies owned a better record than either of the other division winners. The Rockies got national attention with their demonstrative offense, featuring five players smacking in over 90 runs, three of them grossing over 110 (Matt Holliday led the league with 137). With Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins, and Todd Helton behind him, the team turned in the most prolific offensive squad in team history. The pitching, however, remained an achilles’ heel; in a six-man rotation, not one had an ERA under 4.10 (Aaron Cook at 4.12 in 25 starts).

The Rockies dropped the Phillies in 3 straight, including an astonishing pitching gem by Ubaldo Jiminez during the deciding game (in Coors Field, no less--a 2-1 pitcher’s duel with Jamie Moyer). They continued their timely hitting against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS, wiping them out in 4 straight games. No one had ever swept their way into the World Series, and the Rockies looked like they could just out score anyone with a “just-enough” pitching staff. But they ran into the buzzsaw known as the Boston Red Sox. The Sox power hungry lineup easily bested the patchwork pitching staff of the Rockies, dealing them 4 straight losses and a defeat in their only World Series appearance thus far.

#7

New York Mets (2000)

The Mets of the late 90’s were akin to the New York Knicks during the mid-90’s. They were the greatest team on that side of the conference… except when it came to one team. For the Knicks, it was the Chicago Bulls. And for the New York Mets, they were continually foiled by the Atlanta Braves. It was an advantage when they didn’t have to see the Braves in the playoffs that year.

Not to cheapen the 2000 Mets’ accomplishments, because they truly had a championship caliber team. The defense was one of the best in majors thanks in large part to Mike Bordick stepping in for the injured Rey Ordonez. Mike Piazza rolled with the offense in his prime, clubbing 38 homers and leading the team with 118 RBI’s. Edgardo Alfonzo was the grease that got the cogs moving with a shiny .324/.425/.542 sash paired with 109 runs. Al Leiter was the senior citizen on the pitching staff, but he performed at the top of his game, paired with Mike Hampton who pitched admirably.

The Mets played cardiac kids, winning 2 of their 3 playoff games against the Giants in extra innings. In the NLCS, they saw the St. Louis Cardinals, fresh off a dumping of bitter rival Atlanta Braves. And the Mets responded in kind, stomping the Cards in 5 games thanks in large part to two shutouts by Mike Hampton. Any other year, the Mets would have had a decent shot at the title. But they were overmatched against the big bad Yankees in the prime of their 90’s dynasty. The Mets only mustered up 1 win thanks to a late game double by Benny Agbayani in Game 3.

#6

Anaheim Angels (2002)

The World Series of 2002 featured the first matchup between both NL and AL Wild Card teams. The 2002 Angels have the honor of having the best record of any Wild Card team of all time, winning the playoff spot with a 99-63 record, still 4 games back of the AL West champion Oakland A’s. The Angels were a dominating force who could do it all, with scrappy contact hitters Darin Erstad and David Eckstein setting the table, and sluggers Garrett Anderson and Troy Glaus knocking them in (123 and 111 RBI’s respectively). The pitching staff was an amalgamation of grizzled veterans and upcoming prospects meshing with a potent bullpen. In short, the Angels were a championship team posing as a Wild Card.

The Angels first broke the stranglehold the New York Yankees had on the American League by being the first AL team to defeat them in four years, fairly handily 3 games to 1 (dismantling their legendary pitching staff at that, planting 9 runs in each of their wins). In the ALCS, the Angels dropped Game 1 to the Minnesota Twins, but steamrolled their way to 4 straight and an AL pennant, thanks in large part to Adam Kennedy and John Lackey. And the World Series against fellow Wild Card team, the San Francisco Giants, proved evenly matched, plugging huge run totals on the board to tie up the series. It was upcomer John Lackey who sealed the deal with a 1 run gem in Game 7.

#5

Florida Marlins (2003)

The Marlins flew under the radar for much of the 2003 season. Even after a hot start in May and June, many expected them to go quietly into the season just as they had in recent seasons. But the chemistry between the team pushed the Marlins into the limelight. Many questioned Ivan Rodriguez’s decision to sign with the Marlins after his exodus from the Rangers, but his presence on the team confirmed his leadership abilities. And his ability to manage a young pitching staff was on display, leading players like Brad Penny, Carl Pavano, and Josh Beckett into prominence. Also, there was a guy named Dontrelle Willis taking the league by storm. It was the Perfect Storm of talent, chemistry, and anonymity. A team without expectations can go far traveling under the radar.

The Marlins took the Wild Card with a 91-71 record, well behind the division winning Atlanta Braves. They shocked the world by taking out the defending NL champion San Francisco Giants in the first round, 3 games to 1. And their NLCS matchup against the Chicago Cubs has been highly scrutinized in the past 13 years. The Marlins won the series in dramatic 7-game fashion. And once again facing limited expectations, the Florida Marlins shut down the New York Yankees thanks in large part to the brilliant pitching of Josh Beckett. The ‘03 Florida Marlins may have been the most unlikely Wild Card champion in the history of baseball.

#4

Kansas City Royals (2014)

Speaking of unexpected, the meteoric rise of the Kansas City Royals shows the dividends it pays to get hot at the right time. On July 22, 2014, the Royals were 48-50 and 8 games behind in the AL Central. They then won 24 of the next 30 games, and found themselves in sole possession of first place by 3 games. The Detroit Tigers got on a hot streak of their own and sniped the division in the last week, but the Kansas City Royals snagged the top Wild Card spot and made their first playoff appearance since 1985. And they did it with a team of virtual unknowns who have now become household names: Hosmer, Moustakas, Aoki, Salvador Perez.

Major League Baseball had expanded the playoffs and awarded two Wild Card teams per league now which would be played in a 1-game playoff to increase drama and give more advantage to a division winner. The Royals overcame a four run, 8th inning defecit and stormed back to defeat the Oakland A’s in the Wild Card game. After that, it was smooth sailing for the upstart Blues. They dispatched World Series favored Angels in a 3 game sweep, and moved onto the ALCS where they trucked the Baltimore Orioles in a 4 game sweep. The Royals pulled off an unbelievable 8 game playoff winning streak. The World Series was back and forth much of the time with the San Francisco Giants, but in the end they couldn’t solve Madison Bumgarner. Still, the white hot winning streak they blazed from the middle of July into the World Series will long be remembered as the season the Royals took the baseball world by storm. .

#3

Florida Marlins (1997)

The Marlins of ‘97 were the very first team to directly benefit from the expanded playoffs. At 92-70, they finished well behind the Braves for the NL East crown, but took advantage of the Wild Card to claim their first playoff appearance. The team was centered around a solid pitching staff, aced by Kevin Brown (16-8, 2.69 ERA, 205 K, received several Cy Young votes) and Al Leiter. The lineup consisted of young, upcomers who would go on to be some of the biggest names in the league--Edgar Renteria, Gary Sheffield, Cliff Floyd, Moises Alou--all hitting around renaissance veterans Bobby Bonilla, Jeff Conine, and Devon White. Only the fifth year of their existence, the Marlins weren’t expected to compete for years in a competitive division like the NL East.

The Marlins kicked off the playoffs against the San Francisco Giants by winning games 1 and 2 in walk off fashion on game winning RBI singles by Renteria and Alou respectively. They knocked the San Francisco Giants out the next game to complete the 3 game sweep. They faced the two-time defending NL pennant winner and heavily favored Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. The Marlins managed to chase Atlanta’s three-headed monster of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz (20 runs scored in 5 games), and counter attack with rookie sensation Livan Hernandez shutting down the Atlanta offense. Florida had done the improbable and defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-2. The ‘97 World Series is often ranked as one of the greatest played in the modern era, featuring the Marlins and the Cleveland Indians. The Marlins offense stepped up, averaging 8 runs in their 4 World Series wins. It culminated in one of the most memorable Game 7’s in World Series history. Jaret Wright and the Indians shut down the offense for 7 innings until Bobby Bonilla struck a solo shot, and Craig Counsell tied the game in the 9th inning on a sac fly. Edgar Renteria drove in the game and series winning RBI with a single in the bottom of the 11th. The 1997 Florida Marlins won over many of the detractors of expanded playoffs with their spirited play and championship caliber.

#2

San Francisco Giants (2014)

The 2014 World Series was only the second time in baseball history that two Wild Card teams met for the championship. It was doubly as impressive considering the expansion to two Wild Card teams per league in attempts to put non-division winners at a disadvantage. But a championship team will overcome adversity, and the San Francisco Giants did all that. The Giants were thwarted for the division by their arch rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. But their 88-74 record was good enough for the second wild card spot. The Giants did not blow away their opponents--Buster Posey led the team in most offensive categories, but only topped out at 22 homeruns, 89 RBI’s, and an .854 OPS. They struggled at times during the regular season. But as they say, the playoffs are the start of a brand new season. And the Giants did not disappoint.

The Giants were a completely different team when the playoffs began. Madison Bumgarner dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Wild Card game, going for a complete game, 10 K shutout. They then rolled over the Washington Nationals, 3 games to 1, including a marathon 18-inning affair in Game 2. The NLCS was much hyped and believed to be evenly matched between the Giants and Cardinals. The Giants dismantled St. Louis in a quick 5 game series. The Giants reached the World Series for the third time in five years. Even facing the white-hot Kansas City Royals, the Giants cooled their jets with timely hitting, solid defense, and Madison Bumgarner establishing himself as one of the most dominant World Series pitchers ever. His World Series stats were off the charts, finishing with a 0.43 ERA (1 ER in 21 IP), 0.476 WHIP (9 H, 1 BB in 21 IP), and 17 K’s, and baseball’s first 5 inning save to make sure San Francisco took home the trophy. Only 88 wins in the regular season, but the 2014 Giants played like 120 game winners in the playoffs.

#1

Boston Red Sox (2004)

The heart of the Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees rivalry came to a thrilling climax in the fall of 2004. In the early part of the decade, and for much of the century before that, the Red Sox had played second fiddle to the Yankees, planting 90+ win seasons in the books without a division title to show for it. The Sox took advantage of the Wild Card implementation, snagging the extra playoff spot 7 times in the first 14 years of Wild Card baseball. No one took advantage more than the 2004 Red Sox.

The Sox finished 98-64 that season, and chased the Yankees and the division all season long. They opened up postseason play with a sweep of the Anaheim Angels thanks in large part to Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez shutting down the offense, and David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez leading the charge at the plate.

Then came the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. It was a repeat of the previous season that saw the Red Sox push the Yankees, but New York winning in extra innings of Game 7, and the name Aaron *bleeping* Boone becoming part of Yankee lore. But the most magical moment in Red Sox lore was still to come. The Yankees jumped out and won games 1, 2, and 3 with relative ease, putting the Sox against the wall early. In Game 3, the Yankees clobbered the Sox with 19 runs, and many saw that as an omen. It was… just for the New York Yankees.

In Game 4, the Yankees held a 1-run lead in the bottom of the 9th. At the time, David Roberts’ steal of second seemed haphazard and reckless. He wasn’t given a sign, but took off anyway. He was safe, and Bill Mueller poked the ball into center field to score Roberts and tie the game. In the bottom of the 12th, David Ortiz clocked the game winning homerun. Game 5 saw the same thing; a Yankee lead late in the game, and a historic homerun hit by Ortiz. The game went into extra innings again, and Ortiz won it on a single off Esteban Loiaza. Game 6 was the infamous “bloody sock” game, a masterpiece pitched by Curt Schilling with his achilles one suture away from tearing. Completing the unlikely comeback, the Sox left little doubt scoring early and often in Game 7.

The Boston Red Sox became the first team in history to recover from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. And if embarrassing their rivals wasn’t enough, the ‘04 Red Sox went into the World Series and smoked the St. Louis Cardinals, winning their first World Series in 86 years in just four games.

The 2004 Boston Red Sox will live on in the pantheon of baseball lore. And it all was thanks to the Wild Card expansion of 1995.

We’ll see if the 2016 Mets, Giants, Blue Jays, or Orioles can create the kind of magic it takes to be a successful, championship Wild Card team.

(Pictures: Sports Illustrated, Getty Images, MLB, Fox Sports)

Two Weeks to Panic

Though the NFL regular season is 17 weeks long, a lot can be told by the end of Week 2. The conjecture of the preseason can either verify a team's standing or completely obliterate it. At least that's how fans see it. Looking at a 2-0 next to a team's standings is enough to give fans Super Bowl dreams, while staring at 0-2 will make some fans dread the final 15 weeks (And all fans of 1-1 teams are left in a purgatory of perplexing emotions).

Not every team that has been perfect for two weeks is bound for the promised land. Therefore, it's time to decide who is a Contender and who is a Pretender.

Contenders

New England Patriots




= Ho hum, another year, another 2-0 start for the Patriots. There hasn't been a season without labeling the Pats as serious title contenders for a long, long time, and until they get unseated by a worthy adversary in the AFC East hunt, it's not likely to happen again. This year has been extra challenging for the Pats however who have had to do it without their Golden Boy, Tom Brady. The problem for most people who want to see the Pats fail is that Brady's replacement, Jimmy Garoppolo, has done an outstanding job in his place. In Week 1, the Pats were able to shock the world by undoing the heavily favored Cardinals, and they were able to stave off a Miami comeback in Week 2. Garoppolo is injured now, so they'll have to rely on rookie Jacoby Brissett until the Golden Boy returns from his suspension. But with the defense clicking, a soft schedule, and playing in the most lopsided division in football, my money is on the Patriots contending well into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers




= Simply put, the Steelers are built for contention this year. They aren't showing any signs of weakness early on this year. Big Ben is still playing at an elite level, and a lot of that can be chalked up to the arrival of Antonio Brown as the best receiver in the NFL. The running attack is also helping Roethlisberger air the ball out, and that's without Leveon Bell in the backfield. They blew out the Redskins in Week 1, and played a hardnosed well fought game against the Bengals in Week 2. The sign of a championship team is winning games they're supposed to, and the Steelers show that in the first two weeks. Expect to watch them play in January.

Houston Texans




= The Texans are on the verge of being the next defensive juggernaut since the Urlacher-led Chicago Bears. In the first two weeks, they've allowed just 26 points while hitting the QB's early and often. JJ Watt is playing at a high level while supposedly not even at 100% yet. Not to be outdone, Jadeveon Clowney is finally living up to his hype. The offense hasn't been perfect, namely Brock Osweiler hasn't been consistent. However, if the offense does just enough, the defense will keep them in every game they play.

New York Giants




= The Giants have won two games by a combined total of 4 points. They've turned the end of the game into real nail biters, just as they had last season. The big difference however is that they're on the opposite end of the spectrum, eeking out the victories this season instead of suffering heart breaking losses. Their highly priced defense has already paid dividends stopping Dallas on a potential game winning drive in Week 1 and punishing Drew Brees and the Saints in Week 2. Eli is playing smart football with only 1 turnover so far, and new coach Ben McAdoo appears to have righted the ship (for now). With Tony Romo off the field and the rest of the division up for grabs, this is now officially the Giants' division to lose.

Pretenders

Baltimore Ravens

= The Ravens weren't a team expected to compete this season what with Joe Flacco coming back from an injury, a substantial lack of offensive weapons, and a malleable defense. However, here they stand at 2-0. Look at the sum of the wins, and it'll tell a different story. The team won a flat out ugly game against the Bills mustering up a mere 13 points. And while coming back from 20 to win in the 4th quarter is impressive, allowing a team like the Cleveland Browns to run up the score like that to begin with is appalling. Better teams won't let the Ravens crawl back like that. Their schedule is favorable, and it'll do well in either advancing their surprising start or exposing them as pretenders.

Denver Broncos

= It's hard to describe just how the Broncos have won their two games, in particular just how effectively they've done it as well. Week 1 saw a remarkable comeback to defeat the Panthers. In Week 2, they thoroughly embarrassed the Colts. Trevor Siemian has done better than expected, but still not exactly brilliantly. CJ Anderson has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence, and the defense is still doing well. But their still average over 20 points allowed, and they've had a number of calls and bounces go their way. They may be riding some Super Bowl magic from last year, but this team just doesn't have the talent to go as far this season. It'll catch up to them by Week 3 vs. the Bengals.

Philadelphia Eagles

= Considering Philadelphia was predicted to have between 3 and 6 wins this season, it's a little surprising to see them undefeated even after two weeks. Carson Wentz has played amazingly given the position he was put in--thrust into the starting position days before preseason set to be the team savior in his rookie year. The team has looked good, but their magical 2-0 start can be explained. Week 1 vs. Cleveland. Week 2 vs. Chicago. The Eagles faced two of the worst teams in the NFL back to back. It's not so shocking to imagine them 0-2 when considering the opponents. The real test begins for the Eagles in Week 3 when they square off against the Steelers (another 2-0 team).

Minnesota Vikings

= They deserve a lot of respect for their performance Sunday Night against the Packers. And the thorough victory they planted on the Titans in Week 1 is also impressive. But the injury to Adrian Peterson will hamper an already beleaguered offensive unit. Sam Bradford can only do so much, even if Stephon Diggs is having a breakout season. The defense will be their, but the offense can't score points. The Vikes have enough talent to hover around .500 by season's end, but too many crucial injuries will keep them from contending.

Whether contending or pretending, teams love to sit at 2-0 to begin the season. It's better than the alternative. 0-2 is an ugly eyesore in the standings. However, just like being perfect after two weeks, being winless after just two weeks isn't indicative of how the rest of the season is going to go. Which team's winless ways are Reality and which are Anomalies?

Reality

Buffalo Bills



= This was supposed to be the year they leapt ahead of the pack and strived for a playoff push. But as far as the season looks, this is another step back. The Bills looked positively impotent in Week 1 against the Ravens, and took a crushing loss to the Jets in Week 2. They canned Greg Roman after the loss, but it was hardly just the offense that needs help. When Rex Ryan climbed about the good ship Buffalo, it was expected he would build an already prime defense into one of the best in the NFL. He's done the opposite, transforming it into a liability. And with big bad Arizona coming to town, the Bills' losing ways don't look like they'll be ending any time soon.

Miami Dolphins



= Second verse, same as the first. Adam Gase is the new coach, but the song remains the same. More defensive inconsistencies, more Ryan Tannehill bumbling, more game-foiling dysfunction. The Dolphins suffered an ugly loss to Seattle in Week 1 and failed when it mattered the most on a comeback against the Patriots in Week 2. There's little hope to believe they can right the ship. Is it possible the Fins should look to end the Ryan Tannehill era and move on to a more reliable, more clutch quarterback? They'll have 15 gut wrenching weeks left to decide.

Chicago Bears



=The Bears were a lowly team entering the season. Without Jay Cutler they've turned into a regular doormat. They've been uninspired and unmotivated against the Texans and Eagles in the first two weeks. Teams will look forward to seeing Chicago come up on their schedule. The running game is non-existent. Alshon Jeffery has disappeared. And the defense is a far cry from the '85 champions' version. John Fox is a great coach, but even he can't save this dumpster fire.

Cleveland Browns



=They're the Cleveland Browns. What did you expect?

Anomalies

Jacksonville Jaguars

=It seems strange to have expectations of the Jaguars after watching them lose so much during the last decade. However, they have a team capable of climbing out of the cellar this season. That's exactly where they are after two weeks. They did get shellacked by the Chargers in Week 2. But in Week 1, they kept pace with the Packers and were a slew of terrible calls away from pulling the upset. Blake Bortles hasn't put up the stats he was predicted to, but he's still playing smart and growing as a QB. The Jags will snap out of it and put some wins in the left column.

Indianapolis Colts

=The Colts have a litany of problems at the moment. Their defense is cracking under the least pressure, allowing over 30 points in each of their first two weeks to the Lions and Broncos--teams that don't exactly have high powered offenses, at that. Andrew Luck returns from injury last season only to find himself flattened every time he drops back thanks in large part to a porous offensive line. Yet for all their problems, it'll only take a slight adjustment for everything else to fall into place. A tighter defense will mean less panic for the offense. The need to rush a pass will mean more run creation, easing the load off the O-line. It also leaves Luck with a second or two more to find an open man. Don't expect the Colts to stay down for very long.

Washington Redskins

=This may look familiar. We've seen the Redskins choke away a year of promise before. Especially after a playoff year, it's maddening to watch them self destruct as they had in Week 1 against the Steelers and Week 2 vs. Dallas. They still may be looking at another wasted year at 0-2. But one thing alone is positive for their revival. They play in the NFC East. There is no clear cut favorite to win the division. No elite team that's going to run away with it by Thanksgiving. The division could very well be won with a 9-7 record, or even 8-8 (shudder to think). The Skins have a talented roster, and if they crack off a series of wins, they'll be right back in the thick of the hunt.

New Orleans Saints

=The Saints have two losses by a combined 4 points. That's gotta hurt. But while the Saints have had problems on both sides of the ball--defensively allowing the Raiders to storm back for the win in Week 1, and offensively not being able to capitalize on the Giants' turnovers in Week 2--they still have a talented team ready to compete in the NFC South. There's a certain amount of luck that exists in a football game, and the Saints just happen to be victims of bad luck two weeks straight. Bad breaks can't last all season, and the Saints will start pulling out decisive victories, starting Week 3 vs. Atlanta.

Sometimes, it's just easier to be 1-1 at the end of Week 2. Expectations diminish and panic is staved off... at least until next week. So count yourself lucky, San Francisco 49ers!

(Pictures: Bleacher Report, Raiders.com, Sports Logos, USA Today)