Monday, October 14, 2002

A Rare World Series with Both Teams back after a long absence We are assured of a World Series where the participants have been collectively absent for at least 54 years (the Angels have never made it before in their 41 year history,  and the Giants have not been there in 13 years,  the Cardinals in 15,  for a whopping minimum of 54.   The last time that the Series has had two teams ,  neither of whom had been there in the previous decade was in 1986,  when the Mets and Red Sox met (Mets had been absent  since 1973,  and the Red Sox since 1975).  Prior to that,  it was 1984,  when the Padres (first time in their 15 year history at that time,  and the Tigers,  since 1968).  1982 saw the Cardinals back for the first time since 1968,  against the Brewers,  first trip in their 13 year history which began as the Seatlle Pilots.  1980 pitted the Phillies (first trip in 30 years) against the Royals (first time in their 11 year history).  Before that,  you gotta go back to  1948 (mainly because the Yankees were present in just about all of them back to then) and the Braves of Boston (not since 1914) and the Cleveland Indians (not since 1920).  Before that,  only one other: 1929 when the A's of Philadelphia were back after 15 years,  and the Cubs for the first time since 1918.  That's it.   This will be the 7th Series like that  (4 of them in the 80's!).  Just thought you ought to know how rare this is. 12:26:11 AM