What Is 2016 Major League Baseball postseason

Overview

The 2016 Major League Baseball postseason was one of the most memorable in recent history, culminating in the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series since 1908. After a regular season filled with strong performances and tight division races, ten teams qualified for the playoffs, beginning with the Wild Card Games on October 4.

The postseason featured dramatic comebacks, historic performances, and a World Series that will be remembered for decades. The Cubs' victory not only broke a 108-year championship drought but also marked the end of one of sports' most famous curses. Below are key details about the structure and events of the 2016 MLB postseason.

• October 4, 2016: The postseason began with the American League Wild Card Game, where the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in a single-elimination contest at Rogers Centre.
• October 5, 2016: The National League Wild Card Game saw the San Francisco Giants defeat the New York Mets 3-0 at Citi Field, powered by a strong pitching performance from Madison Bumgarner.
• Chicago Cubs: As the NL Central champions with a 103-58 record, the Cubs entered the playoffs as favorites and ultimately won the World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians in seven games.
• Cleveland Indians: The AL Central champions finished the regular season with a 94-67 record and took a 3-1 lead in the World Series before losing the final two games.
• Game 7: Played on November 2 at Progressive Field, the decisive game lasted 10 innings and ended 8-7, making it one of the longest and most dramatic in World Series history.

How It Works

The MLB postseason format in 2016 followed a structured playoff system involving ten teams—five from each league—competing across multiple rounds to determine the World Series champion. Each round used a best-of format, with seeding based on regular-season records.

• Wild Card Games: Two single-elimination games—one in each league—pitted the two non-division-winning teams with the best records against each other, with the winners advancing to the Division Series.
• Division Series: Best-of-five series where division winners hosted the Wild Card winners or lower-seeded division champions, using a 2-2-1 home-field format.
• League Championship Series: Best-of-seven series to determine each league’s representative in the World Series, with home-field advantage awarded to the team with the better regular-season record.
• World Series: The final best-of-seven series between the AL and NL champions, with home-field advantage determined by the All-Star Game winner—in 2016, the AL had it due to a 2-1 win in July.
• Home-Field Advantage: The team with the better record hosted Games 1, 2, 6, and 7, which played a crucial role in the Cubs’ Game 7 victory in Cleveland.
• Extra Innings Rule: Starting in 2016, MLB placed a runner on second base to start each extra inning in the postseason, though this rule was not implemented until 2020, so it did not apply in 2016.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2016 postseason results across key rounds and teams:

The 2016 postseason showcased resilience and historic moments, particularly in the World Series. The Cubs overcame a 3-1 series deficit and won Game 7 in extra innings, marking the first time since 1985 that a World Series game went to 10 innings. The victory was especially significant given the Cubs’ long championship drought.

Why It Matters

The 2016 MLB postseason had a lasting cultural and historical impact on baseball, breaking long-standing records and narratives. It redefined expectations for underdog teams and delivered one of the most-watched and emotionally charged World Series in history.

• End of the Curse: The Cubs’ victory ended the longest championship drought in MLB history, dating back to 1908, and fulfilled decades of fan anticipation.
• Global Viewership: Game 7 was watched by over 40 million viewers in the U.S., making it one of the most-watched MLB games in years.
• Player Legacy: Players like Kris Bryant, Javier Báez, and Ben Zobrist cemented their legacies with standout performances throughout the playoffs.
• Managerial Strategy: Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s bold decisions, including late-game substitutions, were widely praised and studied in baseball circles.
• Historic Game 7: The final game featured a rain delay in the 10th inning, a tie score, and a walk-off home run, making it one of the most dramatic endings ever.
• Future Impact: The Cubs’ success inspired a new generation of fans and shifted the competitive balance in the National League for years to come.

The 2016 MLB postseason remains a benchmark for dramatic storytelling in sports, combining athletic excellence with emotional resonance that transcended the game itself.