Fun facts about the 2023 World Series

[jmowreader]

1. This is the first World Series in history featuring two teams named after states rather than cities.

2. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the last time both the ALCS and NLCS went to seven games was 2004. Evan Carter, the Rangers' starting outfielder, and Jordan Lawler, the Diamondbacks' reserve shortstop, were two years old when that happened. No player on either team was born after 2004.

3. A nearly-level horizontal line can be drawn on a map between Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX, and Chase Field in Phoenix.

4. One of the teams in this game has presidential ties. George W. Bush was named Managing General Partner of the Rangers in April 1989, and sold his share in the team when he was elected Texas governor in 1994.

5. The cheapest ticket you can get at Globe Life Field for Game 1 is $380, and it's a standing-room-only ticket. The cheapest actual seat you can get is in the top row of the 300-level, and it's $567. It's also the only empty seat in its row; the cheapest seat that's next to another empty one is $699. There are three empty seats in the 100-level behind home plate that cost $7119 each. There are almost no seats left.

6. The cheapest seat you can get at Chase Field for Game 3 is $590. It is in the 300 level. Seats in the 100 level behind Home Plate cost $3524 to $4731. There are very few left.

7. MLB adopted the six-team playoff format in 2022, so this is the second year of it. In the NL series, the 2022 number-6 seed was Philadelphia, who went to the Series that year and lost to the Astros in the World Series in six games. The 2023 number-6 seed was Arizona, who beat the 2022 number-6 seed in the NLCS. It seems that the secret to success in this NL playoffs format may be to enter them as the number 6 seed.

8. The Arizona Diamondbacks made its only World Series appearance in 2001, four years after the team was founded. They won the Series. The Texas Rangers have been twice - 2010 and 2011 - and lost both times.

[Freddie]

1. Still upset my Phillies are done

Sadly baseball is a game of “streaks”and they weren’t on one the last 2 games. What a time for the hitters to go into a funk. It happens. Still loads of young talent on the team and they’ll go far next year too. Think I’ll root for the Rangers in the Series.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Surprised me too.

A tough way to end after the season they had.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Reminded me of 1964

Then the agony was in weeks. This time it was in days. Still a heckuva lineup. Sounds like Hoskins will re sign and be back healthy. Pitching staff needs a little more depth.

I need another WS pennant for my garage and a Schwarber ring would look great next to my Schmidt’s 80 ring. I just gotta live another year.

[gratuitous]

3. And for the 14th consecutive year

The Yankees aren't in the World Series. Made more chuckleworthy by the pre-season hype about Judge and Stanton. What is ESPN going to do (again)?