Major League Baseball Wild Card - Facts

Facts

• The following teams have won the World Series as a wild-card team: Marlins (1997 and 2003), Angels (2002), Red Sox (2004), and Cardinals (2011), meaning that three consecutive titles were won by a wild card (2002–2004).
• A wild-card team appeared in the World Series each year from 2002–2007.
• The Angels beat the Giants in the 2002 World Series, the only time when both teams were wild cards.
• The Baltimore Orioles, in 1996, were the first wild-card team to win a Division Series.
• The Florida Marlins, in 1997, were the first wild-card team to reach the World Series, the first to win a World Series (1997), and, by winning in 2003, the first to win the World Series twice as a wild card. Also, the Marlins are the only team to win a World Series without winning a division title.
• The Red Sox have been a wild card team seven times, with the Yankees appearing four times, and the Rockies three times.
• The following teams have won the wild card in consecutive years: Red Sox (1998–1999, 2003–2005, 2008–2009), Astros (2004, 2005), Mets (1999, 2000), and Cardinals (2011, 2012).