While the pictured defending champion Boston Red Sox will not have the opportunity to repeat as winners of this season's Fall Classic as they did not qualify for the playoffs, neither will the New York Yankees be able to collect another ring to add to their 27 previous title.

That is the good news.  The bad?  Obviously, for Northwest baseball fans, the Seattle Mariners will have to wait until their 38th year of existence to try to break down the barn door for the first time in their history after being eliminated from contention in game #162 on Sunday.  They still are one of only two active teams in M.L.B. history that has yet to advance to even one World Series, the other being the Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos).  Washington, unlike Seattle, still has a shot.  Which leads us to some interesting potential face-offs for the 2015 series as the playoffs get underway today with a one game winner-take-all game in the American League later today when Kansas City hosts Oakland.


* The Nationals could potentially be involved in a 'Beltway Series' if the Baltimore Orioles advance as A.L. Champs.  Washington D.C. will not have seen this type of excitement since Clinton and cigars were making headlines.

* There is a distinct possibility of a "Hollywood Series" as both Los Angeles teams (the Dodgers and the Angels of Anaheim) dominated in their respective leagues this year

* A repeat of the 1985 "Interstate 70 Series" is a possibility pitting two teams from the "Show Me" state of Missouri if the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals battle for all the money, marbles and chalk.  I think it would be apropos if the Royals had former umpire Don Denkinger throw out the ceremonial first pitch just to rub some more salt into a nearly three decades-old wound.

* A repeat of the 1989 "Bay Bridge Series" would happen if the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants met.  If that were to occur, we certainly would not want a repeat of the tragic earthquake that occurred that year, delaying the series for days before the A's closed out their brethren from across the bay in a four game sweep.

* A Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Baltimore Orioles series would certainly be nostalgic for me as their 1979 classic that went the distance is the first I vividly recall.  Probably because that year's Buccos were dubbed the "We Are Family" team after the popular disco tune by Sister Sledge at the time and had to rally from a 3-1 deficit.  That, and I thought their caps with the flat tops looked funny.

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