It sounds kinda folksy to say that baseball is America’s Pastime, but it’s true. For some reason, baseball conjures up memories that other sports don’t seem to capture. Two friends tossing the baseball around on a summer evening, listening to the game on the radio (for those of us from a different time) while working in the yard, or a father and son that are barely talking but can still discuss last night’s game. Yeah, baseballs different. We love the hope that springs eternal with the first workouts of spring, and we applaud the sacrifice and hard work it takes to grind through the long season and make it to the World Series.
But despite our passion for the game, not every World Series is viewed the same. Let’s look at 10 World Series that were actually hated.
2000 – “The One With the Subway Series” – New York Yankees vs. New York Mets
Outside of New York, most people did not care about the World Series in 2000. For the first time since 1956 two New York baseball teams would face off in the World Series. First of all, the games were centered around a 7 mile area in New York City, obviously limiting the national fan support. Secondly, the Yankees were attempting to win their 3rd straight World Series, and their 4th in 5 years.
There was widespread Yankee fatigue, and while one might think people would tune in to see the Yanks fail, people throughout the country didn’t want to see the other New York team win the championship. Both New York teams were in a no win situation, and outside of the “Big Apple”, this series was not well received.
1985 – “The One With the Controversy” – St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
The 1985 World Series is known by several names: “Battle of Missouri”, “I-70 Showdown Series”, and “Show-Me Series”, but it will always be remembered for controversy. The Cardinals were up in the series 3 games to 2, with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 6. Then controversy struck. Umpire Don Denkinger blew a call at first base when he incorrectly ruled leadoff hitter Jorge Orta safe.
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The Royals went on to score 2 runs in the 9th, winning Game 6 and tying the Series at 3 games apiece. The blown call seemed to have destroyed the Cards psyche, because they were blown out in Game 7 by an 11-0 score. It’s one thing to lose fairly, but to have victory taken from you because of someone else’s mistake is heartbreaking, and earns you a spot on our list.
2020 – “The One Where No One Cared” – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
If a World Series is played and no one watches, does it really count? That certainly qualifies as a legitimate question for the 2020 World Series between the Dodgers and Rays. To date, it was the lowest rated World Series ever, but the teams were put in an unfortunate position.
Due to the pandemic, the regular season had been shortened, games were played at neutral stadiums with partial capacity, and people had found other ways to pass their time (remember the banana bread craze?).
By the way, the Dodgers won 4 games to 2. Perhaps “hated” isn’t the right term to define this series, but since no one cared about it when it took place, I’m figuring no one will care if I rank it on this list.
1992 – “The One With the Canadians” – Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves
The 1992 World Series was hated for a bizarre reason. This was a matchup between the more homegrown Braves and the “bought” Blue Jays. Toronto prevailed 4 games to 2, helping to begin Atlanta’s run of postseason futility (14 straight years in the playoffs with only 1 title). The main reason that this was hated by some was because Toronto became the 1st non-US team to win a World Series. I told you it was bizarre.
They might be based in Canada, but the makeup of the team was no different than any other. But the idea of a non-US team being the champions of America’s Pastime ruffled some people’s feathers, landing the ‘96 Series on our list.
1998 – “The One With the Sweep” – New York Yankees vs. San Diego Padres
The 1998 World Series was nothing special. New York swept the Padres in 4 games by a combined score of 26-13. However, this Series was over before the first pitch was thrown. The Yankees had won 114 games en route to dominating the regular season, and the ‘98 squad is widely considered to be one of the greatest teams ever assembled.
San Diego won 98 games that year but were no match for the juggernaut from the Bronx. The ratings for the ‘98 Series reflect the uncaring attitude outside of New York and San Diego, drawing some of the lowest ratings in several decades. When the outcome is pretty much assumed before Game 1, people aren’t going to care, which is why the 1998 World Series earns its spot on our list.
2006 – “The One With the Worst Team” – St. Louis Cardinals vs. Detroit Tigers
You would think that a World Series played between two storied clubs like St. Louis and Detroit would be a hit among baseball fans. You’d be wrong. This is another one of those that falls in the “hated/uncared for/poorly remembered” category. There were two main problems with this Series. First, it was over in 5 games.
The Cardinals won handily 4 games to 1; by the time people started getting into the Series, it was over. The second issue was with the participants. The Tigers were a Wild Card winner, and the Cards finished the regular season with a record of 83-78, which based on winning percentage, makes them the worst team to win the World Series. Two mediocre teams with no compelling storylines, ho hum. Hated it!
1989 – “The One With the Earthquake” – Oakland A’s vs. San Francisco Giants
The 1989 World Series is like a fine cheese that has been left out for too long. Over time, it really begins to stink. The “Battle of the Bay” between San Francisco and Oakland was two games in when tragedy struck. Shortly before Game 3 the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area. The 6.9 magnitude quake caused 63 deaths and over 3,700 injuries.
After a 10 day delay, the games resumed. But the reason this Series has become hated lies with Oakland’s victory. Two of Oakland’s star players, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, would later become two of the faces of MLB’s Steroid Era. Celebrating the achievements of cheaters in the face of tragedy doesn’t seem logical, so the 1989 World Series lands on our list.
2017 – “The One With the Cheaters” – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros
Baseball was able to go almost 100 years before the World Series was rocked by another scandal. Enter the Houston Astros. Whether baseball wants to acknowledge it or not, the 2017 season will always be marred by the Astros cheating scandal. Simply put, the Astros engaged in a systematic process of cheating and deception along the way towards their tainted championship over the Dodgers.
Unfortunately, no players were punished for their actions, but the scandal did cost the GM, manager, and a few former players their jobs, albeit temporarily. Regardless of official recognition, 2017 will always be the year the Astros cheated, and thus a World Series that is hated.
1919 – “The One With the Black Sox” – Chicago White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds
The OG cheating scandal. We all know the basic storyline here: eight members of the White Sox conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series. In the aftermath, baseball appointed a full time commissioner who eventually permanently banned the eight players from Major League Baseball. However, the impacts of this Series have been far reaching.
Gambling is the one major no-no within baseball. Every MLB clubhouse has a sign posted warning players about gambling on the game. Baseball’s fear of gambling has also delayed possible expansion to Las Vegas, although MLB’s current flirtations with gambling websites questions that fear. Regardless, the 1919 World Series rocked the game to its core, and you can bet that it deserves its spot here.
1994 – “The One With No Games” – No World Series
This was a simple one to add to our list. Every true baseball fan that lived through 1994 absolutely hated what occurred. Canceling the season was bad enough, but canceling the World Series too? That seemed almost sacrilegious.
The effects were widespread, from the impact of missed opportunities for aging players, to the economic hit to the people that keep the ballparks running (ushers, parking attendants, etc.) and surrounding communities. It took baseball several years to recover from the strike, except Montreal. The Expos never recovered and eventually relocated to DC. The Strike of ‘94 hit hard, and certainly qualifies as being a year that baseball fans hate.
