[Nick Soulis]

We have reached the milestone number of 200 series and the Field of Dreams has proved to be everything I had hoped for. The competition between all eras is balanced and the greatest of players and teams have not disappointed. Five championship teams have been eliminated while the New York Yankees have won 17 of 20 series played.

In this section, four series went the distance, while two lead to easy sweeps. The victory of the 1937 St. Louis Browns can be noted first as they become the worst team yet to advance defeating a stunned 1974 Brewers team in seven games. Forty year old Rogers Hornsby was a central figure in both the on field and mental success of the upset. Dusty Baker went through boxes of toothpicks, but in the end it was the arm of Johnny Cueto that took the 2012 Reds past the expansion 1961 Angels. The Reds as a franchise continued their fine play and showed it again as the 1908 club took down Jim Leyland and his 1993 Pirates in six games. The Reds are now 15-8 in their series played.

Billy Martin had his 1975 Texas Rangers ready to play and Toby Harrah showed why he is a player you should remember. The Rangers battled the 1931 Robins to seven games before a 6-3 win in game seven at Ebbets Field behind Fergie Jenkins. The 2011 season was on display as the Diamondbacks man handled the Kansas City Royals in four straight as expected. Probably the best series was played out between the 1972 White Sox and the 1953 St. Louis Browns that went a thrilling seven games. I love it when a series that isnt expected to give you much, gives you everything. The White Sox rallied and won both game 6 and 7 in dramatic fashion. Dave Lemmonds lead the charge in the final game as Chicago shutout the Browns 3-0 in what was a fine strategic win for Chuck Tanner.

Two teams that have 88 wins each faced off as the 2009 San Francisco Giants, just before their championship runs, faced off against the 1960 Milwaukee Braves. The Braves put on a power show through Eddie Mathews especially and in game five when the team hit 5 home runs at ATT Park to close the series out. Another Giants team, this time from 2018 defeating the 1997 Expos and really having their way against Pedro Martinez.

Connie Johnson won two games and the 1957 Orioles handled the 2016 Twins who played like their futile record would have you expect. Finally, maybe the best Tampa Rays team off alltime played great baseball, especially at the plate, defeating the 1961 Senators in five games. The Senators franchise is now only 2-13 in series played while the Rays fight for relevance with the few great teams they have had in their history; this was an impressive start.

Two hundred series down, thank you for anyone who is following as we continue to dream big.