Most LCS Appearances

Well, the Devils blew a 2-1 lead in Washington last night, losing 7-2. Ouch.

Fortunately, a dominating performance from Phil Hughes and home runs by Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher gave the Yankees a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium II, and they advance to play either the Texas Rangers or the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series.

The Rangers are one win away, but, until they get it, they are the only current MLB team never to appear in an LCS.

American League Championship Series reached (ties broken by how soon they got there, not by most recent):

1. New York Yankees, 14: 1976, '77, '78, '80, '81, '96, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '04, '09, '10.

2. Oakland Athletics, 11: 1971, '72, '73, '74, '75, '81, '88, '89, '90, '92, 2006.

3. Baltimore Orioles, 9: 1969, '70, '71, '73, '74, '79, '83, '96, '97.

4. Boston Red Sox, 9: 1975, '86, '88, '90, '99, 2003, '04, '07, '09.

5. Kansas City Royals, 6: 1976, '77, '78, '80, '84, '85.

6. Anaheim Angels, 6: 1979, '82, '86, 2002, '05, '09.

7. Toronto Blue Jays, 5: 1985, '89, '91, '92, '93.

8. Minnesota Twins, 5: 1969, '70, '87, '91, 2002.

9. Detroit Tigers, 4: 1972, '84, '87, 2006.

10. Cleveland Indians, 4: 1995, '97, '98, 2007.

11. Seattle Mariners, 3: 1995, 2000, '01.

12. Chicago White Sox, 3: 1983, '93, 2005.

13. Tampa Bay Rays, 1: 2008. Maybe also 2010.

14. Milwaukee Brewers, 1: 1982. They switched to the National League in 1998.

15. Texas Rangers, none. Maybe 2010.

Here's the NL rankings:

1. Atlanta Braves, 11: 1969, '82, '91, '92, '93, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2001. Maybe 2010.

2. Pittsburgh Pirates, 9: 1970, '71, '72, '74, '75, '79, '90, '91, '92.

3. St. Louis Cardinals, 9: 1982, '85, '87, '96, 2000, '02, '04, '05, '06.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers, 9: 1974, '77, '78, '81, '83, '85, '88, 2008, '09.

5. Philadelphia Phillies, 9: 1976, '77, '78, '80, '83, '93, 2008, '09, '10. (Updated.)

6. Cincinnati Reds, 8: 1970, '72, '73, '75, '76, '79, '90, '95.

7. New York Mets, 7: 1969, '73, '86, '88, '99, 2000, '06.

8. San Francisco Giants, 4: 1971, '87, '89, 2002. Maybe 2010.

9. Houston Astros, 4: 1980, '86, 2004, '05.

10. San Diego Padres, 3: 1984, '96, '98.

11. Chicago Cubs, 3: 1984, '89, 2003.

12. Florida Marlins, 2: 1997, 2003.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks, 2: 2001, '07.

14. Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, 1: 1981.

15. Colorado Rockies, 1: 2007.

16. Milwaukee Brewers, none: Not since moving to the NL.