For all the talk of parity in Major League Baseball, the sport is no different from the NBA when it comes to winning the title.
At the conclusion of this year’s Red Sox/Cardinals World Series, six Major League Baseball franchises will have won the World Series over the past ten seasons — matching the number of NBA teams that have won the NBA Finals over the same span.
The NFL — another sport praised for parity — has only one more champion over the past ten seasons than MLB or the NBA. Only the National Hockey League can truly claim the mantle of parity, at least when it comes to champions — the league has produced nine winners over the past ten seasons it has played.
A far greater percentage of big market teams have won the title in baseball than in any other sport over the past ten seasons. Five of the six MLB champions have hailed from a top ten TV market — New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Philadelphia (#4), the Bay Area (#6) and Boston (#7).
By contrast, only three of six NBA champions hailed from top ten markets over that span (Los Angeles, Dallas and Boston), and only two Super Bowl champions have played in a top ten market (New York and Boston).
The NHL has also had five big market champions (New York, Los Angeles — once each for the Kings and Ducks — Chicago, and Boston). Of course, as the NHL had more champions overall, the percentage of big market teams was lower.
Of course, MLB looks a lot better when you go back further. Over the past 20 seasons, MLB has had 11 champions, compared to just seven for the NBA, 12 for the NFL, and 13 for the NHL. One interpretation is that Major League Baseball has become more like the NBA over the past decade — with championships concentrated among just a few teams.
Champions of the Four Major Sports Leagues
Past ten seasons
Major League Baseball (six champions, five in top ten markets)
2004, 2007, 2013*: Red Sox (#7 TV market)
2005: White Sox (#3 TV market)
2006, 2011, 2013*: Cardinals
2008: Phillies (#4 TV market)
2009: Yankees (#1 TV market)
2010, 2012: Giants (#6 TV market)
* Red Sox or Cardinals will win 2013 World Series.
National Basketball Association (six champions, three in top ten markets)
2004: Pistons
2005, 2007: Spurs
2006, 2012, 2013: Heat
2008: Celtics (#7 TV market)
2009, 2010: Lakers (#2 TV market)
2011: Mavericks (#5 TV market)
National Football League (seven champions, two in top ten markets)
2004, 2005: Patriots (#7 TV market)
2006, 2009: Steelers
2007: Colts
2008, 2012: Giants (#1 TV market)
2010: Saints
2011: Packers
2013: Ravens
National Hockey League* (nine champions, five in top ten markets)
2003: Devils (#1 TV market)
2004: Lightning
2006: Hurricanes
2007: Ducks (#2 TV market)
2008: Red Wings
2009: Penguins
2010, 2013: Blackhawks (#3 TV market)
2011: Bruins (#7 TV market)
2012: Kings (#2 TV market)
* Does not include 2004-05 season, which the owners canceled as part of their lockout of players.
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