Now for the final region/division in the tournament, the A.L. East. The East features just two World Champions but is loaded with great teams who came up just short of winning their division. During the 80's seven of the nine normal pennant chases in the division were decided by three games or less. Of course given how this tournament has gone the '86 Indians will probably win the region as they get in as the only Indians team of the decade to have a winning record.

 

#1

1984 Detroit Tigers (104-58, defeated San Diego 4-1 in World Series)

 

OPS+: 114 (1st)

ERA+: 112 (1st)

DefEff: .713 (3rd)

 

Best Player: Alan Trammell

Best Pitcher: Willie Hernandez

 

#2

1983 Baltimore Orioles (98-64, defeated Philadelphia 4-1 in World Series)

 

OPS+: 111 (2nd)

ERA+: 108 (3rd)

DefEff: .705 (5th)

 

Best Player: Cal Ripken

Best Pitcher: Scott McGregor

 

#3

1986 Boston Red Sox (95-66, lost to New York 4-3 in World Series)

 

OPS+: 107 (t-3rd)

ERA+: 106 (5th)

DefEff: .686 (12th)

 

Best Player: Wade Boggs

Best Pitcher: Roger Clemens

 

#4

1982 Milwaukee Brewers (95-67, lost to St. Louis 4-3 in World Series)

 

OPS+: 121 (1st)

ERA+: 95 (11th)

DefEff: .702 (9th)

 

Best Player: Robin Yount

Best Pitcher: Pete Vukovich

 

#5

1981 New York Yankees (59-48, lost to Los Angeles 4-2 in World Series)

 

OPS+: 107 (t-3rd)

ERA+: 124 (1st)

DefEff: .721 (3rd)

 

Best Player: Dave Winfield

Best Pitcher: Goose Gossage

 

#6

1980 New York Yankees (103-59, lost to Kansas City 3-0 in ALCS)

 

OPS+: 112 (1st)

ERA+: 109 (t-2nd)

DefEff: .699 (t-6th)

 

Best Player: Reggie Jackson

Best Pitcher: Tommy John

 

#7

1985 Toronto Blue Jays (99-62, lost to Kansas City 4-3 in ALCS)

 

OPS+: 104 (t-4th)

ERA+: 128 (1st)

DefEff: .724 (1st)

 

Best Player: Jesse Barfield

Best Pitcher: Dave Stieb

 

#8

1987 Detroit Tigers (98-64, lost to Minnesota 4-1 in ALCS)

 

OPS+: 114 (1st)

ERA+: 106 (4th)

DefEff: .705 (3rd)

 

Best Player: Alan Trammell

Best Pitcher: Jack Morris

 

#9

1988 Boston Red Sox (89-73, lost to Oakland 4-0 in ALCS)

 

OPS+: 114 (1st)

ERA+: 104 (t-4th)

DefEff: .693 (t-12th)

 

Best Player: Wade Boggs

Best Pitcher: Roger Clemens

 

#10

1989 Toronto Blue Jays (89-73, lost to Oakland 4-1 in ALCS)

 

OPS+: 105 (2nd)

ERA+: 105 (5th)

DefEff: .704 (t-5th)

 

Best Player: Fred McGriff

Best Pitcher: Tom Henke

 

#11

1980 Baltimore Orioles (100-62, finished 3 games behind New York)

 

OPS+: 107 (t-4th)

ERA+: 109 (t-2nd)

DefEFf: .709 (2nd)

 

Best Player: Al Bumbry

Best Pitcher: Steve Stone

 

#12

1985 New York Yankees (97-64, finished 2 games behind Toronto)

 

OPS+: 112 (1st)

ERA+: 109 (3rd)

DefEff: .710 (t-4th)

 

Best Player: Rickey Henderson

Best Pitcher: Ron Guidry

 

#13

1987 Toronto Blue Jays (96-66, finished 2 games behind Detroit)

 

OPS+: 104 (t-3rd)

ERA+: 121 (1st)

DefEff: .712 (2nd)

 

Best Player: George Bell

Best Pitcher: Jimmy Key

 

#14

1982 Baltimore Orioles (94-68, finished 1 game behind Milwaukee)

 

OPS+: 108 (4th)

ERA+: 101 (7th)

DefEff: .719 (2nd)

 

Best Player: Eddie Murray

Best Pitcher: Jim Palmer

 

#15

1981 Milwaukee Brewers (62-47, lost to New York 3-2 in ALDS)

 

OPS+: 107 (t-3rd)

ERA+: 88 (14th)

DefEff: .705 (10th)

 

Best Player: Cecil Cooper

Best Pitcher: Rollie Fingers

 

#16

1986 Cleveland Indians (84-78, finished 11 ½ games behind Boston)

 

OPS+: 109 (2nd)

ERA+: 90 (t-12th)

DefEff: .695 (10th)

 

Best Player: Joe Carter

Best Pitcher: Tom Candiotti

 

 

A.L. East 1st Round Match-ups

 

'86 Indians vs. '84 Tigers

'88 Red Sox vs. '87 Tigers

'87 Blue Jays vs. '82 Brewers

'85 Yankees vs. '81 Yankees

'80 Orioles vs. '80 Yankees

'82 Orioles vs. '86 Red Sox

'89 Blue Jays vs. '85 Blue Jays

'81 Brewers vs. '83 Orioles