2010 MLB Playoffs: History Has a Way of Repeating Itself

History, for some people, is the most boring subject in school. But in baseball, it makes for great story lines.

This postseason includes two teams who have never won the World Series, and two other teams who have not been there in over two decades. So, historically, which team has the best chance of winning the World Series?

Let's check out the statistics. Thank you to baseball-reference.com for the statistics.

New York Yankees

The Yankees sprung from the New York Highlanders in 1913. Since changing their name, the Yankees have won almost 10,000 regular season games.

They have made the playoffs a record 48 times—the first coming in 1921 with the help of their young star Babe Ruth, who batted .378, 59 home runs, and 171 RBI. They then won the World Series in eight games that year.

In all, the Yankees hold 40 American League pennants, and 27 World Series. The Yankees have an 83.3 percent chance of making the World Series, and once they're in, they have a 67.5 percent chance of winning it.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have been a franchise since 1901. Before moving to Minnesota in 1961, the team had resided in Washington for almost 60 years.

While in Minnesota, the Twins have made the playoffs 10 times, and six times out of the last nine years. The team has three pennants, and two World Series titles. They have a 30 percent chance of winning the pennant, and when they're in, they have a 66.6 percent chance of winning the World Series.

Tampa Bay Rays

In their short 13 year history, the Rays—previously the Devil Rays—have only made the playoffs twice, including this year. However, they have won the pennant once, but have never won the World Series. According to history, the Rays have a 100 percent chance of winning the pennant, but not a chance at all of winning the Series.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers are the second team in this year's playoffs that have never won a World Series. As a matter of fact, they have only won two playoff games (including last night's defeat of the Rays) in team history.

The Rangers were founded in 1972. It took them 24 years to finally taste postseason glory. After winning the American League West Division in 1996, the Rangers were quickly eliminated in four games of the ALDS by the eventual champion, the New York Yankees.

The Rangers have made the playoffs three times, but have never won a pennant. Thus, they have a zero percent chance of making it to the World Series.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants are a team in a World Series drought. Although they were last in the Series in 2002 against Anaheim, the Giants have not won it since 1954 when they were located in New York, and had a centerfielder by the name of Willy Mays.

The Giants have been a professional team since 1883 and the franchise has been to the playoffs a proud 24 times. They have won the pennant an incredible 20 times, but have come out on top only five times. Their chances of winning the pennant is 83.3 percent, but the Giants only have a 25 percent chance of winning the World Series.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have been a very busy franchise for the last 130 years. They have undergone seven name changes, and three moves. They began as the Boston Red Caps in 1876, then in 1953, the franchise moved from Boston to Milwaukee. Thirteen years later, ownership packed up and headed to Atlanta for good.

The franchise has one World Series in each city. The last one came in 1995. In 21 playoff appearances, the franchise has 17 pennants, and three World Series. The Braves have an 80.9 percent chance of winning the National League Pennant, and a 17.6 percent chance of winning the World Series.

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are the very first professional franchise and, unlike most teams, have stayed in their original city. The Reds have made the playoffs only 12 times since 1866.

Their last World Series win was in 1990. They have won the pennant a remarkable ten times, and have won the World Series five times. The Reds have an 83.3 percent chance of winning the National League Pennant, and 50 percent chance of winning the World Series once they get there.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are also a franchise which has stayed the course in the same city. Established as the Quakers, the team began in 1883. Like the Reds, the Phillies have enjoyed 12 playoff appearances. They have won the pennant seven times, and the World Series only twice.

The Phillies have a 58.3 percent chance of winning the pennant, but only a 28.5 percent chance of winning it all.

So which team has the best chance of winning the pennant in their league?

For the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays have a 100 percent chance of winning the pennant.

For the National League, The Reds and the Giants both have an 83.3 percent chance of winning the pennant.

Between these three teams, the Reds have the best chance, historically, of winning the World Series. Will it be the Reds this year? History has an unusual way of repeating itself.