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King of the Diamond

What if baseball determined its champions in the same way that boxing and wrestling do? That is, the last team standing becomes the new champ.

You may have never asked yourself that question, but I have. So I’ve decided to run a single-season experiment to finally answer it.

The rules are simple: The last team to lose a game in each league during the 2024 becomes the respective league champion (and the last between those two becomes the overall champ). After that, whichever team defeats the reigning title holder takes the theoretical belt.

Rules clarifications

Okay, apparently the rules aren’t that simple after all. Some more details:

Only regular season games are included as part of this experiment. Exhibition and postseason games are not included.
The AL/NL championships are not at stake in interleague games.
Title reigns are measured in days, not games. A reigning champion still accrues championship streak days during interleague series, postponed or suspended games, and off days, as long as there’s at least one other MLB game on the schedule that day.
- The league-wide off days around the All-Star Game do not count. (July 15–18)
- The days in the awkward gap between the Dodgers-Padres opening series in Korea and the rest of the regular season (March 22–27) do not count, but they really wouldn’t anyway—the first champion cannot be declared until each team has played at least one game.
Title days are accrued at the end of the scheduled day. In the case of a split doubleheader, the winner of the first game does not earn a championship day, but the team winning the second game does. Both teams earn one championship for their overall count.
The final results of suspended and makeup games are counted on the day that they are completed, not the day that they were originally scheduled. We’re not here to explore the infinite possibilities of space and time.
If two teams share a title, then each team accrues a full day of streak time. This is only possible in the rare case of a declared tie involving the current champion at the end of the season. Normally, tied games are suspended and concluded at a later date, and are accounted for using the rules outlined above.

Current champions

(Through all games played as of Aug. 29, 2024)

MLB

AL

NL

How they got here

MLB Championship

On Aug. 28, the Astros defeated the Phillies, 10-0.
On Aug. 24, the Phillies defeated the Royals, 11-2.
On Aug. 21, the Royals defeated the Angels, 3-0.
On Aug. 20, the Angels defeated the Royals, 9-5.
On Aug. 16, the Royals defeated the Reds, 7-1.
On Aug. 11, the Reds defeated the Brewers, 4-3.
On Aug. 9, the Brewers defeated the Reds, 8-3.
On Aug. 8, the Reds defeated the Marlins, 10-4.
On Aug. 7, the Marlins defeated the Reds, 6-4.
On Aug. 5, the Reds defeated the Marlins, 10-3.
On Aug. 3, the Marlins defeated the Braves, 4-3.
On Aug. 1, the Braves defeated the Marlins, 4-2.
On July 31, the Marlins defeated the Rays, 6-2.
On July 27, the Rays defeated the Reds, 4-0.
On July 26, the Reds defeated the Rays, 3-2.
On July 25, the Rays defeated the Blue Jays, 13-0.
On July 24, the Blue Jays defeated the Rays, 6-3.
On July 23, the Rays defeated the Blue Jays, 4-2.
On July 21, the Blue Jays defeated the Tigers, 5-4.
On July 13, the Tigers defeated the Dodgers, 11-9.
On July 12, the Dodgers defeated the Tigers, 4-3.
On July 10, the Tigers defeated the Guardians, 5-4.
On July 9, the Guardians defeated the Tigers, 9-8.
On July 8, the Tigers defeated the Guardians, 1-0.
On July 6, the Guardians defeated the Giants, 5-4.
On July 4, the Giants defeated the Braves, 4-2.
On July 3, the Braves defeated the Giants, 3-1.
On June 30, the Giants defeated the Dodgers, 10-4.
On June 29, the Dodgers defeated the Giants, 14-7.
On June 28, the Giants defeated the Dodgers, 5-3.
On June 22, the Dodgers defeated the Angels, 7-2.
On June 21, the Angels defeated the Dodgers, 3-2.
On June 20, the Dodgers defeated the Rockies, 5-3.
On June 19, the Rockies defeated the Dodgers, 7-6.
On June 16, the Dodgers defeated the Royals, 3-0.
On June 15, the Royals defeated the Dodgers, 7-2.
On June 14, the Dodgers defeated the Royals, 4-3.
On June 13, the Royals defeated the Yankees, 4-3.
On June 9, the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, 6-4.
On June 6, the Dodgers defeated the Pirates, 11-7.
On June 4, the Pirates defeated the Dodgers, 1-0.
On June 1, the Dodgers defeated the Rockies, 4-1.
On May 31, the Rockies defeated the Dodgers, 4-1.
On May 28, the Dodgers defeated the Mets in the first game of a doubleheader, 5-2.
On May 26, the Mets defeated the Giants, 4-3.
On May 22, the Giants defeated the Pirates, 9-5.
On May 21, the Pirates defeated the Giants, 7-6.
On May 17, the Giants defeated the Rockies, 10-5.
On May 10, the Rockies defeated the Rangers, 4-2.
On May 8, the Rangers defeated the Athletics in the second game of a doubleheader, 12-11.
On May 8, the Athletics defeated the Rangers in the first game of a doubleheader, 9-4.
On May 4, the Rangers defeated the Royals, 15-4.
On April 30, the Royals defeated the Blue Jays, 4-1.
On April 28, the Blue Jays defeated the Dodgers, 3-1.
On April 21, the Dodgers defeated the Mets, 10-0.
On April 14, the Mets defeated the Royals, 2-1.
On April 13, the Royals defeated the Mets, 11-7.
On April 11, the Mets defeated the Braves, 16-4.
On April 9, the Braves defeated the Mets, 6-5.
On April 7, the Mets defeated the Reds, 3-1.
On April 6, the Reds defeated the Mets, 9-6.
On April 4, the Mets defeated the Tigers, 2-1.
On April 3, the Brewers and Pirates lost, leaving the Tigers as the last remaining undefeated team and inaugural MLB champion.
On April 2, the Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks, leaving 3 teams (Brewers, Pirates, and Tigers) undefeated.
On March 31, the Braves, Orioles, Guardians, Twins, and Rangers lost, leaving 4 teams (Brewers, Pirates, Tigers, and Yankees) undefeated.
On March 30, the Reds and Diamondbacks lost, leaving 9 teams undefeated.
On March 29, the Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, and Blue Jays lost, leaving 11 teams undefeated.
On March 28, the Cubs, White Sox, Rockies, Astros, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Athletics, Mariners, Giants, Cardinals, Rays, and Nationals lost, leaving 15 teams undefeated.
On March 21, the Dodgers lost to the Padres, leaving 28 teams undefeated.
On March 20, the Padres lost to the Dodgers, leaving 29 teams undefeated.

American League Championship

On Aug. 29, the Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox, 2-0.
On Aug. 27, the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays, 6-3.
On Aug. 12, the Blue Jays defeated the Angels, 4-2.
On Aug. 7, the Angels defeated the Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader, 8-2.
On Aug. 7, the Yankees defeated the Angels in the first game of a doubleheader, 5-2.
On July 28, the Angels defeated the Athletics, 8-6.
On July 25, the Athletics defeated the Angels, 6-5.
On July 21, the Angels defeated the Athletics, 8-5.
On July 19, the Athletics defeat the Angels, 13-3.
On July 12, the Angels defeated the Mariners, 6-5.
On July 11, the Mariners defeated the Angels, 11-0.
On July 10, the Angels defeated the Rangers, 7-2.
On June 30, the Rangers defeated the Orioles, 11-2.
On June 27, the Orioles defeated the Rangers, 11-2.
On June 21, the Rangers defeated the Royals, 6-2.
On June 20, the Royals defeated the Athletics, 3-2.
On June 18, the Athletics defeated the Royals, 7-5.
On June 13, the Royals defeated the Yankees, 4-3.
On May 29, the Yankees defeated the Angels, 2-1.
On May 28, the Angels defeated the Yankees, 4-3.
On May 22, the Yankees defeated the Mariners, 7-3.
On May 20, the Mariners defeated the Yankees, 5-4.
On May 14, the Yankees defeated the Twins, 5-1.
On May 12, the Twins defeated the Blue Jays, 5-1.
On May 11, the Blue Jays defeated the Twins, 10-8.
On May 8, the Twins defeated the Mariners, 6-3.
On May 7, the Mariners defeated the Twins, 10-6.
On May 6, the Twins defeated the Mariners, 3-1.
On May 4, the Mariners defeated the Astros, 5-0.
On May 2, the Astros defeated the Guardians, 8-2.
On May 1, the Guardians defeated the Astros, 3-2.
On April 30, the Astros defeated the Guardians, 10-9.
On April 25, the Guardians defeated the Red Sox, 6-4.
On April 24, the Red Sox defeated the Guardians, 8-0.
On April 19, the Guardians defeated the Athletics, 10-2.
On April 11, the Athletics defeated the Rangers, 1-0.
On April 10, the Rangers defeated the Athletics, 6-2.
On April 6, the Athletics defeated the Tigers, 4-0.
On April 2, the Rangers and Yankees lost, leaving the Tigers as the last remaining undefeated team and inaugural champion in the AL.
On March 31, the Orioles, Guardians, and Twins lost, leaving 3 teams (Rangers, Tigers, and Yankees) undefeated in AL play.
On March 29, the Red Sox and Blue Jays lost, leaving 6 teams (Orioles, Guardians, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, and Rangers) undefeated in AL play.
On March 28, the White Sox, Rockies, Astros, Royals, Angels, Athletics, Mariners, and Rays lost, leaving 8 teams (Orioles, Red Sox, Guardians, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, Rangers, and Blue Jays) undefeated in AL play.

National League Championship

On Aug. 25, the Nationals defeated the Braves, 5-1.
On Aug. 23, the Braves defeated the Nationals, 3-2.
On Aug. 21, the Nationals defeated the Rockies, 6-1.
On Aug. 20, the Rockies defeated the Nationals, 3-1.
On Aug. 18, the Nationals defeated the Phillies, 6-4.
On Aug. 14, the Phillies defeated the Marlins, 9-5.
On Aug. 11, the Marlins defeated the Padres, 7-6.
On Aug. 3, the Padres defeated the Rockies, 3-2.
On Aug. 2, the Rockies defeated the Padres, 5-2.
On July 30, the Padres defeated the Dodgers, 6-5.
On July 25, the Dodgers defeated the Giants, 6-4.
On July 24, the Giants defeated the Dodgers, 8-3.
On July 22, the Dodgers defeated the Giants, 3-2.
On July 21, the Giants defeated the Rockies, 3-2.
On July 19, the Rockies defeated the Giants, 7-3.
On July 4, the Giants defeated the Braves, 4-2.
On July 3, the Braves defeated the Giants, 3-1.
On June 30, the Giants defeated the Dodgers, 10-4.
On June 29, the Dodgers defeated the Giants, 14-7.
On June 28, the Giants defeated the Dodgers, 5-3.
On June 20, the Dodgers defeated the Rockies, 5-3.
On June 19, the Rockies defeated the Dodgers, 7-6.
On June 6, the Dodgers defeated the Pirates, 11-7.
On June 4, the Pirates defeated the Dodgers, 1-0.
On June 1, the Dodgers defeated the Rockies, 4-1.
On May 31, the Rockies defeated the Dodgers, 4-1.
On May 28, the Dodgers defeated the Mets in the first game of a doubleheader, 5-2.
On May 26, the Mets defeated the Giants, 4-3.
On May 22, the Giants defeated the Pirates, 9-5.
On May 21, the Pirates defeated the Giants, 7-6.
On May 17, the Giants defeated the Rockies, 10-5.
On May 13, the Rockies defeated the Padres, 5-4.
On May 12, the Padres defeated the Dodgers, 4-0.
On May 11, the Dodgers defeated the Padres, 5-0.
On May 8, the Padres defeated the Cubs, 3-0.
On May 7, the Cubs defeated the Padres, 3-2.
On May 6, the Padres defeated the Cubs, 6-3.
On May 4, the Cubs defeated the Brewers, 6-5.
On April 24, the Brewers defeated the Pirates, 3-2.
On April 22, the Pirates defeated the Brewers, 4-2.
On April 17, the Brewers defeated the Padres, 1-0.
On April 15, the Padres defeated the Brewers, 7-3.
On April 9, the Brewers defeated the Reds, 9-5.
On April 8, the Reds defeated the Brewers, 10-8.
On April 3, the Pirates lost to the Nationals, leaving the Brewers as the last remaining undefeated team and inaugural champion in the NL.
On March 31, the Braves lost to the Phillies, leaving 2 teams (Brewers and Pirates) undefeated in NL play.
On March 30, the Reds and Diamondbacks lost, leaving 3 teams (Braves, Brewers, and Pirates) undefeated in NL play.
On March 29, the Mets and Phillies lost, leaving 5 teams (Diamondbacks, Braves, Reds, Brewers, and Pirates) undefeated in NL play.
On March 28, the Cubs, Rockies, Marlins, Giants, Cardinals, and Nationals lost, leaving 7 teams (Diamondbacks, Braves, Reds, Brewers, Mets, Phillies, and Pirates) undefeated in NL play.
On March 21, the Dodgers lost to the Padres, leaving 13 teams undefeated in NL play.
On March 20, the Padres lost to the Dodgers, leaving 14 teams undefeated in NL play.

Records

Most times as champ (MLB)	Los Angeles Dodgers (10)
Most days as champ (MLB)	Los Angeles Dodgers (28)
Longest streak (MLB)	New York Mets (7)

Most times as champ (AL)	Los Angeles Angels (6)
Most days as champ (AL)	New York Yankees (25)
Longest streak (AL)	New York Yankees (16)

Most times as champ (NL)	Los Angeles Dodgers (7) San Francisco Giants (7)
Most days as champ (NL)	Los Angeles Dodgers (34)
Longest streak (NL)	Los Angeles Dodgers (13)

Number of days as champion

MLB

LAD	28
NYM	15
KC	14
SF	13
CIN	10
COL	9
DET	8
TB	6
TEX	6
ATL	5
TOR	5
MIA	4
NYY	4
PHI	4
CLE	3
PIT	3
HOU	2
LAA	2
MIL	2
ARI	–
BAL	–
BOS	–
CHC	–
CHW	–
MIN	–
OAK	–
SD	–
SEA	–
STL	–
WAS	–

AL

NYY	25
LAA	24
OAK	19
TOR	17
TEX	16
CLE	10
KC	6
MIN	6
SEA	6
DET	4
BAL	3
BOS	3
HOU	3
CHW	–
TB	–

NL

LAD	34
MIL	26
SF	24
SD	18
COL	10
WAS	9
PIT	5
PHI	4
ATL	3
CHC	3
MIA	2
NYM	2
CIN	1
ARI	–
STL	–

Number of times as champion

MLB

LAD	10
KC	6
CIN	5
NYM	5
SF	5
DET	4
ATL	3
COL	3
MIA	3
TB	3
TOR	3
CLE	2
LAA	2
PIT	2
TEX	2
HOU	1
MIL	1
NYY	1
OAK	1
PHI	1
ARI	–
BAL	–
BOS	–
CHC	–
CHW	–
MIN	–
SD	–
SEA	–
STL	–
WAS	–

AL

LAA	6
NYY	5
OAK	5
SEA	4
CLE	3
MIN	3
TEX	3
TOR	3
HOU	2
KC	2
BOS	2
BAL	1
DET	1
CHW	–
TB	–

NL

LAD	7
SF	7
COL	6
SD	6
MIL	4
PIT	3
WAS	3
ATL	2
CHC	2
CIN	1
MIA	1
NYM	1
PHI	1
ARI	–
STL	–

Team logos courtesy of SportsLogos.net