61.   There is a definite link between this league series and that World Series, and it is not difficult to discern.

62.   Their staffs were the most effective in their leagues this season, but in the league series they went beyond their in-season performances.

63.   They have been to seven straight league championship series, and they have won one World Series.

64.   They both ended the longest droughts among both active and retired players who have played in the playoffs but never in the league championship series.

65.   They were supposed to lose to the Baltimore Orioles in the league championship series but bedazzled the team that had the best record in the American League.

66.   They won the division but lost the league playoff series.

67.   This year, the team with the best record has the extra home game in the division and league championship series.

68.   This is the first time both wild cards have advanced to the league championship series.

69.   This makes the league championship series more profitable for participating franchises.

70.   Until last year, the format of the playoffs provided for rotation between the divisions for the league series and among the divisions for the first-round matchups.