The 2025 Major League Baseball postseason includes a number of former American Legion Baseball players.
The rosters of the 12 teams competing in the 2025 Major League Baseball playoffs are dotted with Legion Baseball alumni who have the chance to celebrate ALB’s centennial with a World Series ring at the end of the postseason.
American League Playoff Teams
1. Toronto Blue Jays, 94-68, AL East champions.
It took until the final game of the season, but Toronto won the American League East for the first time since 2015. The Blue Jays and Yankees each finished 94-68 but Toronto won the tiebreaker.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
CF Daulton Varsho (Post 54/Marshfield, Wis.). Varsho played in only 71 games but finished fourth on the team with 20 HRs. He also had 55 RBIs.
LF Davis Schneider (Post 371/Gibbsboro, N.J.). Schneider also was effective in limited time, hitting 11 HRs in 82 games. His .361 on-base percentage would be good for fourth on the team if he had made enough appearances.
2. Seattle Mariners, 90-72, AL West champions.
The Mariners won the AL West division title for the first time since 2001. A big factor? The Big Dumper, aka Legion Baseball alum Cal Raleigh.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
C Cal Raleigh (Post 47/Waynesville, N.C.). Raleigh smashed single-season home run records for the Mariners, switch-hitters and full-time catchers by hitting 60 HRs. He also drove in 125 RBIs.
SS J.P. Crawford (Post 496/Lakewood, Calif.). Crawford hit .265 with 58 RBIs and 69 runs scored.
3. Cleveland Guardians, 89-74, AL Central champions.
On July 9, Cleveland trailed Detroit by 15 ½ games in the American League Central. But they completed an historic comeback to edge the Tigers in winning the division for the second year in a row.
4. New York Yankees, 94-68, 2nd, AL East.
While the Yankees closed the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, it wasn’t enough to catch Toronto for the American League East division title.
5. Boston Red Sox, 89-73, 3rd, AL East.
Boston battled back from a 41-44 record on June 29 to reach the postseason.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
3B Alex Bregman (Albuquerque, N.M.). Bregman batted .273 with 62 RBIs in 114 games.
6. Detroit Tigers, 87-75, 2nd, AL Central.
Detroit wasted a 15 ½ game lead on Cleveland in the American League Central and instead of hosting a Wild Card Series, they’ll head to their division rivals on Tuesday.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
P Paul Sewald (Las Vegas). The 2024 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year, Sewald has made four appearances for Detroit, all this month, since the Tigers picked him up in a trade from … the Guardians.
National League Playoff Teams
1. Milwaukee Brewers, 97-65, NL Central champions.
Not only did Milwaukee win the National League Central for the third year in a row, they clinched the best record in the major leagues for the first time since 1982.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
P Brandon Woodruff (Post 49/Tupelo, Miss.). As of Sunday, Woodruff’s availability for the playoffs was still in question because of a right lat strain. In 12 starts this season, the 2022 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year was 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA.
2. Philadelphia Phillies, 96-66, NL East champions.
Philadelphia won its second straight National League East division title by the largest margin of any team in 2025, finishing 13 games ahead of the second-place Mets.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
3B Alec Bohm (Post 1/Omaha, Neb.). Bohm hit .287 with 59 RBIs.
1B Bryce Harper (Las Vegas). Harper led the Phillies with 32 doubles, batting .261 with 27 HRs and 75 RBIs.
C J.T. Realmuto (Post 170/Midwest City, Okla.). Realmuto hit .257 with 52 RBIs.
2B Bryston Stott (Las Vegas). Stott hit .257 with 66 RBIs.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers, 93-69, NL West champions.
Last year’s World Series champions won the National League West for the 12th time in 13 years.
4. Chicago Cubs, 92-70, 2nd, NL Central.
The Cubs qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2020 , then earned homefield for the Wild Card Series.
5. San Diego Padres, 90-72, 2nd, NL West.
The Padres are in the postseason for the second year in a row and fourth in six seasons.
Key Legion Baseball alumni:
P Michael King (Post 74/Warwick, R.I.). In 15 starts this season King is 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA.
6. Cincinnati Reds, 83-79, 3rd, NL Central.
The Reds and Mets finished with the same record, but Cincinnati won the tiebreaker.
Playoff schedule
Sept. 30
Game 1: Detroit at Cleveland, 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 1: San Diego at Chicago Cubs, 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 1: Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 1: Cincinnati at L.A. Dodgers, 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Oct. 1
Game 2: Detroit at Cleveland, 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: San Diego at Chicago Cubs, 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2: Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Cincinnati at L.A. Dodgers, 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Oct. 2
Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland, 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN, if necessary
Game 3: San Diego at Chicago Cubs, 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC, if necessary
Game 3: Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN, if necessary
Game 3: Cincinnati at L.A. Dodgers, 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN, if necessary
Division series begin Oct. 4.
- Baseball