What if?
24 famous title changes, replayed the other wayWe took famous MLB title changes, flipped the result, and replayed every game since through the same rules. Sometimes the belt finds its way home within days. Sometimes it never does.
What if Chicago White Stockings had won?
Real result: Cleveland Blues (1879–84) beat Chicago White Stockings 2–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by July 13, 1880, 3 days later.
The alternate belt: Blues
What if Boston Beaneaters had won?
Real result: Philadelphia Phillies beat Boston Beaneaters 5–3 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by May 18, 1892, 228 days later, after 7 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Phillies → Braves → Cardinals → Braves → Cubs → Braves → Spiders
What if New York Giants had won?
Real result: Philadelphia Phillies beat New York Giants 6–5 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by July 6, 1904, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Cardinals
What if Philadelphia Athletics had won?
Real result: New York Yankees beat Philadelphia Athletics 6–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 27, 1931, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Red Sox
What if New York Yankees had won?
Real result: St. Louis Browns beat New York Yankees 3–1 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by June 17, 1953, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Tigers
What if Providence Grays had won?
Real result: Buffalo Bisons beat Providence Grays 2–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 12, 1884, 3 days later.
The alternate belt: Wolverines
What if Detroit Wolverines had won?
Real result: New York Giants beat Detroit Wolverines 6–5 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 31, 1886, 0 days later.
The alternate belt: Giants
What if Philadelphia Quakers had won?
Real result: Boston Beaneaters beat Philadelphia Quakers 4–3 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by April 21, 1888, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Braves
What if Chicago White Sox had won?
Real result: Houston Astros beat Chicago White Sox 10–1 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by May 13, 2024, 944 days later, after 189 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Tigers → White Sox → Mariners → Astros → Mariners → Rangers → Athletics → Giants → Athletics → Guardians → Padres → Guardians
What if Houston Astros had won?
Real result: Boston Red Sox beat Houston Astros 9–5 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 18, 2021, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Red Sox
What if Boston Red Sox had won?
Real result: Houston Astros beat Boston Red Sox 9–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 20, 2021, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Astros
What if Houston Astros had won?
Real result: Atlanta Braves beat Houston Astros 6–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 27, 2021, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Braves
What if Atlanta Braves had won?
Real result: Houston Astros beat Atlanta Braves 7–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 29, 2021, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Astros
What if Houston Astros had won?
Real result: Atlanta Braves beat Houston Astros 2–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 30, 2021, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Braves
What if Atlanta Braves had won?
Real result: Houston Astros beat Atlanta Braves 9–5 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by November 2, 2021, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Reds
What if Houston Astros had won?
Real result: Atlanta Braves beat Houston Astros 7–0 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by April 19, 2022, 168 days later, after 6 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Angels → Astros → D-backs → Mets → D-backs → Mets
What if Minnesota Twins had won?
Real result: Los Angeles Angels beat Minnesota Twins 5–4 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 18, 2026, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Angels
What if Los Angeles Angels had won?
Real result: Minnesota Twins beat Los Angeles Angels 3–0 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 19, 2026, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Twins
What if Minnesota Twins had won?
Real result: Los Angeles Angels beat Minnesota Twins 6–5 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 20, 2026, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Giants
What if Los Angeles Angels had won?
Real result: Minnesota Twins beat Los Angeles Angels 8–0 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Houston Astros, not Minnesota Twins.
The alternate belt: Athletics → Astros → Athletics → Astros
What if Minnesota Twins had won?
Real result: San Francisco Giants beat Minnesota Twins 5–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 22, 2026, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Rangers
What if San Francisco Giants had won?
Real result: Minnesota Twins beat San Francisco Giants 3–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 23, 2026, 1 day later.
The alternate belt: Twins
What if Minnesota Twins had won?
Real result: Texas Rangers beat Minnesota Twins 6–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by September 27, 2026, 1 day later.
What if Texas Rangers had won?
Real result: Minnesota Twins beat Texas Rangers 6–4 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Texas Rangers, not Minnesota Twins.