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How has the team with the league's best record fared in the post-season?

We're the best in the regular season, but will we be the best in the post-season?

By Max Rieper
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals have ended the season with a record of 95-67, best in the American League. They have finished with the league's best record for just the second time in franchise history, the other being in 1977. That year, the Royals won 102 games, but fell to the New York Yankeees in the American League Championship Series, the second of three consecutive series losses to the Bronx Bombers.

The top record in the league is no guarantee of success. Since 1998, the top record has been guaranteed home field advantage (home field advantage previously rotated by division). Here is how the top team in each league has fared in October since 1998.

American League W L Advanced to National League W L Advanced to
1998 Yankees 114 48 Championship Braves 106 56 NLCS
1999 Yankees 98 64 Championship Braves 103 59 World Series
2000 White Sox 95 67 ALDS Giants 97 65 NLDS
2001 Mariners 116 46 ALCS Astros 93 69 NLDS
2002 Yankees 103 58 ALDS Braves 101 59 NLDS
2003 Yankees 101 61 World Series Braves 101 61 NLDS
2004 Yankees 101 61 ALCS Cardinals 105 57 World Series
2005 White Sox 99 63 Championship Cardinals 100 62 NLCS
2006 Yankees 97 65 ALDS Mets 97 65 NLCS
2007 Red Sox 96 66 Championship Diamondbacks 90 72 NLCS
2008 Angels 100 62 ALDS Cubs 97 64 NLDS
2009 Yankees 103 59 Championship Dodgers 95 67 NLCS
2010 Rays 96 66 ALDS Phillies 97 65 NLCS
2011 Yankees 97 65 ALDS Phillies 102 60 NLDS
2012 Yankees 95 67 ALCS Nationals 98 64 NLDS
2013 Red Sox 97 65 Championship Cardinals 97 65 World Series
2014 Angels 98 64 ALDS Nationals 96 66 NLDS

That's 34 teams with home field advantage and just ten pennants. More surprising is the top seed has had 15 first-round exits, including last year's Angels to the hands of the Royals.

Home field advantage may be more of an advantage this year, but as history suggests, it is no guarantee of success. The Royals still have a lot of work left to do.

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