Best home-field advantage in MLB playoffs

Every October, ballparks take on a different kind of energy amid the heightened stakes of the postseason.

Over the years, certain venues have proven especially tough for visiting teams in the playoffs. Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles is one such stadium, and that has been the case so far in the National League Championship Series, which the Dodgers lead 3-0 over the Brewers.

Below, you’ll find the top 10 ballparks that have produced the best home records in playoff history.

Note: We’re using a 20-game minimum here, which narrowly excludes Truist Park, where the Braves have gone 13-6 (.684) since 2017.

1. New York Mets, Shea Stadium (1964-2008)
26-13 record (.667)

With all due respect to the 1969 “Miracle Mets,†who clinched the World Series with a Game 5 home win over the Orioles, the most memorable Fall Classic event at Shea Stadium — and maybe at any stadium — took place in 1986. In the bottom of the 10th of a tied Game 6, the infamous Bill Buckner error gave the Mets a walk-off win to keep the series alive. Two days later, also at home, the Mets overcame a 3-0 lead to win Game 7 and finish off a classic series. (At their current home, Citi Field, the Mets have gone 8-8 in the playoffs.)

2. St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium II (1966-2005)
35-18 record (.660)

Many different Cardinals legends played October baseball here, with the list of names ranging from Bob Gibson to Ozzie Smith to Albert Pujols and many others. St. Louis reached the World Series six times during its tenure at Busch Stadium II, and remarkably, five went to seven games. The home team won Game 7 in three of those instances, including the Cardinals†6-3 win over the Brewers in 1982.

3. Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park (2004-present)
29-16 record (.644)

Most of these playoff games came during the heyday of the Ryan Howard-Chase Utley-Jimmy Rollins core, including a magical 2008 run when the team finished 11-3 in the playoffs, culminating with a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay to clinch the Fall Classic at home. Since 2022, though, the Phillies have become a postseason fixture once again, giving a new generation of players a chance to create some October magic in front of the Philly faithful.

4. Baltimore Orioles, Memorial Stadium (1954-1991)
19-11 record (.633)

Led by the likes of the legendary Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr., the mid-to-late 20th century was the peak of Orioles history, largely coinciding with the teamâ€s tenure at Memorial Stadium. Both the 1966 and 1970 World Series were clinched with home wins, including an epic 1-0 game in 1966 when Dave McNally outdueled the Dodgers†Don Drysdale as both pitched complete games. However, Baltimore has struggled in home playoff games since Camden Yards was built, going just 7-13.

5. New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium I (1923-2008)
101-60 record (.627)

How ridiculous is it that the Yankees essentially played a full seasonâ€s schedule worth of playoff games at the original Yankee Stadium? Whatever you think the answer to that question is, amplify it even more, because the playoffs only consisted of one round (the World Series) until 1969. There could be thousands of words about the Yankees†preposterous playoff dominance over the 20th century, but the 26 rings won while playing at the original stadium speak for themselves, as do their 101 playoff wins at that park (an MLB record for any home team at one venue).

6. San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park (2000-present)
25-15 record (.625)

Whatâ€s now known as Oracle Park has had several names over the course of the 21st century, but one relative constant has been the Giants†playoff success. Interestingly, all three of the team’s World Series wins this century were clinched on the road (one at Texas, one at Detroit, one at Kansas City), though the 2012 and 2014 NLCS were clinched at home.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium (1962-present)
69-45 record (.605)

8. New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium II (2009-present)
31-21 record (.596)

Yep, the Bronx Bombers crack this list at two different iterations of Yankee Stadium. The Yanks immediately put up their first banner at their new ballpark, closing out the Phillies in Game 6 of the 2009 World Series at home. They also wrapped up the 2010, 2012 and 2022 ALDS, the 2017 and 2018 AL Wild Card Games and the 2025 AL Wild Card Series in front of their home fans.

9. Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park (2000-present)
16-11 record (.593)

That World Series loss to St. Louis came many decades before Comerica Park was built, as the Tigers have fared better in the postseason in the 21st century. Though Detroit has not yet won a World Series at the stadium, they clinched the 2006 and 2012 ALCS — both of which were sweeps — with wins at home, the former of which was sealed by a Magglio Ordóñez walk-off home run.

10. St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium III (2006-present)
26-18 record (.591)

The new Busch Stadium opened in St. Louis in 2006. The Cardinals won the 2006 World Series. Coincidence? OK, probably, but the Redbirds have played well in front of their home fans at Busch Stadium III as well as Busch II — which, as you might remember, is No. 3 on this list. The Cards won all three of their home games in the World Series in 2006 and closed out the 2011 Fall Classic with an unforgettable walk-off win in Game 6 and another victory in Game 7.

Honorable mentions:
Kansas City Royals, Kauffman Stadium: 24-17 (.585)
Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park: 51-37 (.580)
Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field: 16-12 (.571)
Houston Astros, Daikin Park: 36-27 (.571)
Cincinnati Reds, Riverfront Stadium: 17-13 (.567)
Cleveland Guardians, Progressive Field: 35-27 (.565)
Minnesota Twins, The Metrodome: 13-10 (.565)

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