American Association Expands Playoff Structure
August 4, 2021 - American Association (AA) News Release
MOORHEAD, MN - The Board of Directors of the American Association of Professional Baseball has approved a plan to expand the 2021 post-season schedule with a play-in game that will pit the second and third place clubs in each division against each other for the right to advance to the North and South Division Championship Series.
In the new format, the second and third place clubs in the North Division and South Division will face off on Wednesday, September 8 in a one-game playoff. The winner of the two play-in games will advance to face the regular season champion of the respective division in a best-of-five Division Championship Series, which will begin on Friday, September 10. Division Series winners will then advance to the best-of-five American Association Finals which are schedule to begin on Friday, September 17.
"Unprecedented times have allowed the American Association to be innovative in many aspects of our league play and presentation, while increasing the number of playoff participants as we enter the final month of the season," said American Association Commissioner Joshua Schaub. "The American Association continues to showcase our league's ability to pivot and be nimble while maintaining a high level of competition on the field and top entertainment for our fans."
In 2020 the American Association amended the playoff schedule as the league played as a six-team league. The top two teams at the end of the 60-game regular season advanced to the best-of-seven American Association Finals, which was won by the Milwaukee Milkmen in five games over the Sioux Falls Canaries.
2021 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION POST-SEASON SCHEDULE
Play-In Game
Sept. 8 Play-In Game (#2 vs. #3)
Sept. 9 Travel Day
Division Championship Series
Sept. 10 Game 1
Sept. 11 Game 2
Sept. 12 Travel Day
Sept. 13 Game 3
Sept. 14 Game 4 (if necessary)
Sept. 15 Game 5 (if necessary)
Sept. 16 Travel Day
American Association Finals
Sept. 17 Game 1
Sept. 18 Game 2
Sept. 19 Travel Day
Sept. 20 Game 3
Sept. 21 Game 4 (if necessary)
Sept. 22 Game 5 (if necessary)
American Association Stories from August 4, 2021
- RedHawks Drop Series Finale to Monarchs - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- X's Almost Pull off Upset of the Season - Sioux City Explorers
- 'Dogs Win Fourth Straight Game - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Murphy Mauls Railroaders to Move Dogs into Second Place - Chicago Dogs
- Canaries' Garkow Shuts Down RailCats' Bats in 4-1 Loss - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Railroaders Handcuffed by Murphy in Finale - Cleburne Railroaders
- Cougars Avoid Sweep - Kane County Cougars
- American Association Expands Playoff Structure - AA
- Milkmen Escape from Cougar's Den 4-3 - Milwaukee Milkmen
- Fully Jackcinated: Goldeyes Homer Three Times in First Home Game Since 2019 - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Svoboda's Gem Powers Canaries Past RailCats - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Dogs Snap Losing Streak Behind Kipper's Ks - Chicago Dogs
- Boxwell the Hero in Late-Inning Rally Past KC - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Canaries Clean up RailCats in 7-3 Loss - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Kipper's Strong Start Stymies Cleburne - Cleburne Railroaders
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