Three of the four Division Series -- Royals-Astros, Blue Jays-Rangers, Mets-Dodgers -- went the maximum five games, with Cubs-Cardinals a captivating matchup in its own right. Now, whoever wins the World Series will snap a drought of at least 22 years.
"I think it's important for fans in all 30 markets to see franchises that haven't been there for a while turn it around and do well," Manfred said. "We had great examples of that here, with the Mets, Houston, and I think it helps our fans have open faith, which is important over the long haul.