Greatest Inter-Divisional Rivalry?

[illwauk]

During the Packers-Giants game a last night, we wound up talking about how the Giants are the Packers biggest rivals right now... even more than anyone in the NFC North including the Bears.

It got me to thinking about true rivalries between teams in different divisions. The Packers and Giants has to be amongst the greatest, because there's at least three distinctive eras where the two teams have fought each other either directly or indirectly (i.e. playoffs, high-stakes late season matchups, etc.) over championships. It also helps that the Giants are still owned by the Mara family, and the Packers are still owned by shareholders; and that arguably the most famous figure in the rivalry, Vince Lombardi, has connections to both sides. But I'm sure there's cases to be made for others (Lakers vs. Celtics immediately comes to mind).

I know that things tend to veer off-topic around post number 6 or 7, but let's try to keep this limited to teams that have AT LEAST two distinctive eras where they could be considered rivals. College rivalries are welcome for discussion too, but only if the teams were in different conferences for at least most of their existence (i.e. Texas-Oklahoma could apply here, but Texas-Texas A&M would not).

[mattb6]

broncos-browns from the 80s and 90s

[RyanMcD29]

NFL: Colts-Patriots when Manning was on the Colts (and also when the Colts left the AFC East for the AFC South). Could see this come back down the road if Luck ends up being the real deal

NHL: Bruins-Rangers/Canadiens-Rangers/Maple Leafs-Red Wings

NBA: Celtics-Lakers

MLB: Not 100% sure on this one, as playoffs usually shift these around a bit.

[pianoknight]

I'm assuming this conversation is limited to professional sports only? If you were to include NCCA sports, you'd get a ton of examples. For example, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and Colorado all used to play pretty heated games in the Big 8/12, but now all four teams are in different conferences.

There are countless others, too.

If you're sticking to pro sports, though, don't overlook the same-city/different-league stuff. White Sox/Cubs, Jets/Giants, and even some cross-state rivalries like the KC/STL games between either the Royals/Cards or the Chiefs/Rams.

[Kramerica Industries]

Baseball is a difficult one, since even non-divisional opponents still play 6-10 times a year (at least, they do in the AL), but I'll tender a couple:

Yankees-Dodgers

Yankees-Giants

What's excellent about both rivalries is how they have deep history from when all three were in New York, and then also after when the Giants and Dodgers left for California. Yankees and Dodgers have faced each other 11 times in the World Series (seven times in Brooklyn, four times in LA), and the Yankees and Giants have faced each other seven times (six times in New York, and once in San Francisco).

I'm thrilled that the Yankees will host both the Dodgers and Giants next season. Dodgers haven't played a game at Yankee Stadium since 1981, and the Giants haven't played a game at Yankee Stadium since 2002. It's way overdue on both fronts.

You can also argue the Yankees and Cardinals, the most successful teams from their respective leagues. 1926, 1942, and 1964 went to the Cardinals, while 1928 and 1943 went to the Yankees. I'm still waiting for the 1964 atonement. (heh)

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From a non-Yankee POV, I think you could argue for the A's and Giants. To my knowledge, they are the only teams to face each other in multiple World Series, and being based in multiple different cities. 1905, 1911, and 1913 World Series between Philadelphia and New York, and then 1989 between Oakland and San Francisco.

The Tigers also have faced the Cubs and Cardinals in multiple World Series with decades separation. 1907-1908, 1935, and 1945 against the Cubs; 1934, 1968, and 2006 with the Cardinals.

[illwauk]

I'm assuming this conversation is limited to professional sports only? If you were to include NCCA sports, you'd get a ton of examples. For example, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and Colorado all used to play pretty heated games in the Big 8/12, but now all four teams are in different conferences.

There are countless others, too.

If you're sticking to pro sports, though, don't overlook the same-city/different-league stuff. White Sox/Cubs, Jets/Giants, and even some cross-state rivalries like the KC/STL games between either the Royals/Cards or the Chiefs/Rams.

Serious question. Did you actually read the first post... AT ALL?

[Kramerica Industries]

In fact, here are all the World Series matchups that have been repeated over time:

(11) 1941, '47, '49, '52-'53, '55-'56, '63, '77-'78, and '81 - Yankees vs. Dodgers (8-3 NYY)

(7) 1921-'23, '36-'37, '51, '62 - Yankees vs. Giants (5-2 NYY)

(5) 1926, '28, '42-'43, '64 - Yankees vs. Cardinals (3-2 STL)

(4) 1957-'58, '96, '99 - Yankees vs. Braves (3-1 NYY)

(4) 1907-'08, '35, '45 - Tigers vs. Cubs (2-2)

(4) 1905, '11, '13, '89 - A's vs. Giants (3-1 A's)

(3) 1939, '61, '76 - Yankees vs. Reds (2-1 NYY)

(3) 1946, '67, '04 - Red Sox vs. Cardinals (2-1 STL)

(3) 1934, '68, '06 - Tigers vs. Cardinals (2-1 STL)

(2) 1932, '38 - Yankees vs. Cubs (2-0 NYY)

(2) 1927, '60 - Yankees vs. Pirates (1-1)

(2) 1950, '09 - Yankees vs. Phillies (2-0 NYY)

(2) 1910, '29 - A's vs. Cubs (2-0 PHI)

(2) 1930-'31 - A's vs. Cardinals (1-1)

(2) 1924, '33 - Senators vs. Giants (1-1)

(2) 1971, '79 - Orioles vs. Pirates (2-0 PIT)

(2) 1972, '90 - A's vs. Reds (1-1) -- excellent catch, McCarthy

There have also been a few one-time in-city or in-state World Series matchups before.

1906: White Sox 4-2 over Cubs

1944: Cardinals 4-2 over Browns

1985: Royals 4-3 over Cardinals

2000: Yankees 4-1 over Mets

I guess, by this criteria:

2002: Angels 4-3 over Giants

--

If there are any flaws here, please post them. I did this entirely from memory.

EDIT #1 - updated.

[The_Admiral]

Blackhawks-Canucks may have had an era prior to the 2008-2012 one, if you count the early '80s when the Canucks started the white towel thing in a series with the Hawks. I wasn't really around to judge how intense it was over time, though. The last four years of the rivalry were certainly huge, though I can't help but feel it never reached its full potential because people don't always know what and where Vancouver is.

[Sport]

In fact, here are all the World Series matchups that have been repeated over time:

(11) 1941, '47, '49, '52-'53, '55-'56, '63, '77-'78, and '81 - Yankees vs. Dodgers (8-3 NYY)

(7) 1921-'23, '36-'37, '51, '62 - Yankees vs. Giants (5-2 NYY)

(5) 1926, '28, '42-'43, '64 - Yankees vs. Cardinals (3-2 STL)

(4) 1957-'58, '96, '99 - Yankees vs. Braves (3-1 NYY)

(4) 1907-'08, '35, '45 - Tigers vs. Cubs (2-2)

(4) 1905, '11, '13, '89 - A's vs. Giants (3-1 A's)

(3) 1939, '61, '76 - Yankees vs. Reds (2-1 NYY)

(3) 1946, '67, '04 - Red Sox vs. Cardinals (2-1 STL)

(3) 1934, '68, '06 - Tigers vs. Cardinals (2-1 STL)

(2) 1932, '38 - Yankees vs. Cubs (2-0 NYY)

(2) 1927, '60 - Yankees vs. Pirates (1-1)

(2) 1950, '09 - Yankees vs. Phillies (2-0 NYY)

(2) 1910, '29 - A's vs. Cubs (2-0 PHI)

(2) 1930-'31 - A's vs. Cardinals (1-1)

(2) 1924, '33 - Senators vs. Giants (1-1)

(2) 1971, '79 - Orioles vs. Pirates (2-0 PIT)

There have also been a few one-time in-city or in-state World Series matchups before.

1906: White Sox 4-2 over Cubs

1944: Cardinals 4-2 over Browns

1985: Royals 4-3 over Cardinals

2000: Yankees 4-1 over Mets

I guess, by this criteria:

2002: Angels 4-3 over Giants

--

If there are any flaws here, please post them. I did this entirely from memory.

The Reds and A's played in two World Series 18 years apart (1972, 1990)

[pianoknight]

During the Packers-Giants game a last night, we wound up talking about how the Giants are the Packers biggest rivals right now... even more than anyone in the NFC North including the Bears.

It got me to thinking about true rivalries between teams in different divisions. The Packers and Giants has to be amongst the greatest, because there's at least three distinctive eras where the two teams have fought each other either directly or indirectly (i.e. playoffs, high-stakes late season matchups, etc.) over championships. It also helps that the Giants are still owned by the Mara family, and the Packers are still owned by shareholders; and that arguably the most famous figure in the rivalry, Vince Lombardi, has connections to both sides. But I'm sure there's cases to be made for others (Lakers vs. Celtics immediately comes to mind).

I know that things tend to veer off-topic around post number 6 or 7, but let's try to keep this limited to teams that have AT LEAST two distinctive eras where they could be considered rivals. College rivalries are welcome for discussion too, but only if the teams were in different conferences for at least most of their existence (i.e. Texas-Oklahoma could apply here, but Texas-Texas A&M would not).

Serious question. Did you actually read the first post... AT ALL?

Missed the last snippet about colleges in different conferences for most of their existence.

Also, way to be a world-class asshat about it.

[FiddySicks]

It's not been a big one recently, but when I think of NFL rivalries, none comes to mind quicker than Cowboys 49ers.

[STL FANATIC]

Illinois-Mizzou is a really good college border war (they go with Braggin' Rights) rivalry.

The basketball series has going on for a very long time (once alternating at the homes, and now in St. Louis for many, many years), and it's basically always a fantastic game regardless of whether either team is up or down. Unless one team is way down, the arena is basically full and split 50/50, and very loud. And when both teams are pretty good or better (shaping up nicely for this year), it's as good of a game as you'll see despite not having nationwide hype.

The football series has been on/off (and is currently off). Mizzou dominates the results, but those games were typically pretty good and fun too.

[OnWis97]

As mentioned, tons in college (ND/USC...ND and a bunch, actually...Iowa/Iowa State, military academies, etc.).

Not a lot of truly sustained ones in the pros. In the mid-1990s, when the Packers were trying to get to the next level, it seems like they just could not get by Dallas. In Wisconsin (where I was a student), the Cowboy hate was pretty big. From the Packer fan's perspective, it was a rivalry. But I cannot think of a "second" era for this one, so it does not really fit.

I don't quite buy into Yankees/Mets, Sox/Cubs, etc. It's easy to sell seats for these games (even for Brewers/Twins), but if anything, I think the 6 games per year has watered down rivalries that were pretty contrived in the first place. There is some juice from a fan's perspective, I guess, but I don't think it's a big deal to the players.

[STL FANATIC]

Another one... Cardinals-Giants, maybe.

They were quite the rivals in the 80s, and they're both storied National League franchises.

The rivalry was hot for one year again in 2002, but I'm not sure if that counts.

Regardless, I could see a situation where the rivalry builds again (starting with this past season) if the teams continue their playoff success and meet a few more times. The Holliday slide seems to be water under the bridge (as it should be), but moments like that help build a rivalry.

Then again, neither team has been particularly dominant the past three years, they've just won when it counts. So it's hard to say if they'll keep meeting in meaningful match-ups or not.

[DarkJourney]

49ers-Giants playoff rivalry. They have met 8 times since 1981. Played 3 years in row from 1984-86.

[chuckymack]

Bengals/49ers (met in two Super Bowls)

Raiders/49ers

Steelers/Eagles

Ravens/Redskins

Dolphins/Buccaneers

Jaguars/Panthers ('95 expansion teams)

Texans/Cowboys

Patriots/Giants (met in two Super Bowls)

Bills/Giants

Jaguars/Buccaneers

[Kramerica Industries]

I guess Colts/Patriots isn't a great one by the criteria here since they were division rivals from 1970 until 2001, but I find it amazing to believe that next season will only be the 2nd season since the Merger (and first season since 2002) that they will not play each other in the regular season.

[jgiff17]

If they ever expand rosters so the texans could play cowboy maybe every two years then that would be even a bigger rivalry outside of both teams division ESP of the texans stay competitive.

[AndrewPF]

NHL: Bruins-Rangers/Canadiens-Rangers/Maple Leafs-Red Wings

I don't think this is even much of a rivalry at all. At least not anymore, not from the perspective of Bruins fans anyway. Our inter-division hatred mostly ends up directed at Philadelphia and Vancouver.

[NJTank]

1996-2003 Red Wings-Avalanche