Major League Baseball announced the allotment of 2022 postseason shares, with the total pool the largest in history at $107.5 million. The amount is up from nearly $90.5 million last year and approximately $50 million in 2020.
This year’s increase stemmed from the new Wild Card Series, which allowed two additional teams to advance to the playoffs. The Wild Card Series replaced the win-or-go-home Wild Card Game that served as the opening round of the postseason from 2012-19 and 2021.
The players’ pool is formed from 50% of the gate receipts from Wild Card Games, 60% of gate receipts from the first three games of the Division Series, 60% of receipts from the first four games of the League Championship Series, and 60% of gate receipts from the first four games of the World Series.
The pool was divided among the 12 postseason teams: the World Series winner (36%), the World Series runner-up (24%), the two League Championship Series runners-up (12% each), the four Division Series runners-up (3.25% each) and the four runners-up in the Wild Card Series (0.75% each).
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who, according to The Sports Geek were 2:1 favorites to advance in the playoffs, were upset by the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series. That series loss generated $3,494,102 in the players’ pool. They issued 82 full shares, 13.24 partial shares, and $51,501 in cash awards. The total value of a share was $36,148.
The Houston Astros’ second World Series title netted a record $516,347 per share (59 full shares and 14.14 partial shares, plus $940,000 in cash awards). The NL champion Philadelphia Phillies issued 72 full shares worth $296,255 each, plus 15.03 partial shares and $20,000 in cash awards.
Breakdown of 2022 MLB Postseason Shares
Houston Astros: $516,347 (59 full shares)
Philadelphia Phillies: $296,255 (72)
San Diego Padres: $152,709 (70)
New York Yankees: $145,820 (72)
Cleveland Guardians: $45,795 (60)
Atlanta Braves: $44,878 (60)
Seattle Mariners: $42,221 (69)
Los Angeles Dodgers: $36,148 (82)
St. Louis Cardinals: $10,351 (63)
Toronto Blue Jays: $10,007 (68)
New York Mets: $9,480 (68)
Tampa Bay Rays: $8,387 (79)
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