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In sports, the term "wild card" refers to a team that qualifies for that sporting league's (association, etc.) playoffs that is one of several high-achieving teams that did not obtain the best win-loss record in their specific subdivision (usually called a conference or division) of that sport's league. The number of wild card teams varies depending on the rules of the particular sport's league. In most cases, the rules of the league call for the wild card team to be intentionally placed at an inherent disadvantage before the start of the playoff tournament, either by having to survive an extra round and/or being made to play the majority of their potential postseason games on the road.

In Major League Baseball, for example, the wild card team must surrender the home field advantage in the Division Series ( ALDS and NLDS) and the League Championship Series ( ALCS and NLCS). Regardless, however, of how the League Champion team reaches the World Series, the home field advantage for the World Series has been determined beforehand (prior to 2003, on an alternating schedule; in 2003 and 2004 the home field advantage was determined by the winner of the All-Star Game). A controversy resulted in 1997 when the Florida MarlinsBaseball teams The Florida Marlins are a Major League Baseball team based in Miami, Florida. They are in the Eastern Division of the National League. Founded 1993 ( National League expansion) Home ballpark Pro Player Stadium Uniform colors Black, Gray, Aq, who won the National League pennant after qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card, had home-field advantage over the AL champion Cleveland IndiansBaseball teams The Cleveland Indians are a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of the American League. Founded 1901 (charter American League member) Formerly known as the Cleveland Blues ( 1901), Broncos o, who had won their division, in that year's World Series, which the Marlins won in seven games, winning the seventh and deciding game at home (this same scenario was repeated in 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co when the wild-card Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox is a Major League Baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts. They are in the American League East Division. Founded 1893, as the Toledo, Ohio franchise in the minor Western League. Moved to Boston when that league became the Americ had home-field advantage over the St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals was also the name of a National Football League team based in Saint Louis, Missouri, which moved and became the Phoenix Cardinals (now known as the Arizona Cardinals) in 1988. The St. Louis Cardinals are an American Major League Ba, a first-place team, and defeated the Cardinals in four games). Both of the teams that reached the 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom World Series were wild card teams: The Anaheim AngelsLos Angeles Angels redirects here. For the Pacific Coast League franchise of that name, see: Los Angeles Angels (PCL). The Anaheim Angels are a Major League Baseball team based in Anaheim, California. They are in the Western Division of the American Leagu from the AL and the San Francisco GiantsBaseball teams The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California. They are in the Western Division of the National League. Founded either 1879 or 1883. The Troy Haymakers (or sometimes Trojans) were expelled from from the NL. The Angels won the series in seven games. Indeed, wild-card teams won three consecutive World Series from 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom through 2004, as the 2003 champion, the Florida Marlins, was also a wild card.

The other three major team sports in the United States - football ( NFL), basketball ( NBA) and hockey ( NHL) also include wild-card teams in their playoff structures. In the NFL, each of the two conferences send two wild-card teams along with four division champions to its postseason, while in both the NBA and NHL five such teams join three division winners in both of the conferences into which the latter two leagues are divided. However, the term "wild card" itself is seldom actually used in NBA or NHL circles; instead, each playoff team is most commonly denoted by its seeding position within the conference - 1 through 8, as applicable.