World Series experience breakdown

Experience is invaluable. That is as true in the game of life as it is in the game of baseball. The October stage can be intimidating for first-timers, so those who have tasted the World Series sometimes have a distinct advantage.

As this year's Fall Classic nears, it is a fitting time to examine which of the final four postseason participants boast the most World Series experience. Between the American League's Yankees and Angels and the National League's Phillies and Dodgers, it is the Bronx Bombers who have collectively sipped the most champagne.

With a group of players still in pinstripes from the New York teams that claimed four Series crowns between 1996-2000, the Yankees have the most experience in terms of games played. That being said, New York hasn't been to the Classic since 2003 and has not won it all since 2000.

The Phillies -- with 17 players who have played in a World Series -- are in a position to become the first team to win consecutive crowns since the Yankees won three in a row, beginning in 1998. But Philadelphia's opponent has a valuable asset in manager Joe Torre, who guided New York to its last four Series titles.

The Dodgers have a wealth of experience as well, even though they have not claimed baseball's top prize since 1988. That year, they had a catcher named Mike Scioscia, who now manages the Angels. Scioscia led the Halos to a World Series title in 2002, but few players from that championship team remain on the Angels' roster.

Here is a look at a team-by-team breakdown of players' World Series experience:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Los Angeles Angels

Brian Fuentes
• 2007 with Rockies: 9.82 ERA in three games
Scott Kazmir
• 2008 with Rays: 0-1, 4.50 ERA in two starts
John Lackey
• 2002 with Angels: 1-0, 4.38 ERA in three games (two starts)
Chone Figgins
• 2002 with Angels: one run scored in two games
Juan Rivera
• 2003 with Yankees: .167 with one RBI in four games

New York Yankees

Damaso Marte
• 2005 with White Sox: 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one game
Jose Molina
• 2002 with Angels: one sac bunt in three games
Johnny Damon
• 2004 with Red Sox: .286, one homer, two RBIs in four games
Hideki Matsui
• 2003 with Yankees: .261, one homer, four RBIs in six games
Eric Hinske
• .333, one homer, one RBI in three games over two World Series
• 2007 with Red Sox: one strikeout in one game
• 2008 with Rays: .500, one homer, one RBI in two games
Andy Pettitte
• 3-4, 3.82 ERA in 11 starts over seven World Series
• 1996 with Yankees: 1-1, 5.91 ERA in two starts
• 1998 with Yankees: 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one start
• 1999 with Yankees: 0-0, 12.27 ERA in one start
• 2000 with Yankees: 0-0, 1.98 ERA in two starts
• 2001 with Yankees: 0-2, 10.00 ERA in two starts
• 2003 with Yankees: 1-1, 0.57 ERA in two starts
• 2005 with Astros: 0-0, 3.00 ERA in one starts
Mariano Rivera
• 2-1, 1.16 ERA, nine saves in 20 games over six World Series
• 1996 with Yankees: 1.59 ERA in four games
• 1998 with Yankees: 0.00 ERA, three saves in three games
• 1999 with Yankees: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, two saves in three games
• 2000 with Yankees: 3.00 ERA, two saves in four games
• 2001 with Yankees: 1-1, 1.42 ERA, one save in four games
• 2003 with Yankees: 0.00 ERA, one save in two games
Jorge Posada
• .208, two homers, six RBIs in 23 games over five Worlds Series
• 1998 with Yankees: .333, one homer, two RBIs in three games
• 1999 with Yankees: .250, one RBI in two games
• 2000 with Yankees: .222, one RBI in five games
• 2001 with Yankees: .174, one homer, one RBI in seven games
• 2003 with Yankees: .158, one RBI in six games
Derek Jeter
• .302, three homers, eight RBIs in 32 games over six World Series
• 1996 with Yankees: .250, one RBI in six games
• 1998 with Yankees: .353, one RBI in four games
• 1999 with Yankees: .353, one RBI in four games
• 2000 with Yankees: .409, two homers, two RBIs in five games
• 2001 with Yankees: .148, one homer, one RBI in seven games
• 2003 with Yankees: .346, two RBIs in six games

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon Garland
• 2005 with White Sox: 2.57 ERA in one start
Brad Ausmus
• 2005 with Astros: .250 in four games
Ronnie Belliard
• 2006 with Cardinals: 0-for-12 in three games
Juan Pierre
• 2003 with Marlins: .333, three RBIs in six games
Manny Ramirez
• .247, four homers, 14 RBIs in 21 games over four World Series
• 1995 with Indians: .222, one homer, two RBIs in six games
• 1997 with Indians: .154, two homers, six RBIs in seven games
• 2004 with Red Sox: .412, one homer, four RBIs in four games
• 2007 with Red Sox: .250, two RBIs in four games
Jim Thome
• .255, three homers, six RBIs in 13 games over two World Series
• 1995 with Indians: .211, one homer, two RBIs in six games
• 1997 with Indians: .286, two homers, four RBIs in seven games
Jeff Weaver
• 1-2, 3.21 ERA in three games (two starts) over two World Series
• 2003 with Yankees: 0-1, 9.00 ERA in one game
• 2006 with Cardinals: 1-1, 2.77 ERA in two starts

Philadelphia Phillies

Joe Blanton
• 2008 with Phillies: 1-0, 3.00 ERA in one start
Chad Durbin
• 2008 with Phillies: 0.00 ERA in two games
Cole Hamels
• 2008 with Phillies: 1-0, 2.77 ERA in two starts
Ryan Madson
• 2008 with Phillies: 1-0, 3.38 ERA in three games
Brett Myers
• 2008 with Phillies: 0-1, 3.86 ERA in one game
Carlos Ruiz
• 2008 with Phillies: .375, one homer, three RBIs in five games
Greg Dobbs
• 2008 with Phillies: 0-for-3 in three games
Ryan Howard
• 2008 with Phillies: .286, three homers, six RBIs in five games
Jimmy Rollins
• 2008 with Phillies: .227 in five games
Chase Utley
• 2008 with Phillies: .167, two homers, four RBIs in five games
Shane Victorino
• 2008 with Phillies: .250, two RBIs in five games
Matt Stairs
• 2008 with Phillies: 0-for-1 in one game
Jayson Werth
• 2008 with Phillies: .444, one homer, three RBIs in five games
Pedro Martinez
• 2004 Red Sox: 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one start
Brad Lidge
• 0-2, 3.18 ERA, two saves in five games over two World Series
• 2005 with Astros: 0-2, 4.91 ERA in three games
• 2008 with Phillies: 0.00 ERA, two saves in two games
Scott Eyre
• 0.00 ERA in five games over two World Series
• 2002 with Giants: 0.00 ERA in three games
• 2008 with Phillies: 0.00 ERA in two games
Pedro Feliz
• .261, two RBIs in eight games over two World Series
• 2002 with Giants: 0-for-5 in three games
• 2008 with Phillies: .333, two RBIs in five games