Baseball is all about stories. The game is beautiful, tactical, and intense, but more than any other professional sport in world history, baseball fans crave more storylines and drama. Babe Ruth was a legend because of his larger-than-life personality. Josh Hamilton is a hero because of the drug addiction he overcame to become one of baseball’s best sluggers.

In the playoffs, this sense of added drama is even more heightened. Stories of redemption, persistence, and (sometimes) sheer dominance demand to be told. Given the level of coverage the postseason receives in our modern media-crazed world, those stories will find their way into the headlines and television segments to which we will all pay more attention as the World Series draws near. Here are five of the best ones you can expect to see.

Begin Slideshow