Greatest World Series Comebacks
Five Teams in History Have Rallied from a 3 Games to 1 Deficit
Nov 3, 2009
The 2009 Philadelphia Phillies are trying to do what few teams have done in World Series history: win the World Series after being down three games to one. The team took the first step with an 8-6 win in Game 5, and look to complete the comeback with two more wins in Yankee Stadium. It won't be easy, but there is a precedent for such a comeback. In fact, five teams have done it.
1925 Pittsburgh Pirates
Believe it or not, Washington D.C. once had a great baseball team. The 1924 Senators, who were led by future Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, won the World Series over the New York Giants in seven games.
The Senators made it back to the Series in 1925. When they took a 3 games to 1 lead, a repeat championship seemed a fait accompli. But the Pirates came back in Game 5, and also won Game 6.
Johnson started Game 7 for the Senators. He struggled all game and in the bottom of the eighth inning, he surrendered three runs to put the Senators ahead 9-7. Pirates reliever Red Oldham set the Senators down in order in the ninth inning to clinch the Series for Pittsburgh.
Future Hall of Famer Pie Traynor batted .346 in the series with four RBIs to help the Pirates become the first team to win a series after trailing 3 games to 1.
1958 New York Yankees
The 1957 Milwaukee Braves, a team led by Hank Aaron, Eddie Matthews and a brilliant pitching staff headed by Warren Spahn and and Lew Burdette, beat the New York Yankees in a seven game World Series.
Looking to duplicate that feat in 1958, the Braves jumped out to a 3 games to 1 lead. Things looked dim for the Yankees. But in Game 5, Yankees starter Bob Turley shut out the Braves 7-0.
Game 6 was in Milwaukee and matched Warren Spahn against Whitey Ford. After 9 innings, the score was tied 2-2. But in the top of the 10th inning, Spahn surrendered two runs, and the Yankees took a 4-2 lead. The Yankees held the Braves scoreless in the bottom of the inning to get the win and even the World Series. Interestingly, Turley pitched the last out of the game to earn a save.
Don Larsen took the hill for the Yankees in Game 7, but was pulled from the game after 2 1/3 innings despite giving up only one run. He was replaced by Turley, who was now making his third appearance in four games. Once again, he was brilliant, pitching 6 2/3 innings and giving up only one run. The Yankees won the game and the World Series.
1968 Detroit Tigers
The Cardinals were the defending champion, and for the first four games, they looked as if they were going to repeat. Bob Gibson shut out the Tigers in Game 1 and struck out a record 17 hitters. Gibson also held Detroit in check in Game 4, surrendering only one run, and the Cardinals had a three games to one lead.
Mickey Lolich came to the rescue in Game 5. Although he gave up three runs in the first inning, he held the Cardinals scoreless over the next eight innings, and the Tigers won 5-3.
Game 6 was a complete mismatch as the Tigers hammered the Cards 13-1. Denny McLain, who won 31 games in 1968, hurled a complete game for the victory.
Lolich returned to the hill for Game 7 on two days rest. The Cardinals started Gibson, who gave up only one hit over the first six innings. In the top of the seventh, however, the Tigers scored three runs. Detroit added another run in the top of the ninth, and Lolich walked to the mound needing just three outs with a 4-0 lead.
He got the first two outs, then surrendered a solo shot to Mike Shannon. A few minutes later, Cardinals catcher Tim McCarver popped up for the final out. The Tigers won the game 4-1, and took the Series 4 games to 3. Lolich, who won two games and had one save in a three day period, won the MVP award.
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates
The Orioles took three of the first four games to take a 3-1 lead, but the Pirates stuck together and rallied to beat the O's in the Series for the second time in the decade. The hero was 39-year old Willie Stargell, who homered in the 7th Game and won the MVP.
1985 Kansas City Royals
After falling behind 3 games to 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Royals won Game 5 in a blowout. But in Game 6, they trailed by a run entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kansas City’s Jorge Orta led off the inning with a groundball to first base. Jack Clark fielded the ball and threw to pitcher Todd Worrell who was covering first base. Umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe, but replays showed that he was clearly out. No matter. The Royals took the momentum and scored two runs to win the game and tie the World Series.
In Game 7, Bret Saberhagen pitched a complete game shutout as the Royals completed their comeback with an 11-0 blowout of St. Louis.
Now the Philadelphia Phillies will try to make their place in comeback history. They have the team to do it, but it won't be easy.
