Has there ever been a case where a team has won 100 games in a season, but failed to win its division? (Like the Oakland As this year.) I bet no 100 game winner has ever been 15 games back before!
Greg, check this site.
The 93 race is often cited as the last great pennant race.
The A’s are only the third team since 1969 to win 100 games and finish second. (Baltimore, 1980; San Francisco, 1993)
Prior to divisional play, it happened a few times, most notably in 1954 when the Yankees won 103 games but finished 8 behind Cleveland. The 1942 Dodgers won over 104 games and finished second behind St. Louis, who won 106.
The 1962 Dodgers won 102 and finished one behind the Giants who won 103 (there was a playoff).
And in the first decade of the 20th Century, the NL had three great teams (Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York) and bunch of bad ones. Chicago finished second in 1909 with 104 wins.
There are a few more instances also.
They did set one record - they’re the first team in Major League history to fall 10 games below .500 and come back to win 100.