# Obscure baseball questions **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 27, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288 "2016-04-27T23:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/1 "2016-04-27T23:33:08Z")
1. How many MLB teams have made it to the World Series after falling at least 10 games out of first in their division? 2. What is the most games out of first overcome by a team that reached the World Series? (No doubt there’s some online source for this.) ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/2 "2016-04-27T23:40:32Z")
1. 1951 Giants? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/3 "2016-04-27T23:47:24Z")
[1914 Boston Braves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Boston_Braves_season) 20-46 in early July. Went 70-19 over the last 89 games to take the pennant by 10.5 games. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/4 "2016-04-28T00:32:40Z")
In addition to the two above, which were down by 13 and 15 games respectively, here’s some more: 1930 StL Cardinals (12 out) 1942 StL Cardinals (10) 1935 Chicago Cubs (10.5) 1964 StL Cardinals (11) 1969 NY Mets (10) 1978 NY Yankees (14) ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/5 "2016-04-28T07:03:48Z")
Not EXACTLY what you are looking for but some possible candidates or at the very neat, honorable mentions: > **[Top 10 Greatest Second-Half Comebacks In Baseball History (Photos)](https://nesn.com/2014/07/top-10-greatest-second-half-comebacks-in-baseball-history-photos/)** > > The All-Star break is over, and that means it’s the start of the second half of the baseball season. It’s now the time of year where the real contenders shine and the pretenders fade back in the standings. For teams on the verge of a playoff... ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/6 "2016-04-28T15:07:13Z")
If you’re wondering the Braves, already 10.5 games back, have a chance to make the playoffs this year, the answer is no. They do not. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/7 "2016-04-28T16:01:17Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Not EXACTLY what you are looking for but some possible candidates or at the very neat, honorable mentions: > > [http://nesn.com/2014/07/top-10-greatest-second-half-comebacks-in-baseball-history-photos/](http://nesn.com/2014/07/top-10-greatest-second-half-comebacks-in-baseball-history-photos/) All of those examples are either already listed above, or the team didn’t make it to the Series. There are a number of other examples of teams overcoming a deficit of 10 or more games to take a division, but then losing in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/8 "2016-04-28T16:05:06Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > If you’re wondering the Braves, already 10.5 games back, have a chance to make the playoffs this year, the answer is no. They do not. They look like the worst team in MLB by a mile, but everyone has a Lloyd Christmas chance. If you gave me a thousand to one I’d cheerily put some money on them to at least get a wild card. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/9 "2016-04-28T19:31:06Z")
Dude, the Braves have hit 4 home runs. As a team! The MLB team average is 22. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/10 "2016-04-28T20:24:53Z")
The 1973 Mets were 12 1/2 games back on July 8. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-baseball-questions/753288/11 "2016-04-29T05:52:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > All of those examples are either already listed above, or the team didn’t make it to the Series. > > There are a number of other examples of teams overcoming a deficit of 10 or more games to take a division, but then losing in the playoffs. Right. Hence: _ **“Not EXACTLY what you are looking for . . .”** _