World Series question

The Game Room
1

I’m currently watching the second game of the World Series. The Royals are leading, in the bottom of the eighth. Assuming they win, the series would stand at 2-0 Royals.

How many teams have LOST the first two games, and gone on to win the Series?

The Royals, did it in 1985, and I was told they are the only team in baseball to win the Series after losing the first two at home. So others must have lost the first two away, as the Mets are doing, but still won the Series.

There must be a baseball fan Doper who has the answer.

2

look through all the records and report back with your findings

3

Uh… 1981 Dodgers… 1971 Pirates…

4

Mets in '86 and Yankees in '96 also lost the first two games at home before winning the Series.

5

Right. Three teams have won the World Series after losing the first two at home.

1985 Royals
1986 Mets
1996 Yankees

6

11 teams have lost the first two games and gone on to win the series.

1921 New York Giants over the New York Yankees, 5-3.
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers over the New York Yankees, 4-3.
1956 New York Yankees over the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3.
1958 New York Yankees over the Milwaukee Braves, 4-3.
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers over the Minnesota Twins, 4-3.
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates over the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3.
1978 New York Yankees over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2.
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Yankees, 4-2.
1985 Kansas City Royals over the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3.
1986 New York Mets over the Boston Red Sox, 4-3.
1996 New York Yankees over the Atlanta Braves, 4-2.

7

96! How did I forget! I watched those. Andruw Jones home runs in first 2 AB.

8

Thank you all for the information. I was misinformed about the Royals being the only two to win the Series after losing the first two at home.

So the Royals can’t relax, just because it’s 2-0

9

Ah, the ol’ best out of 9 series.

10

The Royals were the FIRST, which might’ve been the source of confusion. Or your source’s source.

In addition to all those World Series examples there are many examples of teams in previous series losing the first two games and coming back to win - the 1985 Royals being one, as they lost the first two games of the ALCS against Toronto (not at home, though) and came back to win. If I am not mistaken the 1985 Royals are the only team to fall behind 3-1 twice in a postseason and win both times. And speaking of Toronto, they fell behind 2-0 in a five game playoff series just this year, and came back to win. That’s happened many other times too.

2-0 is a big advantage but it’s not a lock. For that matter 3-0 isn’t a lock (2004 ALCS.)