SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: TOP TEN WORLD SERIES UPSETS OF ALL-TIME RANKED

 

 10. MARLINS OVER INDIANS 1997

Established in 1993, the Marlins had finished below .500 in each of their previous four seasons. The Indians were making their second World Series appearance in a three-year span and seemed destined to breeze to a victory over the inexperienced Marlins. Florida was the first Wild Card team to win it all.

 

9. DIAMONDBACKS OVER YANKEES 2001

 This was one of the greatest New York teams in modern history. They had won four of the previous five World Series. In the wake of the World Trade Center attack, they also had a legion of fans on their side. The Diamondbacks had a talented roster full of seasoned veterans. But few expected them to take down the Yankees. Mariano Rivera’s infamous stumble in the finale left fans utterly stunned and gave Arizona its first professional championship in any of the four major sports.

 

8. ROYALS OVER CARDINALS 1985

 The Cardinals won 101 games in 1985. They had a batting champ (Willie McGee), a stolen base leader (Vince Coleman), and one of the most gifted defensive shortstops in history (Ozzie Smith). Kansas City had one of the worst team batting averages in the American League. They weren’t even expected to win their division let alone the World Series. But fate intervened when Coleman was injured during the NLCS in a freak accident. The Cards never fully recovered without him.

 

7. CARDINALS OVER TIGERS 2006

At 83-78, St. Louis had the worst regular season record of any championship team in history. Proving how improbable their World Series victory was, the Cardinals missed the playoffs in three of the next four seasons.

 

6. TWINS OVER CARDINALS 1987

The Twins had averaged 89 losses per year in the previous seven campaigns. They opened the season with 500-to-1 betting odds stacked against them. Their 29-52 record on the road during the regular season made a Series victory even more incredible.

 

5. PIRATES OVER YANKEES 1960

 Pittsburgh had not been to a World Series since 1927—the year they were swept by the “Murderer’s Row” Yankees. The Yankees had won eight pennants and six World Series in a ten-year span. They had Mantle, Maris, Berra, and Whitey Ford. In spite of their record-setting 55 runs, 91 hits, and .338 team batting average in the Series, the Bombers fell to the Pirates in seven games.

 

4. BRAVES OVER A’S 1914

  The Braves (who were stationed in Boston back then) got off to a 10-22 start yet somehow managed to turn their season around. The outcome of the Series was so shocking that sportswriters referred to the victors as “The Miracle Braves.” A’s manager Connie Mack, who had guided his club to three World Series titles in a four-year span, was so disgruntled by the outcome that he traded off most of his best players. The result was seven consecutive last place finishes. 

 

3. DODGERS OVER YANKEES 1955

 The Dodgers had five Hall of Famers in their lineup (Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, and Gil Hodges). But their opponents were the mighty Yankees—the winningest franchise in baseball history. The Dodgers had been to the World Series on seven occasions prior to 1955 and lost each time. This included five October defeats at the hands of their cross-town rivals.

 

2. METS OVER ORIOLES 1969

The Mets had never finished above-.500 prior to 1969. They had dropped at least 100 games five times, including an NL record 120 losses in their inaugural campaign (1962). The Orioles were a powerhouse club with four Hall of Famers in residence (including manager Earl Weaver). Their 109 wins in '69 are still a franchise record.

 

1. WHITE SOX OVER CUBS 1906

  There is no way the White Sox should have won this Series. Their .230 team batting average was the worst for any pennant-winning squad of the 20^th century, earning them the nickname: “Hitless Wonders.” The Cubs entered the Series with 116 regular season victories (a major league record that still stands). They carried a 23-game advantage over Chicago in the win column.

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: INTERESTING WORLD SERIES FACTS

 

1906:  (White Sox vs. Cubs)

This inter-league matchup generated such fervor in Chicago that Charles Martin—a city councilman and avid White Sox supporter—was arrested after brawling with an intoxicated Cubs fan.

 

1926: (Yankees vs. Cardinals)

Babe Ruth had a phenomenal Series for the Yankees, setting a new record with four homers. But he also blew it for New York in Game 7. With two away in the bottom of the ninth, he took it upon himself to attempt a steal of second base. He was thrown out by a wide margin, ending the series in favor of St. Louis.

 

1955: (Dodgers vs. Yankees)

The Dodgers’ win over the Yankees in ’55 was their first in six showdowns against New York. It was their last championship while stationed in Brooklyn. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have faced the Yankees five times in World Series play and won on three occasions. 

 

1969: (Mets vs. Orioles)

Prior to this championship season, the Mets had averaged 105 losses per year. They were so bad in the early days that manager Casey Stengel once complained: “The Mets have shown me more ways to lose than I even knew existed.”  

 

1985: (Royals vs. Cardinals)

In Game 6 of this Series, umpire Don Denkinger missed a critical call at first base that allowed the Royals to stage a game-winning rally. Incredibly, a pair of St. Louis disc jockeys gave out Denkinger’s phone number and address over the air. Denkinger was still receiving hate mail and death threats two years later.

 

1987: (Twins vs. Cardinals)

Noise levels generated by fans at the Metrodome in Minnesota ranged from 80 to 125 decibels during Game 2 of this Series. Putting this in perspective, eight hours of exposure to 90 decibel noise can cause permanent damage to your ears. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that workers not be exposed to decibel levels over 85 for an extended period of time. Game 2 lasted close to three hours.

 

2001: (Diamondbacks vs. Yankees)

This Series took place less than two months after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Though President George W. Bush was told by security officials that it would be safer to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 in Arizona, he felt it would be more appropriate to do it in New York before Game 3. Prior to the opening ceremony, bomb-sniffing dogs combed Yankee Stadium, snipers were placed in various locations, and vendors were vetted by federal agents. Bush wore a New York City fire department fleece with a bulletproof vest underneath. He fired a strike to home plate and got a rousing ovation.

 

2006: (Cardinals vs. Tigers)

TV ratings for this Series were the lowest ever for a Fall Classic at the time. It was one of the sloppiest Series ever played with both teams combining for 16 errors in seven games. St. Louis also had the worst regular season record of any pennant-winning club. Since 2006, seven other World Series have had lower TV ratings.   

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR

 

A few people have asked me why I chose to exclude a handful of World Series "upsets" from my latest book. The answer is simple: because some of these so-called "upsets" were not terribly surprising. The following October matchups did not make the cut: 

1931

St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics (4-3)

With three consecutive pennants to their credit and a six-game differential in the “win” column, the A’s were favored to beat the Cardinals, who were making their third World Series appearance in a four-year span. Few if any baseball pundits were taken off guard when the Red Birds, who carried five future Hall of Famers on their roster, gave Connie Mack’s crew more than they could handle.

 

1945

Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs (4-3)

With close to 200 players serving in the armed forces, the major league talent pool was seriously diluted. The Cubs—winners of 96 regular season games—were expected to beat the Tigers, who had squeaked into the postseason with 88 victories. Quality pitching was in short supply during the war years, but the Tigers had two of the best arms of the era with Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout in their rotation. They also got a shot in the arm when slugger Hank Greenberg returned from wartime duty in July. The end result was hardly shocking as the Cubs dropped their seventh consecutive World Series, extending a luckless streak that had begun with a loss to the A’s in 1910. 

 

1953

New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers (4-2)

The Dodgers had a distinct advantage in terms of regular season wins, having gathered 105 victories to New York’s 99. But the outcome of this Series was a no-brainer as the Yankees won it all for the fifth year in a row—a record that still stands. It was Brooklyn's fifth consecutive World Series loss to New York. 

 

1963

Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees (4-0)

The Yankees may have looked like the better team on paper. But Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were hobbled by injuries during the regular season. Likewise, Yogi Berra was nearing the end of his playing days. The Dodgers won fewer games that year, but they had Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale—both of whom were very much in their prime. They also had NL batting champ Tommy Davis along with baseball’s reigning stolen base king, Maury Wills. The only thing moderately shocking about this Series was the L.A. sweep. 

 

1966

Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-0)

Prior to their 1954 move from St. Louis to Baltimore, the Orioles (formerly known as the Browns) had established a losing reputation. The addition of four Hall of Famers (Brooks Robinson, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer) made them contenders at long last, but they still didn’t get the kind of respect they deserved. Although the defending world champion Dodgers were expected to win this Series, Don Drysdale was having an “off” year and the lineup was full of forgettable players. (How often do Wes Parker, Jim Lefebvre, and Lou Johnson surface in baseball discussion nowadays?) Though technically an upset, the writing was on the wall before the first pitch was thrown.  

 

1995

Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2)

The Indians had some heavy hitters in residence, leading the majors with 207 homers. But Atlanta’s so-called “Big Three” (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz) were well-equipped to shut down the Cleveland offense. The Indians won 100 games during the strike-shortened regular season and were favored to eliminate the Braves, who had gathered 90 victories of their own. The win differential was just about the only advantage the Indians held against an Atlanta squad that included six eventual Cooperstown inductees. (Fred McGriff, Chipper Jones, and Bobby Cox were all enshrined in addition to the “Big Three”)

 

1996

 New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves (4-2)

 The Yankees had been absent from the Fall Classic for more than a decade—one of the longest droughts in franchise history. Atlanta still had a slew of Hall of Famers on board. But the Braves had a storied history of choking in the postseason. And the teams had similar won-loss records. With a lineup featuring the likes of Derek Jeter, Wade Boggs, and Tim Raines, the Yankees were underdogs in name only.

2004

Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals (4-0)

The Cardinals won 105 games in 2004 and were making their first World Series appearance since the Whitey Herzog era. The Red Sox entered the postseason as a Wild Card team. With superstars David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, and Curt Schilling in the lineup, the BoSox took down the dreaded Yankees in one of the most dramatic ALCS comebacks in history. Having already accomplished an improbable task, was anybody really surprised when they rolled over the Cardinals in four games? If I were doing a book on upsets in the American League Championship Series, Boston's win over New York would probably rank No. 1. 

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: UNLIKELY WORLD SERIES HEROES (PART III)

 

TOMMY THEVENOW

(ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

Thevenow spent 15 seasons in the majors, never hitting a single ball beyond the outfield fence. All three of his lifetime homers (accumulated during a three-week span in 1926) were of the inside-the-park variety. In spite of his weak hitting, Thevenow became a regular in the St. Louis lineup on account of his stellar defense. In the Cardinals championship season of ’26, he led American League shortstops in putouts and assists. His modest .256 regular season batting average was not a reliable predictor of what lay ahead as he posted the highest mark among both World Series clubs at .417. Only two players (Babe Ruth and Billy Southworth) scored more runs. Plagued by injuries throughout his career, Thevenow played for the Phillies, Pirates, Bees, and Reds before falling from the major league ranks for good in the late-1930s.

 

TIM LAUDNER

(MINNESOTA TWINS)

 Laudner struggled with a bat throughout his major league career. Although he had moderate power, he struck out fairly often while averaging just one walk per every 12 plate appearances. He launched a career-best 16 homers during the Twins’ championship year of 1987, but failed to crack the .200 mark during the regular season. Entering the World Series against the heavily-favored Cardinals, Laudner was among the least likely candidates for a breakout performance. Defying the odds, the free-swinging catcher showed uncharacteristic discipline at the plate, hitting .318 with 5 walks. His four runs scored and four RBIs helped Minnesota to an unlikely Series victory.  

 

DAVID ECKSTEIN

(ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

At 5-foot-6, Eckstein was one of the smallest players in the majors. He carried the nickname of “Just Enough,” gaining acclaim for his energy and enthusiasm. Serving as the Cardinals’ leadoff man in 2006, he hit at a respectable .292 clip, earning his second (and final) All-Star selection. His performance in the World Series that year was next-level as he tied with teammate Scott Rolen in hits and doubles. Only Albert Pujols drove in more runs. Eckstein’s .364 batting average earned him Series MVP honors. It was the second championship of his career (the first one coming with the Angels in 2002). Eckstein retired after the 2010 campaign with a lifetime .333 batting mark in World Series play—more than 50 points above his lifetime regular season average.    

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: UNLIKELY WORLD SERIES HEROES (PART II)

 

HANK GOWDY

(BOSTON BRAVES)

Tall and lean at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Gowdy was once referred to as a “fair-haired skyscraper.” Originally property of the Giants, he came to Boston in a 1911 trade involving two other players. 1914 was Gowdy’s first season as a full-time catcher. The Braves got off to a rocky start, but Gowdy helped turn things around, leading major league backstops in extra-base hits. He faced three of the best pitchers of the era in the Fall Classic that year—Charles Bender, Eddie Plank, and Bullet Joe Bush. Rising to the challenge, Gowdy gathered a cumulative total of six hits and five walks, guiding the so-called “Miracle Braves” to a sweep of the powerful A’s, who had won three of the previous four World Series. Sportswriters began referring to Gowdy as “Hammerin’ Hank,” but as the Braves gradually sank in the standings, Gowdy faded into relative obscurity. His critical error for the Giants in the 1924 Fall Classic made him a Series “goat.”

 

DANNY BAUTISTA

(ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS)

Bautista was no stranger to postseason play. He came up through the Tigers farm system and wound up being traded to the Braves in 1996. Serving as a utility outfielder, he made sporadic appearances in the ’97 and ’98 playoffs. Acquired by the Marlines in 1999 and the Diamondbacks the following year, Bautista became a regular in the Arizona outfield during the 2001 slate. Prior to then, he had never appeared in 100 games for any team in a single season. The Diamondbacks clinched the pennant in spite of Bautista’s abysmal 1-for-10 showing at the plate in the Division Series and League Championship Series. Bautista caught fire against the Yankees in the Fall Classic, tying for the team lead in RBIs despite sitting out two of the seven games. He ended up with a .583 batting average as Arizona stunned New York. 

 

DAVID FREESE

(ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

A late arrival to the majors, Freese was 27 years-old in his rookie season with the Cardinals. The St. Louis lineup was stocked with stars and Freese became part of a third base platoon that included veteran slugger Pedro Feliz. In 2011, Freese shared hot corner responsibilities with rookie Daniel Descalso. Freese was more adept with a bat and became St. Louis’s primary third-sacker in the 2011 playoffs. After capturing MVP honors in the NLCS against Milwaukee, he led the underdog Cardinals to a World Series victory over the Rangers, raking Texas pitching for 5 extra-base hits and 7 RBIs. He hit a walk-off homer in the sixth match and a game-tying double in the finale. His performance earned him another MVP award. He finished the 2011 postseason with 5 homers and 21 ribbies in 18 games. Freese returned to the World Series with the Dodgers in 2018, but was unable to recapture the magic that had put him on the map. He retired after the 2019 slate.

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: UNLIKELY WORLD SERIES HEROES (PART I)

 

MICKEY HATCHER

(L.A. DODGERS)

Hatcher was a versatile utility man who appeared at several defensive stations over the course of his 12-year career. He even took the mound once in a blowout loss against the Cardinals in 1989. Known more for his enthusiasm and hustle, Hatcher had little power at the plate and rarely walked. But his performance in the 1988 World Series helped carry the underdog Dodgers to a surprising victory over the A’s. Hatcher hit safely in all five games, leading both teams in homers and RBIs. Prior to the Series, he had knocked just one homer in his previous 118 appearances. Hatcher had another respectable season in ’89, but when his batting average dipped to .212 the following year, he disappeared from the majors. 

 

 HARVEY HADDIX

(PITTSBURGH PIRATES)

A product of the Cardinals’ farm system, Haddix won 20 games during his rookie year and never duplicated the feat. He is best known for tossing 12 perfect innings against the Braves in a game he ultimately lost during the 1959 campaign. A bit on the small side at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, Haddix—by his own admission—lacked stamina in comparison to other pitchers of the era. “I’ve been a seven-inning pitcher at times because I’m a little man and have to work harder out there than some fellows,” he once said. The diminutive southpaw won 11 games for the pennant-winning Pirates in 1960 while posting a mediocre 3.97 ERA. He was much better in the World Series that year, winning his only start and picking up another victory out of the bullpen in Game 7. The Pirates' win over the Yankees came as a shock to many--especially slugger Mickey Mantle, who remarked sourly: "The better team lost...the only time I ever felt that way. It wasn't even close." 

 

DUSTY RHODES

(NEW YORK GIANTS)

Rhodes’s poor defense kept him on the bench for a majority of his seven-year major league career. But he was immensely popular with teammates. Describing his persona, Hall of Fame manager Leo Durocher once asserted: “He was a buffoon, and I say this affectionately. I loved him on my ball club because of his personality and the funny things he did that kept everybody loose. But I couldn’t have stood two of him.” After compiling a pedestrian .242 batting average in his first two seasons, Rhodes had a breakout year during New York’s pennant-winning effort of 1954. He was unstoppable in the World Series, delivering clutch hits in each of his three appearances. When the curtain closed on the Giants’ improbable sweep of the Indians (winners of 111 games during the regular season), Rhodes had slammed a pair of homers and driven in seven runs in six at-bats. 

SHOCKTOBER PREVIEW: PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN WORLD SERIES HISTORY (PART III)

 

1926 WORLD SERIES

YANKEES vs. CARDINALS

GAME 7

 

Prior to 1926, the Cardinals had been absent from championship play for more than three decades. Although they had four Hall of Famers in residence at the start of the season, their victory over the Yankees (who were stocked with franchise greats from top to bottom) would have been highly improbable without the services of fading superstar Grover “Pete” Alexander. Alexander had captured three consecutive Triple Crowns with the Phillies beginning in 1915. But chronic alcohol issues prompted Cubs’ manager Joe McCarthy to place the hurler on waivers in June of 1926. Believing he was worth the risk, the Cardinals added him to their roster. It proved to be a smart move as the 39 year-old veteran won nine games down the stretch and stymied the Yankees in the World Series. 

 

After beating New York in both of his starts, Alexander was called upon to extinguish a seventh inning Yankee rally in Game 7. The Bombers had loaded the bases against Hall of Famer Jesse Haines, who had developed a blister on his pitching hand and could not continue. Rumors abounded that Alexander was still intoxicated from an all-night bender, but the hurler vehemently denied those claims in later interviews. With two outs and the count at 1-1, Tony Lazzeri blasted a long drive down the left field line. Had it stayed fair, it would have given the Yankees a 6-3 lead. But it hooked just foul at the last second, saving Alexander from being labeled a Series “goat.” Lazzeri struck out and “Old Pete” followed with two innings of shutout ball, sealing a 3-2 Series-clinching victory for the Cardinals. There was no Series MVP Award in those days, but Alexander would have been a front-runner.