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Amazin69 · 10-08-2022, 02:54 PM

Durocher (in Nice Guys Finish Last, his autobiography) claims he said that 1942 Brooklyn team was not going to win the pennant, when they had their big lead on the Cardinals. They had led by 10 games on August 5, but went 30-20 down the stretch (like the Mets, not bad, but not enough to keep pace with the scorching Cards) and finished two games back.

Largest leads ever blown:

1914 NY Giants, led by 15 games on July 5. (They were 40-24, the Boston Braves were 26-40. The Braves were last in an 8-team NL; the nearest team to the lead was the Cubs, 3.5 games back.) The Giants went 44-46 the rest of the year, while the Braves went 68-19, winning by 10.5 games. The 25.5 games gained is a record, AFAIK.

Some attributed the success of the "Miracle" Braves to the Native American luck symbol they wore on their caps on opening day.

Damn Germans ruined it for everyone…

1978 Red Sox, led by 14 games on July 19. (Sox were 62-28, Yanks 48-42. Yankees were fourth, Boston led Milwaukee by 9 games.) Boston went 37-35, Yankees went 51-21. Yanks won 1-game playoff.

1951 Dodgers, led by 13 games on August 11. (70-35, Giants were 59-50.). They went 26-23 while the Giants were going 37-8, and lost a 3-game playoff.

1995 Angels, led by 12.5 games on August 21. They were 66-41, Seattle was 53-53. (The Rangers were 9.5 behind California.). Complete flop, going[B] 12-25/B] while the Mariners went 25-13 to close the 144 game season, and then won a 1-game playoff.

(The Mariners actually took a 3 game lead in late September, but dropped 3 out of 5 while the Angels [much like the 1978 Red Sox] swept their final 5 to force the playoff. So the Angels actually went 7-25 down the stretch before salvaging a little pride.)

2022 Mets, led by 10.5 on June 1st. (Mets were 35-17, Braves were 24-27.) Mets went 66-44 the rest of the way, while Atlanta went 77-34 and won the division on…a tiebreak, Lorde help us.

1942 Dodgers, as noted above. 74-30 on August 5, Cards were 63-39. Dodgers go 30-20, Cards go 43-9, win by 2.

1969 Cubs, led by 10 games on August 14. (74-43, Mets were 62-51, in third place [Cardinals were 9 back]). They tanked completely, going 18-27 (worse than the Pirates and Cards, and 4 NL West teams, too) while the Mets went 38-11, winning by 8 games. Bill "Froggy" Hands went 4-3 in September, and Ferguson Jenkins was 3-4; the rest of the team was 1-10.

So, this year's Mets are not the worst of the worst, choke-wise; like the 1942 Dodgers, they played .600 ball from the high-water mark, which would usually be enough. And they had the best "hey, it's still early" excuse.

But still. Hell of a list to be on, FFS.

10-08-2022, 02:54 PM	#1696
Amazin69 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Palmetto Pride! Posts: 3,948 Infractions: 0/2 (2)	Durocher (in Nice Guys Finish Last, his autobiography) claims he said that 1942 Brooklyn team was not going to win the pennant, when they had their big lead on the Cardinals. They had led by 10 games on August 5, but went 30-20 down the stretch (like the Mets, not bad, but not enough to keep pace with the scorching Cards) and finished two games back. Largest leads ever blown: 1914 NY Giants, led by 15 games on July 5. (They were 40-24, the Boston Braves were 26-40. The Braves were last in an 8-team NL; the nearest team to the lead was the Cubs, 3.5 games back.) The Giants went 44-46 the rest of the year, while the Braves went 68-19, winning by 10.5 games. The 25.5 games gained is a record, AFAIK. Some attributed the success of the "Miracle" Braves to the Native American luck symbol they wore on their caps on opening day. Damn Germans ruined it for everyone… 1978 Red Sox, led by 14 games on July 19. (Sox were 62-28, Yanks 48-42. Yankees were fourth, Boston led Milwaukee by 9 games.) Boston went 37-35, Yankees went 51-21. Yanks won 1-game playoff. 1951 Dodgers, led by 13 games on August 11. (70-35, Giants were 59-50.). They went 26-23 while the Giants were going 37-8, and lost a 3-game playoff. 1995 Angels, led by 12.5 games on August 21. They were 66-41, Seattle was 53-53. (The Rangers were 9.5 behind California.). Complete flop, going[B] 12-25/B] while the Mariners went 25-13 to close the 144 game season, and then won a 1-game playoff. (The Mariners actually took a 3 game lead in late September, but dropped 3 out of 5 while the Angels [much like the 1978 Red Sox] swept their final 5 to force the playoff. So the Angels actually went 7-25 down the stretch before salvaging a little pride.) 2022 Mets, led by 10.5 on June 1st. (Mets were 35-17, Braves were 24-27.) Mets went 66-44 the rest of the way, while Atlanta went 77-34 and won the division on…a tiebreak, Lorde help us. 1942 Dodgers, as noted above. 74-30 on August 5, Cards were 63-39. Dodgers go 30-20, Cards go 43-9, win by 2. 1969 Cubs, led by 10 games on August 14. (74-43, Mets were 62-51, in third place [Cardinals were 9 back]). They tanked completely, going 18-27 (worse than the Pirates and Cards, and 4 NL West teams, too) while the Mets went 38-11, winning by 8 games. Bill "Froggy" Hands went 4-3 in September, and Ferguson Jenkins was 3-4; the rest of the team was 1-10. So, this year's Mets are not the worst of the worst, choke-wise; like the 1942 Dodgers, they played .600 ball from the high-water mark, which would usually be enough. And they had the best "hey, it's still early" excuse. But still. Hell of a list to be on, FFS. Last edited by Amazin69; 07-30-2024 at 12:23 AM.