The History of Comebacks in Postseason Baseball
3 min read
Teams that win the first two games in a best-of-seven postseason series have historically had the advantage, with those clubs prevailing in 75 out of 89 instances. However, there have been 14 instances where a team has overcome a 2-0 deficit and proved that no two-game lead is safe. In fact, one team even overcame a 3-0 deficit. Even though the odds may be against them, teams facing a 2-0 deficit should not lose hope.
One of the most memorable comebacks in MLB history occurred in the 2004 American League Championship Series (ALCS) when the Boston Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees. This was the first time in MLB history that a team had come back from being down 3-0 in a seven-game series. The Red Sox won Game 4 in dramatic fashion with a walk-off home run by David Ortiz in the 12th inning. They went on to win Games 5, 6, and 7, ultimately winning the ALCS and then the World Series.
In another notable comeback, the New York Yankees overcame a 2-0 deficit in the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees had been outscored 16-1 in the first two games but managed to turn things around. They won Games 3, 4, 5, and 6 to claim the World Series championship.
Of the 14 comebacks from a 2-0 deficit, 10 have occurred in the World Series, while four were in League Championship Series (two in the American League and two in the National League). Interestingly, 11 of these comebacks were accomplished by teams that did not have home-field advantage in the series. This makes sense, as these teams would have at least been heading home for three games while still down 2-0 in the series.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these remarkable comebacks:
The 2020 NLCS featured the Los Angeles Dodgers overcoming a 2-0 deficit against the Atlanta Braves. After a convincing victory in Game 3, the Dodgers faced elimination in Game 7 but managed to rally and advance to the World Series, where they eventually won their first championship since 1988.
The 2004 ALCS comeback by the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees is often regarded as one of the most impressive comebacks in MLB history. The Red Sox’s win after being down 3-0 was unprecedented and set the stage for their historic World Series victory.
In the 1996 World Series, the New York Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the Atlanta Braves to win the championship. This comeback marked the end of a long World Series drought for the Yankees.
The 1986 World Series saw the New York Mets overcome a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Red Sox. The series is infamous for the famous error by first baseman Bill Buckner in Game 6, which allowed the Mets to win in walk-off fashion. The Mets went on to win Game 7 and secure their second World Series title.
In the 1985 World Series, the Kansas City Royals overcame a 2-0 deficit against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Royals lost their home-field advantage after dropping Games 1 and 2 but managed to rally and win the championship.
These are just a few examples of the many incredible comebacks in postseason baseball history. They serve as a reminder that no lead is safe in the world of baseball, and anything is possible in the playoffs. Playoff baseball is known for its unpredictability and dramatic moments, and these comebacks only add to the excitement and legacy of the game.
