The New York Yankees have only twice lost a best-of-seven Fall Classic when they were ahead after five games. Honourable mention goes to the 1921 New York Giants, who trailed 3-2 after five games, but won the next three games to win the best-of-eight, 5-3. Babe Ruth tasted World Series defeat for the first time as a Yankee. First time ever, for that matter.
But what about 3-2, loses the next two? Well, Ruth was there too, as was Lou Gehrig. The year was 1926, and the Yankees, who had finished an embarissing seventh (69-85) in 1925, were looking to win it all.
Ruth and co. were doing just that. At least through five games. The St. Louis Cardinals would not be denied in the end, however. The Babe had hit three home runs in game four to held New York tie the series. The Bronx Bombers took game five, 3-2, in extras. What could the Cardinals do?
What they did was win game six, right there in Yankee Stadium, 10-2. It was Grover Cleveland Alexander with the pitching and the whole Cardinal team with the offence. In game seven, it was a tight game, and Alexander would be needed again.
It was 3-2 St. Louis after six and a half. But leading off the bottom of the frame, it was Earl Coombs with a single for New York. A bunt moved him into scoring position. Ruth was walked intentionally. Bob Meusel grounded into a fielder's choice that erased Ruth at second. But Gehrig coaxed a walk from Jesse Haines. It was time for Alexander The Great!
And Pete came through! A majestic K of Tony Lazzeri (After Tony had fouled off some pitches) kept the Cards in front. St. Louis went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth, however. Three more outs to go and St. Louis had this one in the bag.
He got Combs and Mark Koenig on grounders. Ruth was next and Alexander had to be careful. He was a little to careful with the Bambino. Ruth made it to first via a walk. Meusel was at the dish, and Gehrig was next should he make it. However, for some reason, here was where Babe Ruth decided to take matters into his own hands. By trying to steal second. He was gunned out. The 1926 Fall Classic came to a sudden end.
In 2001, the Yankees were up against the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks. And up three games to two. Here's where Randy Johnson did some Grover Cleveland Alexander heroics of his own for the home team in game six and seven. He stopped the Bronx Bombers cold over seven innings. The D-Backs won the game, 15-2. He was there in relief in game seven.
It appeared to be too little, too late for Randy in game seven, however. The Diamondbacks were down 2-1 in the top of the eighth, when Johnson was summoned from the bullpen. He fanned Chuck Knoblauch to strand a runner. In the top of the ninth, he got 'em 1-2-3. But it was still 2-1, New York.
Mariano Rivera was on the hill for New York, to seal the deal. But it was Mark Grace getting it all started with a single. Next, an error on a sac bunt attempt put the D-Backs in serious business. And the Yankees, in serious trouble.
Jay Bell batted for Johnson, tried to bunt, and failed as New York got the force at third. Tony Womack hit a double, but that just tied the game as Bell only made it to third. With first base open, Craig Counsell was hit by a Rivera pitch. It was up to Luis Gonzalez. On an 0-1 pitch, he stroked a single to centre to score Bell! The mighty Yankees had lost!
And lost after having a 3-2 series lead. It happens, even to the Yankees. But not very often!
References
Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
But what about 3-2, loses the next two? Well, Ruth was there too, as was Lou Gehrig. The year was 1926, and the Yankees, who had finished an embarissing seventh (69-85) in 1925, were looking to win it all.
Ruth and co. were doing just that. At least through five games. The St. Louis Cardinals would not be denied in the end, however. The Babe had hit three home runs in game four to held New York tie the series. The Bronx Bombers took game five, 3-2, in extras. What could the Cardinals do?
What they did was win game six, right there in Yankee Stadium, 10-2. It was Grover Cleveland Alexander with the pitching and the whole Cardinal team with the offence. In game seven, it was a tight game, and Alexander would be needed again.
It was 3-2 St. Louis after six and a half. But leading off the bottom of the frame, it was Earl Coombs with a single for New York. A bunt moved him into scoring position. Ruth was walked intentionally. Bob Meusel grounded into a fielder's choice that erased Ruth at second. But Gehrig coaxed a walk from Jesse Haines. It was time for Alexander The Great!
And Pete came through! A majestic K of Tony Lazzeri (After Tony had fouled off some pitches) kept the Cards in front. St. Louis went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth, however. Three more outs to go and St. Louis had this one in the bag.
He got Combs and Mark Koenig on grounders. Ruth was next and Alexander had to be careful. He was a little to careful with the Bambino. Ruth made it to first via a walk. Meusel was at the dish, and Gehrig was next should he make it. However, for some reason, here was where Babe Ruth decided to take matters into his own hands. By trying to steal second. He was gunned out. The 1926 Fall Classic came to a sudden end.
In 2001, the Yankees were up against the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks. And up three games to two. Here's where Randy Johnson did some Grover Cleveland Alexander heroics of his own for the home team in game six and seven. He stopped the Bronx Bombers cold over seven innings. The D-Backs won the game, 15-2. He was there in relief in game seven.
It appeared to be too little, too late for Randy in game seven, however. The Diamondbacks were down 2-1 in the top of the eighth, when Johnson was summoned from the bullpen. He fanned Chuck Knoblauch to strand a runner. In the top of the ninth, he got 'em 1-2-3. But it was still 2-1, New York.
Mariano Rivera was on the hill for New York, to seal the deal. But it was Mark Grace getting it all started with a single. Next, an error on a sac bunt attempt put the D-Backs in serious business. And the Yankees, in serious trouble.
Jay Bell batted for Johnson, tried to bunt, and failed as New York got the force at third. Tony Womack hit a double, but that just tied the game as Bell only made it to third. With first base open, Craig Counsell was hit by a Rivera pitch. It was up to Luis Gonzalez. On an 0-1 pitch, he stroked a single to centre to score Bell! The mighty Yankees had lost!
And lost after having a 3-2 series lead. It happens, even to the Yankees. But not very often!
References
Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.
Nemec, David, and Scott Flatow. Great Baseball Feats, Facts & Firsts. Toronto: Signet (Penguin Group), 2010. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Seaver,
Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol
Pub. Group, 1992. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 1 Jul. 2015.
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