World Series 3-1 Comebacks

The Chicago Cubs became just the sixth team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the World Series. Their 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 10 innings of a Game 7 thriller late Wednesday ended more than a century of flops, futility and frustration, as the Cubs won their first title since 1908.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 31, 2016

World Series 3-1 Comebacks

2016 World Series, Cubs defeat Indians

2016-World-Series-Chicago-Cubs-celebration-SI597_TK7_5263.jpg — Al Tielemans

The Indians, trying for their first title since 1948, missed three shots at closing out Chicago. The Cubbies, shut out twice earlier in the Series, brought their clubbies to Cleveland. The Cubs won 9-3 in Game 6 and 8-7 in 10 innings of a Game 7 thriller, highlighted by a Ben Zobrist RBI double to retake the lead in the 10th after Rajai Davis hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth.

1985 World Series, Royals defeat Cardinals

The Royals, who came back to win the ALCS down 3-1, once again fell behind 3-1, and trailed by a run entering the bottom of the ninth of Game 6. But a blown call by first base umpire Don Denkinger allowed Jorge Orta to reach base, igniting a game-winning rally that was capped by Dane Iorg's walk-off, two-run single. Kansas City's Bret Saberhagen built on the momentum the next day, leading his club to an 11-0 win.

1979 World Series, Pirates defeat Orioles

The Orioles scored 17 runs combined in winning Games 3 and 4 in Pittsburgh to take a 3-1 lead, but the "We Are Family" Pirates stuck together and rallied to beat the O's in the Series for the second time in the decade. Willie "Pops" Stargell gave the Pirates the lead in the sixth inning of Game 7 with a long home run off Scott McGregor, one of his four hits on the night, propelling Pittsburgh to its most recent Series title.

1968 World Series, Tigers defeat Cardinals

Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Overshadowed all year by teammate and 31-game winner Denny McLain, Tigers starter Mickey Lolich rescued the Tigers in the World Series, tossing three complete game wins, including one in Game 5 and another in Game 7 on two-days' rest.

1958 World Series, Yankees defeat Braves

Looking to duplicate their Series win over the Yankees from a year ago, the Braves jumped to a 3-1 lead. However, Hank Bauer (left) had 10 hits in the Series, four of them homers, and drove in eight runs. Bob Turley (right), who had lasted only 1/3 of an inning in a Game 2 loss, shut out the Braves 7-0 in Game 5 to get the series back to Milwaukee. Once there, he earned a save in Game 6 before returning the next day to pitch 6 2/3 innings of Game 7, getting the win in New York's 6-2 series-clinching victory.

1925 World Series, Pirates defeat Senators

Aided by two late errors by Washington shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (left), the Pirates rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat Walter Johnson in Game 7, denying the Senators their second straight World Series title. Future Hall of Famer Pie Traynor (right) batted .346 in the series with four RBIs to help the Pirates become the first team to win a series after trailing 3 games to 1.