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MLB History: Ten Biggest Pennant Race Collapses

By Matt Weyrich

Aug 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans wait for the Chicago Cubs to come out of the dugout before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans wait for the Chicago Cubs to come out of the dugout before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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1978 Red Sox

Division races aren’t typically declared over in mid-July, but in 1978 the Red Sox’ stranglehold over the AL East didn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. After beating the Brewers on July 19th, Boston led Milwaukee by nine games, while the fourth place Yankees sat 14 back. Don Zimmer’s club led all of baseball in runs scored and trailed only the A’s in runs allowed among American League teams.

Good thing MLB playoff seeds aren’t determined by July standings, however, because the Yankees put together a historic 52-21 run the rest of the season. Boston dug itself into a deep hole, posting a 37-36 record the rest of the way. They actually almost saved themselves with an eight game winning streak to close out the season, forcing a one-game playoff with New York to decide the division champ.

Red Sox starter Mike Torrez kept the Yankees scoreless through the first six innings. Boston entered the seventh with a 2-0 lead, but Yankees’ shortstop Bucky Dent, a .247 career hitter, crushed a three-run homer into the Fenway seats to propel New York to the win. The Curse of the Bambino would live on, leaving the Red Sox so beaten that they wouldn’t reach the playoffs until 1986.

Next: No. 8

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