Summary: <p>The Indians are headed to the World Series and I could not be more excited, so sorry for acting like a little kid at the beginning of this episode. As we prepare for the ultimate Fall Classic, either Indians vs. Cubs (who lead the series 3-2) or the Dodgers, who could still very much rip this one away from the Cubs, we thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the best playoff comebacks in baseball. This is not a complete list, but has some great stories. If you don’t see your favorite comeback <a href="http://thatonesportsshow.com/contact-us/">let us know</a> and we’ll talk about it on next week’s show.</p> <h2>1968 World Series – Tigers vs. Cardinals</h2> <p>Down 3-1 in the World Series, the Tigers set out to make one of the greatest World Series baseball comebacks of all time. Without the arm of Pitcher Mickey Lolich, it would not have been possible. After winning game 2, by the arm of Lolich, the Tigers lost the next two. Again in game 5 they turned to Lolich and he put together another nice victory taking the series to 3-2. Game 6 was a total blowout with the Tigers winning 13-1. With the series now tied at 3-3, Lolich took the rubber. Lolich pitched 8 shutout innings and let up one run in the 9th. It was enough and the Tigers completed the comeback winning 4-1 in game 7.</p> <p>Lolich is still the last player to earn three complete game victories in a single World Series and because of his heroics won the World Series MVP. Bob Gibson (Cardinals pitcher) had an equally impressive series, winning complete games in game 1 and game 4 and then lost to Lolich in game 7. Had that final game gone the Cardinals way, it would have been easy to hand Gibson the MVP.</p> <p><strong>Fun fact:</strong> Mickey Lolich would go on to retire and open up a donut shop after his MLB career.</p> <h2>3-1 Deficit Comebacks</h2> <ul> <li>2007 ALCS – Red Sox over Indians</li> <li>2004 ALCS – Red Sox* over Yankees</li> <li>2003 NLCS – Marlins* over Cubs</li> <li>1996 NLCS – Braves over Cardinals</li> <li>1986 ALCS – Red Sox over Angels</li> <li>1985 ALCS – Royals over Blue Jays</li> <li>1985 World Series – Royals over Cardinals</li> <li>1968 World Series – Tigers over Cardinals</li> <li>1958 World Series – Yankees over Braves (Mil.)</li> <li>1925 World Series – Pirates over Senators</li> </ul> <h2>2007 Colorado Rockies</h2> <p>The Rockies pulled off one of the greatest September comebacks in the history of the game when they went 14-1 over their last 15 games to win the NL Wild Card. Unfortunately this was the Red Sox “Year of the Idiots” and the Rockies were promptly swept in the World Series. The Red Sox won 13-1 in game one, an MLB record for the first game of a World Series.</p> <h2>2003 NLCS – Marlins vs. Cubs</h2> <p>Even without knowing much about this series you can probably tell from the year and the team in the series what happened. The name Bartman ring a bell? The Marlins came back from a three games to one deficit and won the series in seven games, advancing to the World Series against the New York Yankees. With the Cubs leading 3–0 (in the game) and just five outs away from their first World Series since 1945, Steve Bartman, a fan, reached for the foul ball hit by Luis Castillo off Prior, preventing Cubs outfielder Moisés Alou from catching it. They would lose that game and the next one after a series of errors and flubs that people could only explain by the Curse of the Billy Goat. Poor Steve Bartman. If you watch closely, <em>everyone</em> was reaching for the ball, but because he was lucky enough to get it, everyone turned on him. Fan psychology is crazy. </p> <h2>2004 ALCS – Red Sox vs. Yankees</h2> <p>I know, I know, I don’t like the Red Sox either. I actually wrote a scathing Josh Beckett column in college because he whooped the Indians in 2007 but the stories and numbers don’t lie, they’ve ha</p>
