July 4, 1914, the Boston Braves were 26-40, in last place, 15 games behind the New York Giants (who held first by 4 1/2), and 5 games behind the Phillies for 7th. Not only did the Braves turn it around in the second half to win the pennant, they won it by 10 1/2 games! This wouldn't necessarily fit on your list because it wasn't just one team collapsing, it was an entire league!
@Videogamelover58 They ended up sweeping the Athletics. That was the last season of that particular stretch of powerful Athletics teams under Connie Mack. The 1914 Braves were really, really unexpected.
@@DaDitkaBecause Connie Mack dismantled his team following the 1914 World Series. What following was the A's went from World Series runners up to finishing the 1916 season with the worst record in baseball (36-117). The A's would finish in the second division, with numerous last place finishes in between. The A's would not return to contention until 1929 when they won the World Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Ah yes, as a baseball fan, September 28, 2011 will go down as one of the best days in MLB history. I was in High School at that time and I remember talking to my baseball friends about that thriller. ESPN's coverage of that game was insane and we were all blown away at how quickly the tides can turn with one mistake. Atlanta and Boston choking while the Cardinals and Rays got in. But I agree, nothing can top the 1964 Phillies. The team was a great team and were about to get into the WS. And then Chico Ruiz happened and they just PLUMMENTED.
I agree with that the #1 collapse of all time was the 1964 Phillies, it was epic. Their collapse is somewhat similar to the Cubs collapse in 1969. In 1964 the Phillies used their top two starters at the end of the season over and over. With the 1969 Cubs, they used the same lineup over and over in September and the players got tired at the end of the season. If both managers had used their lineups better, they may may not collapsed. No guarantee, but the endings could have been different.
Pennants can't be won in April, but they sure as heck can be lost. For so many teams that had bad Septembers, it's sometimes a game or two in May that can come back to bite a team.
I remember that year, watched the standings all year,Phillies in 1st by 6 games all year....til the last 10 games .....I couldn't believe the collapse.
I listened on my portable radio to a Mets' sweep of the Cubs in September 1969. It was horrible. Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, Tug McGraw. The Cubs were tired and couldn't hit the great Met pitching. I think it scarred my childhood...but I hope to get over it soon. :)
As Cardinals fan 2011 will long be remembered. 10.5 games out of the Wild Card on Aug 25th. Remember telling my oldest son it ain't over so many times late in that season. Also, remember the 2006 NLCS talking to my oldest on the as Waino struck Beltran. What baseball is all about, memories w/family.
Another collapse: 1980 Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates were coming off of a World Championship in 1979, and looked ready to do it again. They were 71-62 on September 1. They were tied for 1st place with Montreal and Philadelphia. They lost 17 out of their last 29 games to finish the season 83-79. A distant 3rd place. And a far cry from their 98-64 1st place finish in 1979.
That was the year Bert Blyleven quit the team because he was pulled from a game after giving up 4 runs in 5.2 innings. That disrupted the chemistry from the "We Are Family" atmosphere of the previous season
Another great video. As an addendum I'd like to add: The 1978 Red Sox didn't just blow a six and half game lead in September--they blew a 14 game lead from July. A plethora of injuries to the defending champion New York Yankees coupled with Billy Martin's sad, steady descent into alcoholism allowed the Red Sox to their large lead over their division rivals. However, as the Yankees got healthier, and after Yankee GM Al Rosen replaced Martin with his former teammate, the sober, emotionally stable, Bob Lemon, the Yankees didn't simply defeat the Red Sox at Fenway Park, they utterly annihilated them: The Bronx Bombers outscored the Sox 42-7 over four games. It was so lopsided that Mickey Rivers went 3-3 in one game, and Thurman Munson 3-3 in another, all before Boston's number nine hitter recorded a single plate appearance. As a Yankee fan growing up when the team was objectively awful (1988-through 1992 to be precise) I coped by watching the 1978 season video ad infinitum. As an adult, I enjoy watching clips of the 1978 Yankees because it's fun watching hitters actually choke up on the bat in order to get more hits and in turn, score more runs, rather than swing for the fences constantly only to strike out like hapless fools. It's a nice respite from the horrors of "analytic" baseball.
@cleanandsober2009 You are absolutely correct. Thank you for pointing that out, because I was about to dive into baseball reference. I just can't see how you can call that a choke/collapse. Well, BR here I come! At the end of July 19th, that is, through the first 90 games of the season BOS (62-28) enjoyed a 14-game lead over NYY (48-42). Over the next 52 games NYY went 38-14 and BOS went 24-28 wiping out that 14 game advantage. At the end of September 10th, BOS and NYY were tied for 1st at 86-56. Over the last 20 games, they both went 13-7, so at the end of October 1st, they were tied at 99-63. Leading to the playoff game at Fenway and Bucky F-ing Dent Thus, in the last 72 regular season games from July 20 to October 1st *BOS (37-35) allowed NYY (51-21)* to wipe out that 14 game deficit So, the truth is that NYY choked in the first part by falling behind by 14 games BOS choked in the 2nd part by allowing NYY to make up that 14 game deficit
@@Jose_Hunters_EWF_Remixes the Yankees had a number of injuries in the first half of the season. The players gradually healed and they became the real Yankees. Boston had its injuries in the 2nd half of the season and faltered. But they also mysteriously began to play terrible baseball, butchering the most routine plays and losing because of it. They did win their last 7 games to end up in a tie, then losing the pennant in the 163rd game of the year. I still think they should have saved Tiant for that game, but used him to beat the last place Blue Jays in the final game.
You forgot one the key issues effecting the Angels and that was the fluke injury to Gary DiSarcina. He was heart of the young Angels at the time. He got hurt in a freak batting cage accident. When one of coach's was swinging a bat in the cage and accidentally hit Gary's arm, putting him the dl. That is when the team fell apart.
The '07 Mets collapse was unbelievable, and then they did it again in '08. They also had a mini collapse in '98. Last year they needed only one win in Atlanta to secure the division and got swept. The team absolutely hates to win.
the Mets are the first team I think of when someone mentions sports teams collapses. I don't know what it is about that team, but they just seem to choke at every single opportunity. Maybe they should consider moving to a different city? I mean it's uncanny how they always find a way to blow it. Kinda reminds me of the 90's Buffalo Bills teams that just couldn't win a Super Bowl to save their lives. I guess some sports teams are just permanently cursed.
As a Phillies fan, I remember the 2007 Mets fondly. I was actually at one of the games they lost to us in September. Pedro Martinez was his usual self, but we stayed close long enough that once he departed, we had a chance versus the New York bullpen... and we took it. I also remember that last game of the season. I was at PNC Park that day, with one eye on the gane in front of me and the other on the out-of-town scoreboard. Lots of "Holy Cow!"s that day, let me tell you...
Carl Crawford, the guy missing the catch at 17:20, is the guy responsible for asking the Rays to lower the wall down in the left field corner, as he wanted an opportunity to make more home run-robbing catches with the lower wall (true story). Had they not done that, Longoria's homer most likely wouldn't have gotten out. Baseball is crazy like that!
What a way to lose with a 320’ and 4’ high walk off that would literally only be out at that one spot in all of MLB. Good thing Vic Wertz of “The Catch” infamy wasn’t alive to see it. Also crazy that Crawford who could’ve gone down as the greatest Ray of all time made the play that got his old team in the playoffs, signaled the beginning of the end of his career and one of the worst FA signings of all time.
I remember entering September in 2009. My Dad and I were already making plans to see the Tigers in the ALDS. It was a sure thing. I remember game 163. There was so much profanity in the house when they completed the choke job
The 2021 San Diego Padres had an epic collapse going 2-13 the last 15 games to miss the playoffs as a wildcard. The last 8 series were against teams that made the playoffs.
High school sophomore during the 78 season. The heartbreak of 75 still fresh. Sox had a big lead but were fading. That 4 game sweep by the Yankees at Fenway was called the Boston Massacre. I don't think any were even close. Ran home from soccer practice to catch Bucky "Effen" Dent hit one in the screen. Yaz popping out off Goose Gossage to end it. Good times.
I got an earful during the '64 Phillies collapse. I was in a high school study hall during a free period, and across the table from me was Major-Leaguer-to-be pitcher Tom Bradley. When it was over he said over and over, "They choked!" Some pundits have said that Gene Mauch overmanaged during the stretch. Twice he started Jim Bunning with two days rest in a quest to have him set for the first game of the World Series with just the right timing, and both times he was routed. The critics argued that Mauch should have concentrated on clinching the pennant before trying to tweak the starting rotation.
To me as a Braves fan, the 2011 collapse was a bummer but not especially painful. This was a team that had overachieved for much of the season, and what looked like a "collapse" to the uneducated eye was more a long-overdue regression to the mean.
One very near collapse that was avoided happened to the 1980 Astros. Going into the last 3 days of the season, they had a 3 game lead on the Dodgers, going into a 3 game series at Dodger Stadium. All they needed was to take one game, but instead, they lost all three of them, each by one run. That forced the 1 game playoff, also in LA, for reasons I've never heard. But Joe Niekro came out and beat the Dodgers 7-1, saving the day at the last moment.
I've been a braves fan since the 90's I'm 35 now the 2011 collapse when the braves had the chance to go to the playoffs as a wildcard that had stung but at least made it up 10 years later with a world series title without our best players on the team but that 2011 collapse haunted me
I definitely remember the 1964 Phillies collapse.....and im originally from Boston.....i was an 11 year old paperboy and would read the sports section every day.....wow what a collapse !!!!!
At the start of the 1934 season, Giants manager Bill Terry was asked how the Dodgers would fare in the coming season. His reply: “Brooklyn? Are they still in the league?” After that it was poetic justice that the Dodgers put the last nail in the Giants’ coffin.
If by "justice" you mean "tragedy". The defending World Champion Giants were clearly the best team that year. Bill Terry's revenge would not come until 1982, when Joe Morgan and the Giants ended the Dodgers' season.
The 1993 Giants should be on the list, as at least an honorable mention. Once Atlanta got Fred McGriff from San Diego, it was almost curtains for the Giants
@@sethtate2079 And the Braves had the good fortune to play an expansion team in the final weekend while the Giants were playing their hated rivals looking for revenge for 1951 and 1962.
So satisfying to hear the Phillies were first in something, even if it was for the biggest collapse. It was only a few years before that the Phil’s set the all-time record for consecutive losses with 23. To think that they were going to win the pennant a short time later was encouraging…until Chico Ruiz, that is.
I grew up in South Philadelphia. I was 3 years old when the 1964 Phillies collapsed. My Father had bought a couple of those 1964 Philadelphia Phillies World Series Tickets. Not too many people talked about that collapse In Philadelphia when I was growing up. Most people would dismiss the question or would just say, "It was a shame".
The 1995 Angels.... we were so dominant offensively that I thought in July we would easily win it all. Believe it or not, at one point in July all 9 angels starters were batting over .300. We were on pace to score over 1,000 runs. Except for the Donny Moore home run to Henderson, the 1995 collapse is my lowest fan moment.
this keeps my future book tickets with life , in my mind, I will not tear them up or use them as toilet paper until the season is over. Because it aint over til it's over
You should update it with the New York Mets 2022 collapse. 101 wins and still had one win to go to win the division. They were in first place the whole year till September.
As a Mets fan i knew i be in for a hurt in this video but that 2007 team was supposed to win the World Series. 2021's hurt didn't even come close and i def have a hefty scar on my heart for life after the 07 collapse.
I watched that Orioles/Red Sox game. I really didn't give a hoot about it. HOWEVER... The bottom of the 9th for the Orioles was the greatest thing all season. I will not rehash what has been shown in this video. For those of whom may not remember, in a 4 game series in Boston, the Sox and Os played in Fenway. The Gregg and Ortiz showdown was part of the weekend. The Sox pitchers/players were fist pumping as if the Orioles were relevant in the past decade. I remember thinking that if the two clubs meet up at the end of the season, I wholeheartedly want the Orioles to end the Sox season. I did get my satisfaction. Though, having Pedrioa's career end in Baltimore on a shady Machado slide into second is not something I want to remember. I'm a firm believer of cause and effect. The Orioles begin another rebuild through 4 out of 5 seasons with 100+ losses aren't by design. I call it the Machado effect.
I wouldn’t put that Brooklyn Dodgers on that dishonorable mention list. The NY Giants admitted they had a sign stealing system set up. Telescope in Center picked the signs and relayed a call to the bullpen catcher who signaled the batter. It was in an HBO Documentary a few years back.
I was 17 in 1964 and lived in Philadelphia. I sent in my money for World Series tickets and then they fell apart. I got my money back a few weeks later. I am 75 now and I have never recovered. Until the collapse it was a magical year with Johnny Callison even winning the All-Star game with a homer in the 9th inning of the game.
The best part about the Mets collapse is that Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins had said that the Phillies were the team to beat in 2007. The NY media and fans ate it up...until the Phillies overtook the Mets and Rollins won the league MVP.
As a St Louis Cards fan, I know all too well of this 😂. Well the positive side lol. Ain't NO REASON we should have been in the position to win that 2011 WS. But DEFINITELY my best sports memory (either that or the Rams winning it last year)
@@brianthomas2434 yeah cuz that's the only team I've ever gone for. I lover them even when they were a 2 win team and even though I live in AZ, I couldn't bring myself to call the damn Arizona Cardinals my favorite team 💀. I do have family members that jumped the ship because of spite and anger, but I stuck with them. And good thing I did right? 😂. Plus I can easily drive or fly to Cali to see a game, or when they play Arizona twice, I can choose one of those. So it works out in numerous ways
Watching carl crawford miss the play in lf too loose the game for my red sox then switching the channel to see tampa win all within like 5 minutes was so traumatizing
To me, the 1995 Angels collapse began when they got swept by the Orioles during 2131 by Cal Ripken. They were up 10 games on the Mariners going into that series. They lose all 3 in Baltimore, which like I said is overshadowed by Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig's Ironman Record. But even worse was that the Angels then watched the Mariners sweep the Yankees in a 4 game series at the Kingdome. (Griffey hits a walk-off homer to beat John Wetteland on the night of 2131 too) Seattle then sweeps Minnesota that weekend, and the Angels lose 3 of 4 in Boston. All of a sudden now it's 4 games with 3 weeks to go. The next week the lead is back up to 6 games but then California went on another massive losing streak which led to the Mariners tying the race up only for Randy Johnson to shut em down in Game 163. Angels fans, if you want to blame someone for that legendary collapse, blame the Orioles and Ripken.
I was not alive for 1969 Chicago Cubs but man did I hear the stories from my grandfather and uncle about that team. I even got the story from older fans. Granted they tell me 1984 sucked more.
Because the Dodgers didn't really collapse as much as get caught by an extremely hot team; in the same stretch where the GIants went 37-7 the Dodgers went 26-22, which is still above .500
I seem to remember one season where Trevor Hoffman single handedly cost the Padres a playoff spot by blowing 3 saves during the last week of the season, including a one-game playoff
Life long Phil’s fan I’m 44 only seen then win in 08 I was a baby in 80 but growing up my grandfather talked about 64 allll the time telling me about the tickets and all
I agree with all of them however with the advent of wildcards now a team may win 90 games and still come up short and a team in a different division might win there's with only 88 games won.
u forgot the 2012 Texas Rangers complete collapse they held the division lead the whole year. and the A's swept them in the final series to end the season and the A's clinched the division on the last day.I know about this because im a huge A's fan lol
I think the 2008 Mets should be bunched together with the 2007 Mets both lost last game of season against the Marlins at home in a win and your in game also 2008 was the last game at Shea stadium I will never forget watching that game Or the feeling of the season ending on the last day against the same team at home truly heart breaking
I am a Cubs fan and while I wasn't alive in the 60s, I feel like we've had plenty of epic end of season collapses to go along with a few heartbreaking playoff meltdowns.
It's not on humm baby's list, but as an A's fan 2014 was super painful. The team was in pace for 110+ wins and at the end we barely clinched a wildcard game and everyone knows how that went.
