Comments on the World Series Foes

From 1985 through 1987 the Cards and Red Sox represented the losers of the World Series, and all three went 7 games, all had drama, but both teams left believing (at least for the Cards in '85 and the Sox in '86) they should have won--the Cards because the Royals benefitted from an errant safe call at first that opened the floodgates in Game 6, a game they were winning in the ninth and blew after the blown call. The Red Sox, of course, had Game 6 and the Series against the Mets sewn up, 5-2, two outs in the ninth and they found a way to lose. Buckner's error was really only making what would have been a probable loss quicker, the game was already tied after Bob Stanley threw a wild pitch; the impossible had happened already. Buckner's gaffe was certainly memorable since it cinched the Mets' win and forced Game 7, but it wasn't the only factor.

In 1987, of course, the Cards had to face the Twins 4 times at the Metrodome, in a series which saw all the home teams win. They've just been part of an NLCS that featured the same stat. I have never seen a series in which all the home teams had won 6 games, and then the home team loses in Game 7. The other series that had the possibility were the Braves vs. Twins in 1991 (yet another NL team having to face the Twins in the Metrodome 4 times) and the Yankees vs. Diamondbacks in 2001 (the last time the NL team had home field advantage). The 1996 World Series had the odd stat where all the home teams lost, with the Braves taking 2 at New York and then the Yanks taking all 3 in Atlanta before the Yankees finally won one at home.

Predictions tomorrow. I am now 5-1 in predicting playoff series (damn you, Twins!). My preseason pick of Astros vs. Red Sox didn't come to fruition, and since I picked the Astros to win it all, my champion is gone, too. But I root Red Sox all the way, anyway. I rarely root for the AL team, but since the Sox are an original MLB team I feel justified. The Cards are too, but they last won in 1982 and that's not nearly as long as 1918.