The Last 10 Times An MLB Team Has Overcome A 3-2 Deficit To Win The World Series

There have been 120 World Series played dating back to the first in 1903. The American League holds a 68-52 advantage in those matchups, good for a success rate of 56.7%.

In that time, nearly every possible outcome has been seen from series sweeps to seven-game sets. While we’ve yet to see a World Series winner overcome a 3-0 deficit, every other combination has been achieved.

That includes the 3-2 hole where a team finds a way to win back-to-back contests with their backs against the wall. In fact, there have been more than 20 instances when a team facing elimination wins Games 6 and 7 to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Teams that overcame 3-2 World Series deficit.

In the first ever World Series matchup featuring the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Americans emerged victorious after falling into a 3-2 deficit. That result, however, came in a nine-game set.

Since, 22 different teams have erased that 3-2 disadvantage. Of those 22, ten have come since the year 1980. Here, we’ll take a look at those champions to evade elimination and win a title.

1982 Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1982 World Series four games to three. While the NL Central rivals currently compete in the same division, that wasn’t always the case.

Milwaukee was once in the American League with its last year in the AL Central coming in 1997. Fifteen years prior, they matched up with the Cardinals in World Series play.

Despite jumping out to a 3-2 advantage, the Brewers fell in seven games. They were outscored 19-4 in Games 6 and 7, both of which were played at Busch Stadium.

1985 Royals

The Cardinals found themselves on the opposite side of a 3-2 series in 1985. Kansas City staved off elimination to win its first MLB championship.

The Royals actually fell behind 3-1 in the World Series before ripping off three straight victories. Over that stretch, the outscored the Cardinals 19-2.

For any baseball history buffs, this World Series is also notable as it was the last not to feature a designated hitter in American League ballparks.

1986 Mets

The 1986 World Series is best remembered for one specific play. In Game 6 of the seven-game set between the Mets and Red Sox, Boston came one out away from winning the title.

A three-run 10th inning, highlighted by first baseman Bill Buckner’s memorable error, allowed New York to steal a win. The Mets then finished the job with an 8-5 victory in Game 7.

The Curse of the Bambino lived on for nearly another two decades.

1987 Twins

In three straight seasons, the World Series winner was forced to overcome a 3-2 deficit. In this case, it involved Minnesota taking down St. Louis in the final two contests.

This series saw a string of momentum shifts. The Twins won the first two games to build a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals then ripped off three wins to move to 3-2.

Minnesota then snagged the final two wins to earn the Commissioner’s Trophy. It was the first year in which the home team won every game.

1991 Twins

Prior to 1987, Minnesota has not won an MLB Championship since 1924. It would win two over the next five years. In both cases, they needed a late rally to take the World Series.

The Twins fell behind 3-2 to the Atlanta Brave in 1991. It then won back-to-back extra inning matchups to steal the title.

Neither team expected to be in the final game at season’s start. Both the Twins and Braves finished last in their respective divisions the year prior.

2001 Diamondbacks

After seeing five 3-2 World Series deficits overcome in a 10-year stretch, it would take another decade for the next to be witnessed. Arizona ended the drought against the Yankees.

The Diamondbacks actually jumped out to a 2-0 before watching New York rip off three straight wins. They were able to get the train back on the tracks for the final two contests.

Arizona evened the set with a blowout win Game 6. They then walked the Yankees off in Game 7 to win the World Series in dramatic fashion. Similar to the 1987 series, the home team won every game.

2002 Angels

A year after the Diamondbacks’ comeback, the Angels mounted one of their own. That World Series win came over the nearby San Francisco Giants.

Anaheim was beaten soundly in Game 5 to face elimination. The Angels rebounded from the 16-5 loss to win the final two matchups.

In Game 6, San Francisco led 5-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Anaheim won, 6-5. They’d then win Game 7 despite being outhit.

2011 Cardinals

St. Louis found itself in a 3-2 deficit to the Texas Rangers in 2011 before battling back to win a World Series. The series was tightly contested with three games being decided by one run.

The Cardinals were on the right side of two of those outcomes, one of which needed extra innings to be decided. That 10-9 victory in Game 6 helped the club fend off elimination.

A 6-2 win in a decisive Game 7 would complete the comeback effort for St. Louis.

2016 Cubs

Five years after the Cardinals overcame their 3-2 World Series deficit, the NL Central rival Cubs did the same. Chicago’s comeback came in 2016 against Cleveland.

Chicago actually fell down 3-1 in the set after being held to a combined two runs in their three losses. They found some offense late to get back on track.

The Cubs scored 20 runs across the last three games to win the World Series. Two games were decided by one run, including Game 7, which lasted 10 frames.

2019 Nationals

Washington won its only World Series title in 2019. It needed seven games to do so.

After winning the first two games of the set against the Astros, the Nationals fell three straight times. They were outscored 19-3 during that losing streak.

Despite facing elimination, Washington righted the ship in the final two contests. The Nats beat Houston 7-2 and 6-2 to win its lone championship.

To this point, it remains the last World Series to last seven games, as well as the most recent to see a 3-2 hole overcome.

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