One of the most exciting things about the World Series is when an unexpected team sneaks in to shake things up. Everyone is used to teams like the New York Yankees winning, but when a rare team like the Florida Marlins slip in, it shakes up the baseball world.
When everything is on the line, an upset of a great team proves that anyone can win in baseball in a seven-game series.
5. The Miracle Mets
In 1969, no one gave the New York Mets anything but grief. Over six of their first eight years in the league, they lost over 100 games. Something happened in 1969 when they finished with 109 wins and made it to the 1969 World Series. They faced the Baltimore Orioles–huge favorites against the hapless Mets–and won the series 4-1.
4. Cincinnati Reds sweep powerhouse Oakland A’s
The Oakland A’s were the greatest team in baseball. With Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Ricky Henderson, they could score runs on anyone. They won 306 games in three seasons, but only have one World Series title to show for it. Their biggest disappointment was in the 1990 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds held Oakland to eight runs in the four-game sweep, and Oakland was crushed for the second time in three seasons.
3. The Hitless Wonders win World Series in all-Chicago Series
The Chicago Cubs were baseball’s best team in 1906, winning a league-record 116 games. They led the league in batting, runs scored and slugging. Both teams had great pitching, but the Chicago White Sox hit a league-worst .230 to make it to the 1906 World Series, nicknamed The Hitless Wonders. However, when it mattered most, the White Sox won it all, 4-2.
2. Bill Mazeroski hits first walkoff home run in Game 7 history to give Pittsburgh the title
The New York Yankees dominated Pittsburgh most of the 1960 World Series. The Yankees scored 28 more runs than the Pirates in the series seven games. The games the Yankees won were blowouts, and the games Pittsburgh won were squeakers. Then, in Game 7, Pittsburgh fought back to tie the game up, and Maz hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth to shock the Pinstripes.
1. Cleveland Indians set AL wins record and collapse in World Series
In 1954, the Cleveland Indians set the AL record with 111 wins and had the top three pitchers in baseball on their roster. They also led the league in home runs and came into the 1954 World Series as huge favorites over the New York Giants. Then Willie Mays and Dusty Rhodes clobbered Cleveland and swept the Indians to win the World Series.