Close but no cigar - teams that nearly won the World Series but didn't 1960-2025

[Bellhorn04]

In the wake of the Blue Jays’ painful near-miss in the 2025 World Series I started thinking about other teams that came so close they could taste it without being able to finish it off.  

The criteria I used for "nearly won" are totally arbitrary.  But hey, it’s my thread.  Here they are, including the Cap’n Obvious ones:

1) The team has won 3 previous games.
2) The team has a lead in what would be Win #4. 
3) The opponent has 9 outs left or less.
4) The opponent has no runners on base.
5) The team loses the game and the Series.

I originally intended to fill in some detail of the losses in this first post but that just led me to procrastinate.  So for now I'll just provide the list and I'll fill in some details later. 

1) 2025 Blue Jays  
2) 2019 Astros
3) 2011 Rangers
4) 2002 Giants
5) 2001 Yankees
6) 1997 Indians
7) 1986 Red Sox
8) 1985 Cardinals
9) 1975 Red Sox
10) 1960 Yankees

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Tough list. Of course, I immediately thought of the '75 and '86 Sox.

Here's another: the '68 Cardinals: up 3 games to 1, with a 3-2 Game 5 lead going into the bottom of the 7th in Detroit. Tigers had 8 outs to go... with one down, Lolich singled to start off the winning rally -- then Kaline eventually delivered a bases-loaded single to knock in two and take the lead of what would be a 5-3 win.

The key play of the game was when Willie Horton threw out Lou Brock at home in the 5th inning because Brock didn't slide...

Lolich was the Ohtani-Yamamoto of this Series. He won three games, including the finale vs. Gibson, and also homered in Game 2 to drive in the second and only other run he needed in an 8-1 W.

[notin]

8 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

In the wake of the Blue Jays’ painful near-miss in the 2025 World Series I started thinking about other teams that came so close they could taste it without being able to finish it off.  

The criteria I used for "nearly won" are totally arbitrary.  But hey, it’s my thread.  Here they are, including the Cap’n Obvious ones:

1) The team has won 3 previous games.
2) The team has a lead in what would be Win #4. 
3) The opponent has 9 outs left or less.
4) The opponent has no runners on base.
5) The team loses the game and the Series.

I originally intended to fill in some detail of the losses in this first post but that just led me to procrastinate.  So for now I'll just provide the list and I'll fill in some details later. 

1) 2025 Blue Jays  
2) 2019 Astros
3) 2011 Rangers
4) 2002 Giants
5) 2001 Yankees
6) 1997 Indians
7) 1986 Red Sox
8) 1985 Cardinals
9) 1975 Red Sox
10) 1960 Yankees

 

George Springer was on the most recent two teams.  Name the other 5 players to appear on two teams from this list.

[notin]

7 hours ago, notin said:

 

George Springer was on the most recent two teams.  Name the other 5 players to appear on two teams from this list.

I should point out, I believe there to be only 5 others. So bonus points are awarded for names I missed. But from my five, I thought three should be painfully obvious…

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, notin said:

 

George Springer was on the most recent two teams.  Name the other 5 players to appear on two teams from this list.

Clemens immediately comes to mind.

Dave Justice is another.

 

 

[notin]

3 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Clemens immediately comes to mind.

Dave Justice is another.

 

 

Correct.

Clemens on the 1986 Red Sox and 2001 Yankees

Justice on the 1997 Indians and 2001 Yankees

 

I thought 3 were obvious.  These are the other two…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The most painful was Rice -- on the team, but didn't play in '75 WS because Vern Ruhle broke his hand.

Evans played in both and played well; they weren't his fault.

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

The most painful was Rice -- on the team, but didn't play in '75 WS because Vern Ruhle broke his hand.

Evans played in both and played well; they weren't his fault.

Two more, both correct.  Rice and Evan’s, both members of the 1975 and 1986 Red Sox.  Yes, Rice didnt play in 1975, but he was on the team and eligible for a ring
 

Unfortunately due to faulty research on my part, there is no fifth one.  Ironic, because he was the first guy I thought of - even before Springer.  And the main reason he came to mind first is he is the Unrivaled King of Postseason Collapses, having played on so many of them.   I was thinking Kenny Lofton, who was part of the 1999 Indians, 2002 Giants, 2003 Cubs and 2004 Yankees, and probably a few others.  And it’s not like he’s ever really bad. But calling him unlucky feels like an understatement .  He’s the MLB-equivalent of having a black cat cross your path while you’re walking under a ladder.  Causing you to drop your mirror.  On Friday the 13th

But 1997 was the one year he spent in Atlanta.  Not collapsing anything.  So somehow, he was only part of the 2002 Giant from this list…

[Bellhorn04]

23 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Tough list. Of course, I immediately thought of the '75 and '86 Sox.

Here's another: the '68 Cardinals: up 3 games to 1, with a 3-2 Game 5 lead going into the bottom of the 7th in Detroit. Tigers had 8 outs to go... with one down, Lolich singled to start off the winning rally -- then Kaline eventually delivered a bases-loaded single to knock in two and take the lead of what would be a 5-3 win.

The key play of the game was when Willie Horton threw out Lou Brock at home in the 5th inning because Brock didn't slide...

Lolich was the Ohtani-Yamamoto of this Series. He won three games, including the finale vs. Gibson, and also homered in Game 2 to drive in the second and only other run he needed in an 8-1 W.

Good catch, thanks.

[Duran Is The Man]

10 hours ago, notin said:

Correct.

Clemens on the 1986 Red Sox and 2001 Yankees

Justice on the 1997 Indians and 2001 Yankees

 

I thought 3 were obvious.  These are the other two…

oh yeah, i knee about Rice and Dewey. i was thinking you meant different organizations rather than teams.

[king koji]

On 11/17/2025 at 8:16 AM, notin said:

Two more, both correct.  Rice and Evan’s, both members of the 1975 and 1986 Red Sox.  Yes, Rice didnt play in 1975, but he was on the team and eligible for a ring
 

Unfortunately due to faulty research on my part, there is no fifth one.  Ironic, because he was the first guy I thought of - even before Springer.  And the main reason he came to mind first is he is the Unrivaled King of Postseason Collapses, having played on so many of them.   I was thinking Kenny Lofton, who was part of the 1999 Indians, 2002 Giants, 2003 Cubs and 2004 Yankees, and probably a few others.  And it’s not like he’s ever really bad. But calling him unlucky feels like an understatement .  He’s the MLB-equivalent of having a black cat cross your path while you’re walking under a ladder.  Causing you to drop your mirror.  On Friday the 13th

But 1997 was the one year he spent in Atlanta.  Not collapsing anything.  So somehow, he was only part of the 2002 Giant from this list…

He was also on the 2007 Indians, who led ALCS against Sox 3-1. He also was on 2nd Base and was (luckily for us) inexplicably held up at 3rd on a single against the side wall that would have tied Game 7 in the 7th inning and handed over momentum to Cleveland. 

In this game POS Julio Lugo dropped an easy pop up to TRY and lose the series for Boston.