The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 World Series as defending champions and one victory away from repeating their title run.
But after Game 5, they find themselves trailing the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Their objective: win both Game 6 and Game 7 to secure back-to-back crowns.
It will require full throttle, not just because they’re down, but because history shows the door narrows fast.
Since the first World Series in 1903, Major League Baseball has held 120 championship series, with the American League leading the National League 68-52.
While no team has ever won the World Series after trailing 3-0, overcoming a 3-2 deficit has occurred on more than 20 occasions. These comebacks demonstrate the resilience of teams facing elimination and the unpredictable nature of the postseason.
The inaugural World Series saw the Boston Americans recover from a 3-2 deficit against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a nine-game series.
Since that early example, 22 teams have successfully erased a 3-2 disadvantage, including ten teams since 1980, reflecting the frequency and significance of such late-series rallies.
Which teams have overcome the 3-2 scare in the World Series?
In 1982, the St. Louis Cardinals faced a 3-2 deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers and won Games 6 and 7 at Busch Stadium, outscoring Milwaukee 19-4 across the final two contests to secure the championship.
Similarly, the Kansas City Royals in 1985 overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cardinals, winning three consecutive games and outscoring St.
Louis 19-2 to claim their first World Series title. That series also marked the final World Series without a designated hitter in American League ballparks.
The 1986 New York Mets are remembered for their Game 6 comeback against the Boston Red Sox. Trailing late in extra innings, the Mets scored three runs, aided by Bill Buckner‘s error, to force a decisive Game 7, which they won 8-5 to secure the championship.
Minnesota experienced similar success in both 1987 and 1991. In 1987, the Twins overcame a 3-2 deficit against the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the final two games and marking the first World Series where the home team won every game.
Four years later, the Twins rallied from a 3-2 disadvantage against the Atlanta Braves, winning consecutive extra-inning contests to capture the title.
The early 2000s saw back-to-back instances of 3-2 comebacks. In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks fell behind 3-2 to the New York Yankees but won Games 6 and 7, including a walk-off victory in the final game, to secure the championship.
The Anaheim Angels repeated the feat in 2002 against the San Francisco Giants, rebounding from a 16-5 loss in Game 5 to win the final two games, including a 6-5 Game 6 victory despite being outhit.
More recently, the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 and the Chicago Cubs in 2016 overcame 3-2 deficits to win their respective titles. The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers with a 10-9 extra-inning Game 6 victory and a 6-2 Game 7 win.
The Cubs, facing a 3-1 deficit against Cleveland, scored 20 runs over the final three games to secure their World Series championship, including a 10-inning Game 7 win.
The Washington Nationals in 2019 represent the most recent team to overcome a 3-2 deficit. After winning the first two games, Washington lost the next three to Houston but rebounded with 7-2 and 6-2 victories in Games 6 and 7 to claim their first World Series title.
These instances of teams erasing 3-2 deficits illustrate the competitiveness and unpredictability of the World Series.
They underscore that even when facing elimination, teams can rally to claim the championship, reinforcing the enduring excitement and drama of baseball’s postseason.
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