The New York Mets are in a daunting 0-2 hole against the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 World Series, but all hope is not yet lost. Six other MLB teams have made dramatic comebacks while in this same position, and two of them are playing tonight.
Ordinarily we'd go in chronological order, but because of the current state of affairs we need to start with the two notable ones.
1986 Mets
The Mets had home-field advantage in the 1986 World Series and dropped the first two games at Shea Stadium. And just like this series, they lost Game 1 by one run and Game 2 by six runs. Not many other scenarios are as mentally draining as that, but New York found a way to pull it out. They won the next two in Boston and the Red Sox won Game 5 before returning to New York.
Bill Buckner happened in Game 6 and the Mets took Game 7 for their second ever, and most recent, World Series.
1985 Royals
Kansas City started the 1985 World Series in similar fashion. They also lost the first two games at home against the St. Louis Cardinals. They won Game 3 in St. Louis, but dropped Game 4 and fell into a 3-1 hole. But those pesky Royals found a way to capture the franchise's first championship in fashion and won the next three games to complete the improbable comeback, including a decisive 11-0 win in Game 7.
1971 Pirates
Pittsburgh lost the first two games of the 1971 World Series on the road by a combined score of 16-6. They were also out-hit 24-11. But then the series returned to Pittsburgh and the Pirates took Games 3, 4 and 5 before returning to Baltimore. The O's came out with a victory in Game 6 to force one more matchup, but the Pirates squeaked out a 2-1 road win in Game 7 to capture their fourth WS title.
1981 Dodgers
Manager Tommy Lasorda was certainly bleeding Dodger blue in this series. After blowing the '78 series (which you'll read below), the Dodgers got revenge on the New York Yankees. The Yanks took the first two games at home, but when the series went to Los Angeles it was all but officially over. The Dodgers won the next three games by one run before stomping out the Yankees 9-2 in Game 6 at Yankees Stadium.
1978 and 1996 Yankees
In '78 the Yanks had a classic matchup against the Dodgers, but lost the first two games in Los Angeles, including Game 2 when Catfish Hunter was on the mound. However, that didn't discourage the Bronx Bombers, who won the next four games by a combined score of 28-8 to win their second consecutive World Series.
In '96, the dynasty officially, but first came two crushing defeats at home against the Braves. Atlanta won Games 1 and 2 by a combined score of 16-1 before taking the series back home, but the Yankees won the next four games, including the clincher in New York when they scored three runs off Greg Maddux before series MVP John Wetteland shut the door on the Braves with his fourth save in six games.
So Mets fans, keep your head up. Noah Syndergaard can bring the series back into reach with a win in Game 3 tonight. And history is on your side.
