Is this the first NE major league team to go from worst to first in the same year?

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

Put on your thinking caps and post your answer below. Hint: It's not the Providence Steamroller.

Crewbasher · Oct 13, 2002

well, the patriots technically did this past year, going from 0-2 early on to the super bowl. however, i think the revs' turnaround was better b/c it had all the drama in a quick amount of time - adds to the excitement.

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

Originally posted by Crewbasher
well, the patriots technically did this past year, going from 0-2 early on to the super bowl. however, i think the revs' turnaround was better b/c it had all the drama in a quick amount of time - adds to the excitement.
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That's not the team I was thinking of. The team I was thinking of was in last place midway through the season.

Soccerski · Oct 13, 2002

Impossible Dream?

In 1966, the Red Sox finished 2nd to last in the then Single "Table" American League Standings, and won the 1967 American League Pennant.

That is about the closest thing I can think of from a "last to first" performance by a New England team.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1966.shtml

The Patriots were last in the 2000 AFC East, but they were far from the worst team.
http://www.allsports.com/nfl/2000standings.htm

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

Originally posted by Soccerski
In 1966, the Red Sox finished 2nd to last in the then Single "Table" American League Standings, and won the 1967 American League Pennant.

That is about the closest thing I can think of from a "last to first" performance by a New England team.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_1966.shtml

The Patriots were last in the 2000 AFC East, but they were far from the worst team.
http://www.allsports.com/nfl/2000standings.htm
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No cigar. Here's another hint- very few (if any) of us were born when this occurred.

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

Here's another hint: The franchise is still in existence but is located in another state.

revsrock · Oct 13, 2002

This ? is a tricky one because in 1986 the Red Sox were in last place in the last week of April an went on to win the divison, The Patriots last yr were in last place after week 2. The Bruins were in last place last yr on the first of November an finished first in the conference. On the ? you have to be more specific about it. I believe the answer you are looking for is the 1986-87 Hartford Whalers, but they did what the Bruins of last yr did too.

JohnnyRev · Oct 13, 2002

The Miracle Braves of 1914?

Feldspar · Oct 13, 2002

If they aren't in the state and they did it before anyone here's time, it's definitely the Boston Braves. I couldn't tell you when, though.

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

Originally posted by JohnnyRev
The Miracle Braves of 1914?
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That's the one! They were in last place on July 4 (only a few games out of first, however), came back to win the pennant and took the Philadelphia Athletics in the Series in 4 straight games.

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

http://www.pubdim.net/baseballlibrary/submit/Triscuit_Zack1.stm

Good article on the Miracle Braves of 1914.

JohnnyRev · Oct 13, 2002

I don't know how I remebered that. I've been a baseball fan for fifty years, saw the St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia A's play in Comiskey Park when I was seven. But I never saw the Boston Braves.

The phrase "Miracle Braves of 1914" just stuck in my mind, and once you said the team is no longer in this state, that had to be it.

Turk from Pigs Eye · Oct 13, 2002

Originally posted by JohnnyRev
I don't know how I remebered that. I've been a baseball fan for fifty years, saw the St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia A's play in Comiskey Park when I was seven. But I never saw the Boston Braves.

The phrase "Miracle Braves of 1914" just stuck in my mind, and once you said the team is no longer in this state, that had to be it.
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I've been a baseball fan for close to 50 years myself. I grew up in Milwaukee, the former home of the Braves, and was a rabid collector of baseball cards (which my mom gave away) so I guess that's how I knew.

So why would the Browns and A's play each other in Comiskey? That doesn't seem to make any sense.

JohnnyRev · Oct 13, 2002

No, they didn't play each other. They played the White Sox!!!!

I saw Gus Zernial and Eddie Robinson homer in the same game against the ChiSox. For the Browns, I saw Johnny Groth get beaned and carried off on a stretcher. I grew up on the South Side, and on Ladies' Day my mother would round up the kids in the neighborhood, take us on the el, and head to Comiskey.