The Yankees are no strangers to building big division leads. What they aren’t accustomed to is blowing them. Since 1901, the Bronx Bombers have taken a lead of at least 6 ½ games in 38 different seasons, not including this one, and each time they ended up in first place. This year, however, history may be put to the test.
Close Calls: Near Collapses in Yankees History
Note: Includes seasons in which the Yankees took at least a 6.5 game lead, only to see it dwindle at least as low as 1.5 games before recovering to win the division. Data as of August 10, 2015. Leads/deficits are as of the end of play on each date.
Source: baseball-reference.com (data) and proprietary (presentation)
On July 26, the Yankees took a 6.5 game lead in the A.L. East, but since then, the Blue Jays, buoyed by the deadline acquisition of David Price and Troy Tulowitzki, have whittled the Bronx Bombers’ advantage down to 1.5. In only seven of 38 seasons with such a large lead have the Yankees ceded that much ground, including most recently in 2012, when they went from a double-digit edge to a flat footed tie with the Orioles. In three other seasons, 1955, 1949, 1928, the Yankees actually dropped into second place (the former by as many as two games and latter coming after building a 13 ½ game lead) before regaining the top spot. Will the 2015 Yankees be as resilient in the face of the Blue Jays’ surge, or will this be the year the precedent is broken?
Largest Blown Leads in Yankees History
Note: Includes leads that were never recovered. Leads (GA)/deficits (GB) are as of the end of play on each date
Source: baseball-reference.com (data) and proprietary (presentation)
Although the Yankees have avoided a major regular season collapse during their illustrious history, the team has ceded three modest division leads of at least five games. The largest blown lead by a Bronx Bombers’ team occurred in 1933, when the Yankees saw a six game advantage on June 6 quickly dissolve into a distant second place finish. Two years later, playing in their first season without Babe Ruth since 1919, the Yankees started off strong, but allowed a 5.5 game lead on June 20 to change hands with the Detroit Tigers. Lastly, in 1987, the Yankees seemed poised to break a postseason drought of six years, but the team’s five game lead on July 4 lasted about as long as the fireworks. Beset by injuries to the likes of Rickey Henderson, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, and Don Mattingly, the Yankees played under .500 for the rest of the season and ended up a disappointing fourth place. Neither of these teams is remembered as a choker because their leads weren’t very large or long standing and the circumstances surrounding their demise were unremarkable. Should a similar fate befall the 2015 Yankees, will history be as forgiving?
Because of how much the Blue Jays have improved, and how well they have played since the trade deadline, it’s very possible that Toronto could catapult past the Yankees even if the Bronx Bombers play well down the stretch. If that is the backdrop against which the Yankees cede the division, the choke label shouldn’t come into play…at least not with regard to the players. After all, if the Bronx Bombers fall short, the question won’t be how did the Yankees lose, but why wasn’t ownership and the front office more invested in winning?
[…] standard, it would have been blasphemous to even consider this year a success, especially after blowing the largest division lead in franchise history. Not too long ago, it was World Series or bust for the Bronx Bombers, so 87 wins and a wild card […]