Which collapse was--or will be--bigger?

[hockeybeat]

While flipping between the Mets and Yanks tonight, I began thinking about teams which had huge leads only to spit the bit. Then I thought about how the 2007 Mets and Red Sox would be remembered, should they blow their divisional leads and finish out of the playoffs.

So, of the five listed, which collapse will be bigger in the annals of history?

 

[Cape_Fear]

You left off the 1964 Phils, 6 1/2 up with 12 to play. The Mets collapse will be 7 up with 17 to play and no team ever coughed up a lead that big with so few to play.

 

[BYH]

Neither the Sox nor Mets will finish pissing this away.

 

[Claws for Concern]

The California Angels in 1995 lost AL West in a one-game playoff to Seattle after blowing a 10 1/2 game lead.

 

[hockeybeat]

You left off the 1964 Phils, 6 1/2 up with 12 to play. The Mets collapse will be 7 up with 17 to play and no team ever coughed up a lead that big with so few to play.

Thanks for pointing that out, Cape_Fear.

I added the 1964 Phillies to this list.

 

[Chi City 81]

I voted for the '04 Yanks. It never had happened before in baseball, and only ... what ... four times in professional sports history?

 

[Angola!]

The California Angels in 1995 lost AL West in a one-game playoff to Seattle after blowing a 10 1/2 game lead.

Yeah, this collapse was pretty crazy.
Plus, I don't think you can have the 2007 Red Sox on there because even if they blow the division they will still make the playoffs.

 

[crimsonace]

As a Cubs fan, I want to thank the Mets for being horrible long enough to give the Braves something to play for this weekend against Milwaukee .

Don't think the Mets will actually blow it, though. And the 2007 Red Sox collapse isn't as huge of a deal, because the division champ/wild card basically means one game's worth of homefield advantage in the playoffs.

 

[Barsuk]

As far as how the 2007 Mets and Red Sox are remembered, it depends on whether either or both of them succeed in pissing down their legs. If they both lose the division, this season will be remembered more than if only one of them (or neither of them) gags.

 

[buckweaver]

1995 Angels have to be included on this list.

That said, the answer is (and remains) the 1964 Phillies.

 

[amraeder]

Just ask Joe Morgan

 

[spnited]

'51 Dodgers, up 13 1/2 in mid-August lose best-of-3 playoff to Giants on Thomson's "Shot heard 'round the world."



Can't include 2004 Yanks -- biggest choke in history -- because it was post-season not regular season

 

[BYH]

'51 Dodgers, up 13 1/2 in mid-August lose best-of-3 playoff to Giants on Thomson's "Shot heard 'round the world."

Doesn't count. Bill Belichick was the Giants' video director.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Everybody thought the White Sox were going to blow it on 05.

Everybody thought the Cardinals were going to blow it in 06.

 

[spnited]

The Phillies will make sure the Mets don't blow.

The Red Sox, on other the hand ....

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

If the Red Sox choke away this division to the Yankees, it will be mere trivia. The Sox will still be in the playoffs so it really won't matter all that much.

 

[PhilaYank36]

The Phillies will make sure the Mets don't blow.

The Red Sox, on other the hand ....

The Mets do blow, but I think they'll hold on. If it's the Phillies in their rear-view mirror, puh-lease. If Boston REALLY wanted to win the division, all they'd have to do is stop using Gagne. That being said, it seems like they want to be the wild card, given how well that worked out in '04.

 

[Dan Rydell]

'64 Phillies.

I wasn't alive then, but that was the major meltdown.

2004 ALCS is right there with it, though.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

3-0. :'(

 

[Birdscribe]

'51 Dodgers, up 13 1/2 in mid-August lose best-of-3 playoff to Giants on Thomson's "Shot heard 'round the world."

I was waiting for this one. If you're going to mention the '95 Angels, this one has to leave your lips in the next breath. Both had double-digit leads in August and both spit the bit.

That said, I voted for the '64 Phils -- 6 1/2 up with 12 to go and you're watching the Series at home. That's a 3 1/2 double pike with a degree of difficulty that hasn't been seen before and since.

Bonus points: What monumental event happened the same day as the Angels-Mariners playoff game in October of 1995?