From 116-win juggernauts to three-peat dynasties, October has a way of humbling the inevitable.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are bearing down on another World Series appearance, and the baseball world is already penciling them in for a repeat championship. They just swept the league's best regular-season team, and whoever emerges from the Seattle-Toronto series will face a seemingly insurmountable task. The Dodgers look inevitable.

But baseball has a funny way of humbling the inevitable.

History is littered with World Series favorites who discovered that momentum, talent, and regular-season dominance mean nothing once October arrives. The supposed sure things who ran into a hot pitcher, a team playing with nothing to lose, or simply the cruel randomness of a short series.

Here are eight times the overwhelming favorite learned that lesson the hard way:

Diamond Echo Subscribers:

This will be the only blog post this week. I am having eye surgery this week and will need a few days to recuperate. The next blog post will be Monday, October 27th… Rick

1. 1954: Cleveland Indians vs. New York Giants

The Favorite: Cleveland Indians (111-43, .721)

The Underdog: New York Giants (97-57, .630)

The Result: Giants sweep 4-0

This remains the gold standard of World Series upsets. The 1954 Cleveland Indians weren't just good—they were historically dominant. Their 111 wins stood as an American League record for 44 years (until the 1998 Yankees won 114). They featured baseball's best pitching staff, led by Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia, plus a lineup that included Larry Doby, Al Rosen, and Bobby Avila.

The Indians won the pennant by eight games over the Yankees—the same Yankees team that had won five consecutive World Series from 1949-1953. Beating the Yankees decisively seemed like the hard part. The Giants appeared to be a mere formality.

What happened instead was "The Catch."

Willie Mays' legendary over-the-shoulder grab in Game 1 at the Polo Grounds robbed Vic Wertz of extra bases and preserved a tied game that the Giants eventually won in extra innings. That momentum shift proved devastating. The Giants swept the series, with Dusty Rhodes providing clutch hitting off the bench and the Giants pitching staff completely neutralizing Cleveland's powerful lineup.

The Indians scored just nine runs in four games. Their vaunted pitching staff, which had dominated all season, couldn't stop the Giants' opportunistic offense. Cleveland's 111-win season ended in humiliation, and the franchise still hasn't won a World Series since 1948.

Why It Happened: The Giants had precisely what short series require—dominant starting pitching, timely hitting, and momentum. Johnny Antonelli, Sal Maglie, and Don Liddle shut down the Indians' offense, while Rhodes provided the kind of unexpected heroics that define October baseball. Cleveland had better everything—except results when it mattered.

2. 1969: Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Mets

The Favorite: Baltimore Orioles (109-53, .673)

The Underdog: New York Mets (100-62, .617)

The Result: Mets win 4-1

The 1969 Orioles were magnificent. They won 109 games, swept the Minnesota Twins in the ALCS, and featured future Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, and Jim Palmer. Their pitching staff led the league in ERA. Their lineup led in runs scored. They had everything.

The Mets, meanwhile, were "The Miracle Mets"—a nickname that tells you everything about expectations. This was a franchise that had lost over 100 games as recently as 1967. They'd never finished higher than ninth place in their seven-year existence. They were lovable losers who somehow got hot at exactly the right time.

Nobody gave them a chance. Oddsmakers installed Baltimore as overwhelming favorites. The Orioles had won 15 of their last 17 games heading into the Series. The betting public hammered the Orioles.

Then Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Gary Gentry happened.

The Mets' young pitching staff completely shut down Baltimore's powerful lineup. After losing Game 1, the Mets won four straight, allowing just five runs total in those victories. Ron Swoboda made an impossible diving catch to save Game 4. Tommie Agee made two spectacular defensive plays in Game 3. The Mets got contributions from unexpected sources at unexpected times—exactly how underdogs win.

Why It Happened: The Mets had three things working for them—elite young starting pitching entering its prime, superior defense that turned potential Orioles rallies into outs, and the intangible belief that comes from a miraculous season. The Orioles were the better team. The Mets were the better story, and in a short series, sometimes that matters more.

3. 1988: Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Favorite: Oakland Athletics (104-58, .642)

The Underdog: Los Angeles Dodgers (94-67, .584)

The Result: Dodgers win 4-1

The 1988 Oakland A's were baseball's next dynasty in waiting. They featured the "Bash Brothers" (Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire), Cy Young winner Dennis Eckersley closing games, and a pitching staff led by Dave Stewart. They'd steamrolled through the regular season and swept the Red Sox in the ALCS. They looked unstoppable.

The Dodgers were Kirk Gibson and a bunch of replacement parts. Their best pitcher, Orel Hershiser, was dominant—he'd just completed a record 59-consecutive scoreless innings streak—but beyond Gibson and Hershiser, the roster was underwhelming. Gibson himself was so injured he could barely walk, appearing in just one at-bat the entire series.

But what an at-bat.

Gibson's legendary pinch-hit home run off Eckersley in Game 1 completely changed the series' complexion. The Dodgers had no business winning that game, trailing 4-3 with two outs in the ninth against the game's best closer. Gibson could barely stand, much less run. His swing was compromised by leg injuries.

Yet he worked the count full, fouled off pitch after pitch, then launched a backdoor slider into the right-field stands. His fist-pumping hobble around the bases became one of baseball's most iconic images.

Hershiser did the rest, throwing a complete-game shutout in Game 2 and another in the clinching Game 5. The A's powerful lineup managed just 11 runs in five games against Dodgers pitching that had no business dominating them.

Why It Happened: Hershiser was unhittable, but the real answer is momentum. Gibson's home run created psychological damage the A's never recovered from. They'd just watched an injured player who couldn't run beat their best pitcher in the most improbable fashion imaginable. That kind of gut-punch can deflate even the most talented team, and the A's spent the rest of the series waiting for something to go right that never did.

4. 1960: New York Yankees vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Favorite: New York Yankees (97-57, .630)

The Underdog: Pittsburgh Pirates (95-59, .617)

The Result: Pirates win 4-3

This might be the strangest World Series ever played. The Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27 over seven games. They won their three victories by scores of 16-3, 10-0, and 12-0. They set World Series records for runs, hits, and total bases. By every statistical measure, they dominated.

And they lost.

The Pirates won the close games—6-4, 3-2, 5-2, and the famous 10-9 Game 7 thriller. Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run in Game 7 remains one of baseball's most famous moments, but it shouldn't have been necessary. The Yankees had just demolished the Pirates 12-0 in Game 6. They led 7-4 in Game 7 before the Pirates rallied.

The Yankees featured Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford. The Pirates had Roberto Clemente and a bunch of solid players having career years. On paper, it wasn't close.

On the field, the Pirates found ways to win the games that mattered. Vernon Law and Roy Face pitched brilliantly in their victories. The Pirates played tight defense in close games while the Yankees' defense occasionally faltered. And when the series came down to one swing, Mazeroski delivered.

Why It Happened: The Pirates won the close games while the Yankees won blowouts—which only counts as one victory each. New York's offensive explosions came against Pirates pitching that couldn't handle them, but when Pirates pitchers like Law and Face had their best stuff, they shut down the Yankees just enough. Baseball isn't played on paper, and sometimes the team that executes in crucial moments beats the team with better talent.

5. 2001: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees

The Favorite: New York Yankees (95-65, .594)

The Underdog: Arizona Diamondbacks (92-70, .568)

The Result: Diamondbacks win 4-3

The 2001 Yankees were a dynasty. They'd won three consecutive World Series (1998-2000) and four of the previous five. They featured Derek Jeter in his prime, Mariano Rivera as the game's best closer, and an October pedigree unmatched in modern baseball. They'd just eliminated the record-tying 116-win Mariners in the ALCS.

The Diamondbacks were a four-year-old expansion franchise. Yes, they had Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling—two of the game's most dominant pitchers—but beyond that duo, their roster was a collection of aging veterans and overachievers. They had no business beating the Yankees' championship experience.

Through six games, the series lived up to expectations. The teams split, with Johnson and Schilling dominant in Diamondbacks wins while the Yankees found ways to win close games in New York, including two of the most dramatic walk-off victories in World Series history.

Game 7 featured Rivera—the most reliable closer in baseball history—protecting a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning. The Diamondbacks had no business rallying against Rivera, who'd converted 23 consecutive postseason save opportunities.

But Mark Grace singled. Damian Miller bunted him to second. Rivera threw the ball away on a bunt attempt, putting runners on the corners. Tony Womack doubled to tie the game. Luis Gonzalez blooped a single over a drawn-in infield to win it.

The dynasty was dead. The expansion team had won.

Why It Happened: Johnson and Schilling were unhittable—they combined for four wins and a save in the series. But the real story was the Diamondbacks' refusal to be intimidated by the moment or the opponent. They'd watched the Yankees author magical comebacks all postseason, yet still found a way to author one more miracle than New York did.

6. 2019: Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals

The Favorite: Houston Astros (107-55, .660)

The Underdog: Washington Nationals (93-69, .574)

The Result: Nationals win 4-3

The 2019 Astros won 107 games, featured the AL's best pitching staff, and had home-field advantage. They'd eliminated the 103-win Yankees in the ALCS and looked poised to win their second championship in three years.

The Nationals had barely made the playoffs as a Wild Card, won an elimination game against Milwaukee, then survived tough series against the Dodgers and Cardinals. They were exhausted, running on fumes, and facing a superior Houston team in a hostile environment.

The Astros won the first two games at home and appeared ready to cruise to a title. Then the series shifted to Washington, and everything changed.

The Nationals won all three games in Washington, taking a 3-2 series lead back to Houston. The Astros won Game 6 to force Game 7, setting up a winner-take-all finale at Minute Maid Park.

Game 7 featured Houston's best starter (Zack Greinke) against Washington's (Max Scherzer). The Nationals jumped ahead early, then watched Stephen Strasburg and their bullpen shut down the Astros' powerful lineup. Houston couldn't solve Washington's pitching, and the Nationals won 6-2.

The road team won every single game—the first time that had ever happened in a World Series.

Why It Happened: The Nationals' starting pitching was simply better when it mattered. Scherzer, Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin gave Washington the kind of dominant performances that neutralize lineup advantages. Houston's pitching staff, while excellent, couldn't match that level in crucial games. And once the Nationals built confidence by winning in Houston, they became impossible to stop.

7. 1914: Philadelphia Athletics vs. Boston Braves

The Favorite: Philadelphia Athletics (99-53, .651)

The Underdog: Boston Braves (94-59, .614)

The Result: Braves sweep 4-0

This is the granddaddy of all World Series upsets—the original "Miracle."

The Philadelphia Athletics were a dynasty. They'd won the World Series in 1910, 1911, and 1913. They featured the "$100,000 infield" (a massive sum in that era) of Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry, and Home Run Baker. Their pitching staff included Chief Bender, Eddie Plank, and Bullet Joe Bush. Manager Connie Mack had built a juggernaut that seemed unstoppable.

The Boston Braves were in last place on July 4th. They were 26-40 and going nowhere. Dead. Finished. Written off.

Then something extraordinary happened. The Braves went 68-19 the rest of the way—one of the greatest second-half surges in baseball history—to win the pennant by 10.5 games. It was a miraculous turnaround, but catching fire against mediocre National League competition in late season was one thing. Beating a dynasty with three championships in four years? Nobody gave them a chance.

The oddsmakers installed the Athletics as heavy favorites. The baseball establishment expected Philadelphia to dispatch these upstarts in short order and claim their fourth title in five years.

Instead, the Braves swept the mighty Athletics in four straight games. Their pitching trio of Dick Rudolph, Bill James, and Lefty Tyler completely shut down Philadelphia's vaunted offense. The Athletics managed just six runs in four games—an average of 1.5 runs per contest. The "$100,000 infield" looked like they'd never held a bat. Eddie Collins, one of baseball's greatest players, hit .214 for the series. Home Run Baker managed just .250 with no extra-base hits.

The Braves, meanwhile, played flawless defense and got timely hitting from Hank Gowdy, who hit .545 with three doubles and a triple. But the real story was pitching. Rudolph won Games 1 and 4. James won Game 2. Tyler won Game 3. All three were complete games. All three were dominant.

The upset was so complete, so humiliating, that Connie Mack broke up his dynasty immediately afterward. Rather than face the embarrassment of trying again with the same core that had been so thoroughly dismantled, Mack sold off his star players and entered a rebuilding phase. The Athletics wouldn't win another pennant until 1929.

The Braves' "miracle" gave rise to a phrase that would be applied to underdogs for generations to come. Even today, over a century later, improbable comebacks and unlikely championships are compared to the 1914 Miracle Braves.

Why It Happened: The Braves had three excellent starting pitchers hitting their absolute peak at precisely the right moment. Their defense was superior, turning potential Athletics rallies into outs with spectacular plays. But mostly, they had momentum and belief from their miraculous second-half run. They'd already accomplished the impossible just by making the World Series. Beating the Athletics seemed like the natural continuation of their magical season. The Athletics, conversely, expected their reputation and talent to simply overwhelm the upstarts. They waited for the Braves to be intimidated, and it never happened.

8. 1906: Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox

The Favorite: Chicago Cubs (116-36, .763)

The Underdog: Chicago White Sox (93-58, .616)

The Result: White Sox win 4-2

The 1906 Chicago Cubs won 116 games—a record that stood for 95 years until the 2001 Mariners tied it. Their .763 winning percentage remains the best in modern baseball history. They didn't just win the National League pennant—they obliterated it, finishing 20 games ahead of second place.

Their pitching staff was phenomenal, led by Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, who posted a 1.04 ERA. Their defense was the best in baseball, featuring the legendary Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double-play combination that would be immortalized in poetry. Their offense led the league in runs scored. They were complete in every phase of the game.

The Chicago White Sox were known derisively as "The Hitless Wonders." They hit .230 as a team—dead last in the American League. They scored the fewest runs in the AL. They won the pennant purely through pitching, defense, and clutching out close games. On paper, they had no business even being competitive with the Cubs' juggernaut.

This was Chicago's first and only all-Chicago World Series (the Cubs and White Sox have never met in the Fall Classic since). The Cubs were installed as heavy favorites—some estimates suggest 3-to-1 or even 4-to-1 odds. The betting public assumed the Cubs would make short work of their crosstown rivals.

The Series went six games, with the White Sox winning four. Their anemic offense somehow came alive against Cubs pitching, batting .198 for the series but getting hits precisely when they needed them. The Cubs, who'd dominated all season with both pitching and hitting, couldn't solve White Sox pitching when it mattered.

Game 3 epitomized the upset. The White Sox scored three runs in the sixth inning—their biggest offensive explosion of the series—and held on for a 3-0 victory. Game 6, played at the Cubs' home park, saw the White Sox win 8-3 to clinch the championship. The Hitless Wonders had outscored the mighty Cubs 8-3 in the clinching game.

The crosstown upset stunned Chicago and the baseball world. The greatest regular-season team ever assembled had been beaten by a team that couldn't hit. The Cubs' 116-win season, their dominant pitching, their legendary defense—none of it mattered when the games counted most.

The Cubs wouldn't win another World Series for 110 years.

Why It Happened: White Sox pitching, led by Nick Altrock, Doc White, and Ed Walsh, was every bit as good as the Cubs' vaunted staff. In a short series, when both teams have excellent pitching and defense, offense becomes unpredictable and small-ball execution matters enormously. The White Sox manufactured just enough runs through bunts, stolen bases, and timely hitting while the Cubs' offense—which had dominated all season—went cold at the worst possible time. The Cubs also made uncharacteristic defensive mistakes that cost them crucial runs. Most importantly, the White Sox believed they could win. They'd won close games all season through pitching and defense, and they trusted that formula would work against the Cubs. It did.

THE COMMON THREADS

Looking across these upsets, several patterns emerge that transcend eras:

Elite pitching beats elite hitting in short series.
From the 1906 White Sox to the 2019 Nationals, dominant starting pitching has repeatedly neutralized supposedly superior offenses. The Cubs won 116 games but couldn't score against White Sox pitching. The Astros won 107 games but couldn't solve Scherzer and Strasburg. Short series amplify the impact of a few great pitchers.

Momentum matters more than talent.
The 1914 Braves rode their miraculous second-half surge all the way through the World Series. The 1969 Mets carried their "miracle" season into October. The 1988 Dodgers seized momentum with Gibson's home run and never let go. Favorites sometimes wait for their superior talent to assert itself while underdogs impose their will immediately.

Defense and execution beat raw power.
The 1960 Pirates and 1954 Giants made plays when they mattered, while favorites let crucial moments slip away. The 1906 White Sox executed small ball perfectly while the Cubs' powerful offense stalled. Championships are won in the margins—a great defensive play here, a perfectly executed bunt there—and underdogs often execute better than favorites who expect their talent to be enough.

Belief is intangible but real.
Every underdog team believed it could win despite the odds. The 1914 Braves had already accomplished the impossible by coming from last place. The 1906 White Sox had won close games all year. The 2001 Diamondbacks refused to be intimidated by Yankee mystique. Meanwhile, some favorites seemed to expect victory to simply arrive, and when it didn't come easily, they had no answer.

Short series create variance.
Over 162 games, the better team almost always wins. Over seven games, anything can happen. One bad week, one cold stretch, one player getting hot at the right time—these things matter enormously in small samples. The Indians won 111 games but had one bad week. The Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27 but lost four games to three. Talent predicts long-term success. In short series, execution and timing matter more.

THE LESSON FOR 2025
So what does this mean for the Dodgers' seemingly inevitable march to another championship? History suggests that "inevitable" is baseball's most dangerous word.

The Dodgers are talented, deep, and experienced. They've swept the league's best team and look unstoppable. But the Indians won 111 games. The Cubs won 116. The Mariners won 116. The Astros won 107. The Orioles won 109. The Athletics won three championships in four years before the Braves swept them.

All were overwhelming favorites. All lost.

Baseball's short series format is designed to create uncertainty. The better team wins over 162 games, but seven games can turn on a single pitch, a single play, a single moment of brilliance or failure. The favorites have the talent advantage, but the underdogs only need to be better for one week.

From the Hitless Wonders of 1906 to the Miracle Braves of 1914 to the Miracle Mets of 1969 to the wild-card Nationals of 2019, history keeps teaching the same lesson: October baseball respects no favorites.

That's why they play the games. And that's why the overwhelming favorites sometimes go home disappointed, wondering how a 116-win season or a three-championship dynasty could end in a sweep.

The Dodgers might win. They probably should win. But history suggests they might want to remember what happened to the last dynasty everyone assumed was unstoppable.

Just ask Connie Mack's 1914 Athletics.