Here's what the Rangers are up against historically. These things happen.

-13 game 7s have occurred in modern history (post expansion)
-The road team won game 7 blowing game 6 2 times (75 Reds, 71 Pirates)
-The home team won game 7 9 of 13 times and the last 8 in a row (so before that road team won 4 of 5).
-The team that failed to close in game 6 won game 7 4 times (97 Marlins, 75 Reds, 72 A's, 71 Pirates).

So the Rangers need to replicate the magic of the 71 Pirates and 75 Reds - road winners in game 7 after blowing game 6


Series that went to 7 games in modern history:

2002 - Angles (home) over Giants. Giants up 3-2, blow a 5-0 7th inning lead in game 6 in Anaheim. Angels win game 7 easily.

2001 - DBacks (home) over Yankees. Yankees up 3-2, Dbacks get dominant games from Johnson and Schilling. Rivera blows it in game 7.

1997 - Marlins (home) over Indians. Marlins up 3-2. Kevin Brown loses game 6 4-1. Indians Jose Mesa blows 1 run lead in game 7 9th inning, Marlins win in 11th.

1991 - Twins (home) over Braves. Braves up 3-2. Kirby Puckett wins game 6 with HR, then Jack Morris dominates game 7.

1987 - Twins (home) over Cardinals. Cards up 3-2. Twins cruise to 2 wins at home.

1986 - Mets (home) over Red Sox. Red Sox up 3-2. Schiraldi, Stanley, Buckner. Also blew a 3 run lead in game 7.

1985 - Royals (home) over Cardinals. Cardinals up 3-2. Royals score 2 in 9th to win 2-1. Controversial call in 9th hurts Cards (thank God that didn't happen last night -signed Mavs fans). Royals dominate game 7 at home.

1982 - Cardinals (home) over Brewers. Brewers up 3-2. Cardinals dominate game 6, come back from down 3-1 6th innning game 7.

1979 - Pirates over Orioles (home). Orioles up 3-2. Pirates win 4-0 game 6 and 4-1 game 7.We are Family

1975 - Reds over Red Sox (home). Reds up 3-2. Fisk HR game 6. Red Sox blow 3 run lead in game 7.

1973 - A's (home) over Mets. Mets up 3-2. A's win 3-1 game 6, 5-2 game 7.

1972 - A's over Reds (home). A's up 3-2. Reds win 8-1 game 6. A's win 3-2 game 7.

1971 - Pirates over Orioles (home). Pirates up 3-2. Pirates blow a 2-1 7th inning lead to lose game 6. Pirates win game 7 2-1

[This message has been edited by InternetFan02 (edited 10/28/2011 10:11a).]

as an aside...there were five 7-game world series in the 1970's and four of them in the 1980's; but very few since

is that a result of the gross imbalance in payroll among teams? i.e. one great team usually cleans up easily in the WS

quote:

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http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_71ws_gm7_pitbal

1971 World Series | Game 7
Clemente leads Bucs to Series glory


MEMORIAL STADIUM, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND -- With the Orioles and Pirates each posting the best home record in their respective leagues during the regular season, it's fitting that the home team won each of the first six games. So with Game 7 slated for Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, Orioles fans had reason to be confident.

It didn't hurt that Orioles manager Earl Weaver could pick his starter with his eyes closed, and still be guaranteed a 20-game winner on the hill. Mike Cuellar -- one of Baltimore's four 20-game winners that season -- got the call against Steve Blass of the Pirates' no-name pitching staff for a rematch of Game 3.

The star of the show for Pittsburgh was Roberto Clemente. In 1960, a 26-year-old Clemente hit safely in all seven games of the World Series made famous by Bill Mazeroski's heroics. Eleven years later, Clemente picked up where he left off, recording at least one hit in each of the first six games against the Orioles. In the fourth inning of Game 7, Pittsburgh's Hall of Fame-bound right fielder made it 14 straight when he homered off Cuellar to put the Pirates up 1-0. Cuellar allowed another run in the eighth as Jose Pagan doubled home Willie Stargell.

For his part, Blass was as brilliant as he had been in Game 3, when he pitched Pittsburgh back into the Series by allowing just one run in his complete-game victory. Blass used a neat double play by his infield to get out of a jam in the third, picked off Don Buford to quell a possible rally in the fourth and pitched around a double in the fifth. The Orioles finally managed to scratch out a run off Blass in the bottom of the eighth, but the tying run was left stranded on third.

Facing the heart of the Orioles order in the ninth, Blass enticed Boog Powell to ground out, got Frank Robinson to pop to short and watched as shortstop Jackie Hernandez fielded Merv Rettenmund's grounder up the middle and threw to first for the final out.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were World Champions and Clemente, who batted .414 over the seven games, was named World Series MVP.

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I forgot that the Big Red Machine had lost 3 World Series before coming back to win Game 7 in 1975

quote:

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http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_75ws_gm7_cinbos

October 22, 1975
1975 World Series | Game 7
"The Day After Fisk" the Big Red Machine rolls on to victory


FENWAY PARK, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- Mere hours had gone by since Carlton Fisk ended the classic, 12-inning marathon that was Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, setting the stage for the Reds and Red Sox to battle one last time to decide the 1975 World Series championship.

The momentum rested with the Red Sox, who had won Game 6, a game of great emotional and physical effort for both teams. They also had the benefit of the Fenway Park faithful, in full voice and still keyed up from the night before. On the mound they had Bill Lee, the flamboyant left-hander who had pitched well in a losing effort in Game 2, while the Reds countered with young lefty Don Gullett, one of baseball's most promising talents. Gullett had already started twice in the series, including a Game 5 gem in a 6-2 Reds win.

Boston took quick advantage of Gullett, plating three runs in the bottom of the third, while Lee was effective for the first five innings, holding the Reds scoreless. But Cincinnati broke through for two runs on a Tony Perez homer in the top of the sixth, and another jam in the seventh resulted in Lee being lifted as the Reds tied the score and the game settled into a battle of the bullpens.

The Reds broke the deadlock in the top of the ninth with a leadoff walk coming back to haunt the Red Sox. Ken Griffey worked a walk off Jim Burton and went to second when Rico Petrocelli fell while fielding Cesar Geronimo's tapper for the first out. Burton retired pinch-hitter Dan Driessen on a grounder to second, sending Griffey to third. Burton walked Pete Rose then gave up a solid single to Joe Morgan, bringing home Griffey with the go-ahead and series-winning run in one of the most thrilling World Series in baseball history.

The Red Sox were unable to dent Cincinnati closer Wil McEnaney in the bottom half of the ninth, as the Reds won their first World Series title since 1940 after falling short in postseason in 1970, 1972 and 1973. The Big Red Machine would repeat as champions in 1976, cementing their place as one of baseball's powerhouse dynasties.

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for my money...the 1970's was the golden era of MLB. Those 5 great world series...and that doesn't include the iconic 77 & 78 Yankees-Dodgers matchups

free agency hurt teams like the A's, Pirates, and Reds in the decades ahead. Only the big market teams can dominate consistently now.

Funny though how there were 3 separate mini-dynasties in the 70s, and only 5 franchises won titles. But the A's and Reds were small market dynasties. We could have 10 different champs the last 11 years if the Rangers win, but they're mostly big market franchises winning now.

[This message has been edited by InternetFan02 (edited 10/28/2011 11:31a).]