Last year, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. This year, they are one of the worst teams in baseball, with a good chance of finishing in the basement.
This started me thinking. We've heard of teams going "Worst to First" (like the 1991 Minnesota Twins). What teams have gone the other way - winning a World Series and then winding up in the basement the next year?
Admittedly, I could look this up with a little effort, but I'm too lazy tonight.
?
Favorite Answer
That was actually pretty easy to find.
Worst First Team Lge/Div W Dif Next Season
1915 1914 Philadelphia Athletics AL -56 1916: 8th (Last)
1987 1986 California Angels AL West -17 1988: 4th
1993 1992 Oakland Athletics AL West -28 1994: 2nd
1995 1994 Montreal Expos ¹ NL East -8 1996: 2nd
1997 1996 San Diego Padres NL West -15 1998: 1st
2000 1999 Texas Rangers AL West -24 2001: 4th (Last)
2011 2010 Minnesota Twins AL Central -34 ? ?
el Águila
The only team I could find that "literally" did that- win the World Series, finish last place the next season- are the 1997/1998 Florida Marlins; they went from 92-70 to 54-108, and finished an astonishing 52 games out of first, behind the Braves.
The Toronto Blue Jays came close in 1993/1994 and could have finished in last place if the 1994 season had finished; when the strike started, they were in third but only a game ahead of the Red Sox, who were themselves only a game ahead of the Tigers. The Blue Jays "did" finish 5th out of 5 in 1995, so they were still technically the defending World Series champions.
I found more teams who "lost" the World Series and then finished last the next year, or won the World Series but then finished 5th or worse but not "last" because there weren't five divisions yet, if any...
But you didn't ask that.
Anonymous
Florida Marlins I'm sure. They trade everybody that makes more than $500,000.
Kal-El
the giants will take that hands down.