team under .500). In 1978, the Yankees won 100 and the Red Sox 99 in a race you might have heard of. In 1977, the Yankees won 100, and the Red Sox and Orioles 97. Anyway, back to 1980. The Yankees had a one-game lead entering September, then won 15 of 16 to pull away.

1962 National League

Giants: 103

Dodgers: 102

After 162 games, each team had won 101 -- the Dodgers had blown a four-game lead with seven to play by losing six of seven. The two teams met for a three-game tiebreaker. Sandy Koufax, who had pitched just 7.2 innings since mid-July due to numbness in his pitching hand, took the mound in Game 1. With Don Drysdale and Johnny Podres having pitched the previous two days, Walter Alstongave Koufax the ball, but he got knocked out in the second inning as the Giants won 8-0 -- the Dodgers' third consecutive game being shut out. But they won Game 2 to force the finale, Juan Marichal versus Podres at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers took a 4-2 lead into the ninth -- the Giants had intentionally walked Johnny Roseboro and Willie Davis to load the bases in the eighth, betting Alston would let reliever Ed Roebuck bat. He did, and Roebuck grounded out. With a tired Dodgers staff, Roebuck began his fourth inning of relief (he also had pitched four innings in the first game). He was gassed. He gave up a single and two walks and then an RBI single to Willie Mays. Stan Williams then gave