Biggest World Series Longshot Winners
The MLB gives a sleeper team the best chance to win a championship. The odds only expand to the mid-1980s. Here are the biggest World Series longshot winners since 1985.
The sportsbooks didn't have much faith in the 2015 Kansas City Royals. They won their first seven games to a 15-7 record in April. The Royals won the AL at 95-67 and advanced to the ALCS. In the World Series, they beat Toronto Blue Jays in six games. They are now playing in their second straight World series. Their offense ranked at the top of the league in many categories.
The 2002 Anaheim Angels won the World Series as a wild card. They had a disappointing start to the season, but they won 21 of their next 24 games. The team won a lot of games after the all-star break. Their 99-63 record earned them a spot in the playoffs as the second-longest odds (+1200). They beat the New York Yankees in ALDS and the Minnesota Twins in ALCS. San Francisco won World series against them.
The Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987. They had a negative run differential in the regular season and a 29-52 road record. The team won 16-14 in September and won their division with 85-77 record in October. In the ALCS, they played against a Detroit Tigers team that won an MLB best 98 games. Minnesota won in five games and the series in Game 7. Pitcher Frank Viola won World Championship MVP.
The Florida Marlins won the World Series in 2003. They had a terrible start to the season. Jack McKeon took over the team. The team finished the year 18-8. They won 91-71. New York Yankees were the favorites to win the series. Florida won in six games. It's one of the biggest upsets in World series history. Other big upset winners are the 1996 and 2000 Yankees.
The 1991 Minnesota Twins won the World Series. They were the first team in MLB history to win the pennant after finishing last in the division the season before. The team won 95-67 and advanced to the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays. Their World series against Atlanta Braves was won by Gene Larkin in Game 7. The game was decided by a walk-off single in 10th inning.
The 2015 Kansas City Royals are a longshot to win the World Series. Most of them were coming off a terrible season.
