World Series 2011: Why the Cardinals Will Win Game 7

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In one of the greatest World Series games ever played, the St. Louis Cardinals forced a Game 7 in the 107th Fall Classic by coming from behind while down to their last strike, not once but twice, and winning in walk-off fashion on a David Freese home run in the 11th.

Now, as the attention of the baseball world quickly shifts to Game 7 on Friday night and the unimaginable idea of anything topping what was witnessed at Busch Stadium in Game 6, the question becomes: can the Texas Rangers, reeling from blowing two late leads when being a strike away from the title, regroup and win Game 7, or will St. Louis continue riding its momentum to a World Series title?

History suggests that teams that blow late leads in Game 6 of a World Series do not fare well in the deciding seventh game. If this trend holds, the Cardinals will complete the ultimate comeback by winning it all Friday night...

2002: Angels Defeat Giants

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In 2002, the San Francisco Giants were eight outs away from their first world championship since the franchise moved west from New York in 1958.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 6, with the Giants ahead in the series three games to two, and leading the game 5-0, the wheels fell off for San Francisco.

The Angels scored three runs in the seventh on a home run by Scott Spezio, and then three more runs in the eighth with the big blow being a double off the bat of Troy Glaus, putting the Angels ahead for good.

Anaheim won the game, 6-5, forcing a Game 7 the next night, which they won 4-1, to win the World Series.

2001: Diamondbacks Defeat Yankees

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In 2001, the underdog Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in a position that most teams playing the New York Yankees in October do: behind in the World Series.

In this case, Arizona was down three games to two. But the Snakes didn't quit, winning Game 6 by blowing out the Bronx Bombers, 15-2.

Even the Yankees couldn't rebound from that lop-sided loss at Arizona's hands, and lost Game 7, 3-2 on a walk-off single by Luis Gonzalez.

1991: Twins Defeat Braves

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The 1991 World Series is regarded as one of the greatest of all-time. The Minnesota Twins found themselves down three games to two, and the Atlanta Braves sought to close the series out at the Metrodome in Game 6.

The Twins battled and battled, and in a classic extra inning affair, Kirby Puckett's memorable walk-off home run prompted broadcaster Jack Buck's famous call, "We'll see you tomorrow night."

And the next night, in Game 7, another classic contest in its own right, the Twins prevailed 1-0 in 10 innings and were world champions.

1987: Twins Defeat Cardinals

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In 1987 the Twins faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, and were trailing in the series three games to two, when they won Games 6 (11-5) and Game 7 (4-2).

1986: Mets defeat Red Sox

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In perhaps the greatest example in baseball history of a team that was so dejected from blowing a lead in Game 6 that they simply could not recover in the deciding Game 7 contest, the 1986 Boston Red Sox were a single out away from their first world championship in 68 years.

In an epic collapse that culminated in a ground ball going through first baseman Bill Buckner's legs, the Red Sox blew their two-run lead, and eventually, the World Series, losing Game 7 two days later.