30 greatest World Series in MLB history
11. Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 2011
The Texas Rangers failed to reach the World Series during their first 49 years as a franchise, dating back to their days as the Washington Senators. In 2010 and 2011, however, the Rangers represented the American League in back-to-back Fall Classics.
2010 was a major letdown. They reached the World Series after a postseason drought that lasted more than a decade, but were defeated by the San Francisco Giants in five games. They were outscored 29-12 during the series.
The Rangers returned to the World Series in 2011, after recording a franchise-best 96 wins during the regular season. Their opponent was the St. Louis Cardinals, who were looking to cap off legendary manager Tony La Russa’s career with with a championship.
The series began with the two teams splitting a pair of one-run games in St. Louis. The Rangers were blown out in Game 3, but bounced back the following night, as Derek Holland and Neftali Perez combined to pitch a two-hit shutout. Texas would win Game 5 as well, carrying a 3-2 series lead back to St. Louis.
The Rangers took a 9-6 lead into the late innings of Game 6, but in the bottom of eighth, everything unraveled.
They would give up three runs over the the course of the next two innings. A Josh Hamilton two-run home run in the top of the 10th appeared as if it would be the difference in the game, but the Cardinals answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. When they came up to bat in the bottom of the 11th, third baseman David Freese launched a walk-off home run to send the series to a deciding Game 7.
Texas jumped out to a two-run lead to start the game, but managed just three hits and no runs after the first inning, losing the game by a score of 6-4.
The series is known for its thrilling Game 6 comeback, Albert Pujols’ three-home run performance in Game 3 and for Tony La Russa’s final season as a manager culminating in a World Series title.
Next: 10. San Francisco Giants vs. Anaheim Angels, 2002