Fansided

Top 25 MLB pennant races of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

(Original Caption) Bucky Dent is a happy fellow as he jumps on home plate and is greeted by Roy White and Chris Chambliss after he hit a three-run home run in the 7th inning at Fenway Park.
(Original Caption) Bucky Dent is a happy fellow as he jumps on home plate and is greeted by Roy White and Chris Chambliss after he hit a three-run home run in the 7th inning at Fenway Park. /
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TORONTO, ON – CIRCA 1991: Jimmy Key #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Key played for the Blue Jays from 1984-92. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – CIRCA 1991: Jimmy Key #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Key played for the Blue Jays from 1984-92. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

23. The Blue Jays blow it, 1987

The Skydome and the madness for baseball in Toronto that would follow in the early 1990s was still two years away when the Blue Jays were attempting to win their second AL East title in three years in 1987. Toronto won 99 games in 1985 and came up a game short of the World Series. Most of their core from that dominant team remained intact.

The Jays scored 845 runs and hit 215 home runs in 1987, but could also sling it on the mound with the best teams in the league. George Bell hit 47 home runs and slashed .308/.352/.605 to lead the team and was supported by Jesse Barfield and 23-year-old Fred McGriff who hit 20 home runs in only 295 at-bats. Jimmy Key led the pitching staff with 17 wins and a 2.76 ERA.

The division title appeared all but assured after the Jays won 19 of 23 from September 1 to September 26. With a week left to play, the Jays were up 3.5 games on the Detroit Tigers. They would not win again.

Toronto lost their final seven games of the year, including a three-game sweep against the Tigers to end the year. Baseball is a cruel sport, and the Jays learned that the hard way the final week of the season. Four of their seven losses were by one run, including all three against Detroit. On the final day of the year, with a chance to tie the Tigers, Key threw an absolute gem, but the Blue Jays still lost 1-0.

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