This week The Post takes a new look at the “best of” New York’s sporting history – an area that is equally worthy of debate, but it has never been debated endlessly. The 1978 return of the Yankees to the Red Sox is the best return in New York sports history. Here are six other major counterattacks that just failed:
1951 Giants
Chasing Brooklyn first place with 13 matches on August 11, the Giants closed the regular season with 39-8 to tie the Dodgers and force a three-match playoff. After the two teams broke the first two matches, the Giants entertained Brooklyn at Polo Grounds for the final match, which the Giants won at Bobby Thomson’s homer walk-off from Ralph Branca at the bottom of the ninth to advance to the World Series.
Inning 10-run Mets to defeat the Braves in 2000
The Mets dropped 8-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth inning on June 30, which is also Fireworks Night at Shea Stadium. Then the Mets scored 10 runs – nine of them with two outs – to return and defeat the Braves, 11-8, ahead of 52,831. After Edgardo Alfonzo brought a two-run single to tie the game, Mike Piazza hit a three-run homer, winning the game.
Mike Piazza celebrated after reaching the match-winning homer in the eighth innings of the Mets extraordinary comeback victory on 30 June 2000.N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
1996 Yankees in the World Series
In their first World Series Yankees appearance since 1981, they lost their first two matches to Atlanta, both at The Bronx. With the series shifting to Atlanta, Joe Torre told George Steinbrenner that the Yankees would win the next four matches – and they succeeded. It began with a 5-2 win in Game 3 before the Yankees tied the series with the help of Jim Leyritz’s three-run homer in Game 4. The Yankees then won the next two, taking the title at the Stadium in Game 6.
The Mets dropped 3-0 to Astros to reach the ninth peak, but scored three times to extend the game. After the teams swapped in the 14th minute, the Mets advanced for two good innings later when they scored three rounds before Jesse Orosco allowed a pair of rounds at the bottom of the innings. Orosco attacked Kevin Bass by running a tie at the second base to push the Mets to the World Series, where they were also notorious for returning to defeat the Red Sox.
The Knicks’ ran 19-0 to beat the Bucks in 1972
On 18 November 1972, the Knicks trailed Milwaukee with as many as 20 points before making an amazing comeback at Madison Square Garden. Milwaukee, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, won the title in 1971 and seemed to be heading for an easy victory before the Knicks returned to the game. Walt Frazier kicked a pair of free throws to bring the Knicks into one point with 47 seconds left. Lucius Allen of Milwaukee then missed two free throws and Earl Monroe hit the jumper to give the Knicks the lead. Jabbar failed to make a quick shot and the Knicks won, 87-86.
The Jets defeated the Dolphins on Monday Night Miracle
On October 23, 2000, Miami led 30-7 over the Jets in the third quarter at the Giants Stadium. But the Jets rallied to tie the game at 30-30 at the touchdown of Wayne Chrebet from Vinny Testaverde with 3:55 left in the fourth. Miami advanced again before the Jets forced overtime thanks to a 3-page TD reception by Jumbo Elliott. Jet won it, 40-37, at John Hall’s 40-meter field goal on the PL.
