The Most Insane Worst-to-First Turnarounds in Sports History
Worst-to-first seasons in baseball are a clear sign that one year can completely reset the script. These turnarounds were impossible before divisional play and still remain rare decades later, even with smaller divisions and expanded playoffs. What makes these seasons stick is how they turned teams written off in September into division winners less than a year later.
Minnesota Twins (1990–91)
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The 1990 Twins finished last at 74–88 and then won a championship season. Minnesota won 95 games in 1991 and defeated Atlanta in the World Series. Jack Morris stabilized the rotation, Chili Davis lengthened the lineup, and Chuck Knoblauch won Rookie of the Year. The improvement amounted to 21 wins, unheard of at the time.
Atlanta Braves (1990–91)
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Atlanta’s jump in 1991 was even bigger at 29 wins. Terry Pendleton won National League MVP while hitting .319, and the pitching staff dropped to the league’s third-lowest ERA after finishing last the year before. Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery formed a young core that reshaped the franchise. The season marked the beginning of a 14-year run of division titles that remains unmatched.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2006–07)
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The 2007 Diamondbacks won the NL West despite ranking 14th in runs scored. Brandon Webb carried the staff with an 18–10 season and a 3.01 ERA, while Jose Valverde led MLB with 47 saves. Arizona went 90–72 after finishing tied for last the year before. The 32 one-run wins helped cover up an average offense.
Chicago Cubs (2006–07)
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A 96-loss season in 2006 gave way to a 90-win division title in 2007. The roster overhaul included Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, and Mark DeRosa, along with new manager Lou Piniella. Chicago sat at 22–31 in early June before rallying late and winning the NL Central by two games. A bullpen role change unlocked Carlos Marmol, who finished with a 1.43 ERA.
Tampa Bay Rays (2007–08)
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Tampa Bay spent most of its early history stuck in last place, including a 96-loss season in 2007. One year later, the Rays won 97 games and the AL pennant. Evan Longoria won Rookie of the Year with 27 home runs, and the pitching staff jumped from worst in the league to second best by ERA. The franchise won its first division title and reached the World Series in the same season.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2010–11)
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Arizona holds a strange record as the only franchise to pull off a worst-to-first turnaround three times. The 2011 version improved by 29 wins despite minimal roster change. Ian Kennedy went 21–4 with a 2.88 ERA, Daniel Hudson delivered a 16-win season, and Josh Collmenter emerged out of nowhere. The offense finished fourth in the National League in runs, which was more than enough to support the pitching.
Boston Red Sox (2012–13)
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The 2012 season ended with Boston in last place and staring at a wrecked roster. The front office cleared payroll in a blockbuster trade, hired John Farrell, and reshaped the clubhouse in one winter. By 2013, the Red Sox led MLB in runs scored and won 97 games. The season ended with a World Series title, which made the jump from 69 wins feel even more dramatic.
Texas Rangers (2014–15)
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Texas lost Yu Darvish to Tommy John surgery before the 2015 season even began, yet still climbed from 67 wins to 88. Yovani Gallardo filled the rotation gap with a 3.42 ERA, and the offense became one of the league’s most productive. The Rangers finished third in the American League in runs scored and edged out the AL West by two games.
Boston Red Sox (2015–16)
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A 78–84 finish in 2015 landed Boston in last place, but the response in 2016 was immediate. The win total jumped to 93, which was good enough to take the AL East by four games. David Price arrived as a free agent, Rick Porcello turned into a Cy Young winner, and Mookie Betts emerged as one of the league’s top players. The turnaround came with stability.
Toronto Blue Jays (2024–25)
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Toronto finished the 2024 season at 74–88, finishing last in the American League East and 20 games behind the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays were never seriously in contention down the stretch, as offensive inconsistency and an inability to sustain rallies kept them from closing the gap in a competitive division. In 2025, they improved to 94–68 and won the American League East, advancing to the postseason and reaching the World Series.