BOOMING ON THE FOURTH . . . BUT A BUST IN OCTOBER?

A look at how teams in first place on the morning of the Fourth of July have finished:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

JULY 4 LEADER FINISH Year Division Team G. Ahead Place +/- 1969 East Orioles 10 GA 1st/+19 GA West A’s .004 Pct 2nd/-9 GB 1970 East Orioles 4 GA 1st/+15 GA West Twins 4 GA 1st/+9 GA 1971 East Orioles 3 1/2 GA 1st/+12 GA West A’s 11 1/2 GA 1st/+16 GA 1972 East Orioles 1 GA 3rd/-5 GB West A’s 5 GA 1st/+5 1/2 GA 1973 East Yankees 2 GA 4th/-17 GB West A’s 1 GA 1st/+6 GA 1974 East Red Sox 1/2 GA 3rd/-7 GB West A’s 4 1/2 GA 1st/+5 GA 1975 East Red Sox .001 Pct 1st/+4 1/2 GA West A’s 6 GA 1st/+7 GA 1976 East Yankees 9 GA 1st/+10 1/2GA West Royals 3 1/2 GA 1st/+2 1/2 GA 1977 East Yankees 1 GA 1st/+2 1/2 GA West White Sox 3 GA 3rd/-12 GB 1978 East Red Sox 9 GA 2nd/-1 GB West Angels 1/2 GA 2nd/-5 GB 1979 East Orioles 3 1/2 GA 1st/+8 GA West Rangers .002 Pct 3rd/-5 GB 1980 East Yankees 7 1/2 GA 1st/+3 GA West Royals 8 1/2 GA 1st/+14 GA 1982 East Red Sox 1 GA 3rd/-6 GB West Royals 1/2 GA 2nd/-3 GB 1983 East Blue Jays 1 GA 4th/-9 GB West Rangers 2 GA 3rd/-22 GB 1984 East Tigers 7 GA 1st/+15 GA West Angels 2 GA 2nd/-3 GB 1985 East Blue Jays 2 1/2 GA 1st/+2 GA West Angels 3 GA 2nd/-1 GB 1986 East Red Sox 7 GA 1st/+5 1/2 GA West Rangers 1/2 GA 2nd/-5 GB 1987 East Yankees 4 GA 4th/-9 GB West Royals .001 Pct 2nd/-2 GB 1988 East Tigers 2 1/2 GA West A’s 6 GA

Note--1981 was a strike-shortened season.

x--In 1978, the Yankees won a one-game playoff

NATIONAL LEAGUE

JULY 4 LEADER FINISH Year Division Team G. Ahead Place +/- 1969 East Cubs 7 GA 2nd/-9 GB West Braves 1 GA 1st/+3 GA 1970 East Mets 1/2 GA 3rd/-6 GB West Reds 3 1/2 GA 1st/+14 GA 1971 East Pirates 4 GA 1st/+7 GA West Giants 4 1/2 GA 1st/+1 GA 1972 East Pirates 1 GA 1st/+11 GA West Reds 1/2 GA 1st/+10 1/2 GA 1973 East Cubs 5 1/2 GA 5th/-5 GB West Dodgers 3 1/2 GA 2nd/-3 1/2 GB 1974 East Cardinals 2 1/2 GA 2nd/-1 1/2 GB West Dodgers 9 1/2 GA 1st/+4 GA 1975 East Pirates 4 GA 1st/+6 1/2 GA West Reds 8 GA 1st/+20 GA 1976 East Phillies 9 GA 1st/+9 GA West Reds 5 1/2 GA 1st/+10 GA 1977 East Cubs 4 GA 4th/-20 GB West Dodgers 10 1/2 GA 1st/+10 GA 1978 East Phillies 4 GA 1st/+1 1/2 GA West Giants 2 GA 3rd/-6 GB 1979 East Expos 5 1/2 GA 2nd/-2 GB West Astros 10 GA 2nd/-1 1/2 GB 1980 East Expos 1 GA 2nd/-1 GB West Astros 1/2 GA 1st/+1 GA 1982 East Phillies 1 GA 2nd/-3 GB West Braves 4 1/2 GA 1st/+1 GA 1983 East Expos 1 1/2 GA 3rd/-8 GB West Braves 1 GA 2nd/-3 GB 1984 East Cubs 1 GA 1st/+6 1/2 GA West Padres 4 GA 1st/+12 GA 1985 East Cardinals 1 1/2 GA 1st/+3 GA West Padres 4 1/2 GA 4th/-12 GB 1986 East Mets 12 1/2 GA 1st/+21 1/2 GA West Giants 1/2 GA 3rd/-13 GB 1987 East Cardinals 6 GA 1st/+3 GA West Reds 2 1/2 GA 2nd/-6 GB 1988 East Mets 7 1/2 GA West Dodgers 4 1/2 GA

In 1980, Astros won 1-game playoff.

Note--1981 was a strike-shortened season.