10 facts about World Series Game 7s

The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers are starting down the barrel of the final game of the 2017 season. One team will raise the Commissioner's Trophy (yeah that's it's named.) and the other will wonder “what could have been?”

Here are 10 facts to get ready for Game 6 between the Astros and Dodgers:

39

There have been 38 World Series Game 7s before Wednesday. The 2017 World Series’ Game 7 will be the 39th Game 7 in World Series History. It will be the first World Series Game 7 at Dodger Stadium.

18-18

The home team doesn’t have an advantage in World Series Game 7’s. In fact, the record is split at 19-19 through the previous 38 Game 7’s.

3-2

The home team is 3-2 since 2000 at home for World Series Game 7’s but the road team has won the past two. The Giants won the 2014 title at the Royals’ Kauffman Stadium and the Cubs won at Indians’ Progressive Field.

1931

This is the first time since 1931 that two 100-win teams have faced off in Game 7 of the World Series. That year, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 4-2 at home. It was the Cardinals’ second championship and final year the Athletics played in Philadelphia.

2

The Houston Astros will have to win back-to-back Game 7’s to secure the title. If the Astros can get the job done, they will be only the second time do so — joining the 1985 Royals who defeated the Blue Jays in ALCS and the Cardinals at home in the World Series.

4

The Brooklyn Dodgers played in four World Series Game 7’s over 10 years (1947, 1952, 1955, 1956). The Dodgers were 1-3 during that stretch losing to the Yankees three times. The one victory in 1955 was the Dodgers’ only championship in Brooklyn.

1965

The Dodgers franchise will play in their sixth World Series Game 7 on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Dodgers after the move to the West Coast had one World Series Game 7 was in 1965 against the Twins. Sandy Koufax pitched a three-hit shutout for the 2-0 win in Minnesota.

2002

This is the first time since 2001 and 2002 that the World Series has back-to-back Game 7’s. The home teams, Diamondbacks and Angels, won both series.

5

World Series Game 7’s have gone to extra innings five times. The most recent was the 2016 finale with the Cubs winning 8-7 in 10 innings.

3

The average margin of victory in World Series Game 7’s is right under three runs, 2.97 runs to be exact. The winning averaging 5.1 runs per game and loser 2.13 runs.