5 greatest MLB second-half comebacks of all time ft. New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and more 

The MLB regular season has long been compared to a marathon race, with 162 games being played out over six months to decide the handful of teams that would compete for the top honors. How a team finishes the season is more important than how it starts, as the history of major league baseball is filled with remarkable comebacks achieved during the latter half of the campaign.

Here's a closer look at the five greatest second-half comebacks in MLB history.

5 greatest MLB second-half comebacks of all time

5 greatest MLB second-half comebacks of all time (Image Credit: IMAGN)

#5. 2006 Minnesota Twins – Deficit: 9 1/2 games on Aug. 1

In 2006, the Minnesota Twins were seven games under .500 in mid-May and fell 9 1/2 games behind in the American League Central standings by the beginning of August. However, they notched eight consecutive victories following the All-Star break and finished the second half of the season with a 49-27 record to clinch their division.

Although the Twins were able to secure their fourth division title in five years, they got swept 3-0 by the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS.

#4. 1995 Seattle Mariners – Deficit: 11 games in August

The Seattle Mariners were playing in their 19th MLB season, but they had yet to make their maiden postseason appearance until 1995. The Mariners were down by 11 games in August but made a remarkable comeback thereafter. Eventually, they beat the California Angels in a one-game tiebreaker to win the division.

The Mariners went on to beat the New York Yankees in a memorable Game 5 of the ALDS, before losing 4-2 against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS.

#3. 2012 Oakland Athletics – Deficit: 13 games on June 30

Having the second-lowest payroll among all MLB teams in 2012, the Oakland Athletics were eight games under .500 at the start of June and were trailing the Texas Rangers by 13 games in their division by the end of the month. The A's then won 19 games in July before clinching their division in the last game of the season.

In all, the A's recorded 15 walkoff victories during the regular season, but they were edged out 3-2 by the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS.

#2. 1951 New York Giants – Deficit: 13 games in mid-August

The New York Giants started the season with a 3-15 record and trailed first place in the National League by 13 games in the middle of August. However, the Giants posted an extraordinary 54-24 record during the second half of the season, which earned the team a three-game playoff against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Giants claimed the NL pennant with a walk off home run from Bobby Thomson but went on to lose the World Series to crosstown rivals the New York Yankees.

#1. 1978 New York Yankees – 14 games in mid-July

The New York Yankees were reigning World Series champions in 1978, but they fell 14 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East by mid-July. Manager Billy Martin resigned and was replaced by Bob Lemon while the team produced a huge comeback to ultimately beat the Red Sox in a one-game playoff to win the division.

The Yankees then moved past the Kansas City Royals to win the ALCS before defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in the World Series to retain their title.