Lukehart: The best 50-game stretches in MLB history

From SABR member Jason Lukehart at Ground Ball With Eyes on August 19, 2013:

Last season, the Houston Astros had one of the worst runs in MLB history, losing 43 out of 50 games during July and August. I wrote about the worst 50-game stretches ever then, but now, almost exactly a year later, I have reason to write about the best 50-game stretches, because the Los Angeles Dodgers have been on an incredible run. At the end of play on June 21, the Dodgers were 30-42, in last place in the NL West, and baseball’s biggest disappointment. Since then though, LA has gone 42-10, taken over 1st place and built a commanding lead, and become the betting favorites to win the World Series. How often does a team go on a run this good?

Here are the best 50-game stretches in baseball since 1901, when the American League was formally organized and what is commonly thought of as the ‘modern era’ began.

Read the full article here: http://groundballwitheyes.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-best-50-game-stretches-in-baseball.html