Toastometer case study · No. 4
1962 National League Pennant San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Four Games Back, Then Three Games More
- Peak deficit
- 4 games
- Lowest TM
- −0.7
- Days Toast
- 4
- Outcome
- Won NL Pennant
The Race
Four Games Back, Then Three Games More
Los Angeles held a four-game lead during the final half of September. With the schedule disappearing, San Francisco’s margin approached and then crossed the Toast Line.
The Giants were four back with seven remaining on September 22. TM fell to −0.7, but Los Angeles lost its last four scheduled games and allowed a tie.
Toastometer Timeline
The race, one playing day at a time
PCR is fixed at .400. Shared off-days are omitted; playoff rows have no TM.
| Date | SF | LAD | GB | GR | TM | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15 | 94–55 | 98–51 | 4.0 | 13 | +1.7 | Toasty |
| Sep 16 | 94–56 | 98–52 | 4.0 | 12 | +1.3 | Toasty |
| Sep 17 | 94–57 | 98–53 | 4.0 | 11 | +0.9 | Toasty |
| Sep 18 | 94–57 | 98–54 | 3.5 | 11 | +1.4 | Toasty |
| Sep 19 | 95–57 | 99–54 | 3.5 | 10 | +1.0 | Toasty |
| Sep 20 | 95–58 | 99–54 | 4.0 | 9 | +0.1 | Toasty |
| Sep 21 | 96–58 | 99–55 | 3.0 | 8 | +0.7 | Toasty |
| Sep 22 | 96–59 | 100–55 | 4.0 | 7 | −0.7 | Toast |
| Sep 23 | 97–59 | 100–56 | 3.0 | 6 | −0.1 | Toast |
| Sep 25 | 98–59 | 100–57 | 2.0 | 5 | +0.5 | Toasty |
| Sep 26 | 99–59 | 101–57 | 2.0 | 4 | +0.1 | Toasty |
| Sep 27 | 99–60 | 101–58 | 2.0 | 3 | −0.3 | Toast |
| Sep 28 | 99–60 | 101–59 | 1.5 | 3 | +0.2 | Toasty |
| Sep 29 | 100–61 | 101–60 | 1.0 | 1 | −0.1 | Toast |
| Sep 30 | 101–61 | 101–61 | 0.0 | 0 | +0.5 | Toasty |
| Oct 1 | 102–61 | 101–62 | −1.0 | 0 | — | Playoff |
| Oct 2 | 102–62 | 102–62 | 0.0 | 0 | — | Playoff |
| Oct 3 | 103–62 | 102–63 | −1.0 | 0 | — | Won Race |
Toast Margin Chart
How close the chase came to Toast
The zero line separates an achievable closing pace from Toast.
The Turning Points
How the race changed
- Sep. 22Deepest Toast
Four back with seven left produced TM −0.7.
- Sep. 30A 162-game tie
The Dodgers’ fourth straight loss left both clubs 101–61.
- Oct. 3Another ninth-inning collapse
San Francisco scored four in the ninth to win the deciding playoff game.
What Happened
Won NL Pennant
The teams split the first two games of a best-of-three playoff. Los Angeles carried a 4–2 lead into the ninth inning of Game 3.
Four Giants runs completed the comeback. San Francisco finished 103–62 and won the pennant.
Toastometer Verdict
Great Escape — Came Back From Toast
San Francisco spent four playing dates below zero and reached −0.7. The comeback belongs beside 1951 as a genuine return from Toast.
The three-game playoff came only after the Giants did the improbable work of catching Los Angeles during the regular schedule.
Daily records and results verified against the official MLB schedules for San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. Records are shown after play on each date.