Every 1996 MLB race charted day by day: AL East, AL Central, AL West, AL Wild Card, NL East, NL Central, NL West and NL Wild Card. Final standings, from a season that ran March 31 to September 29, 1996.
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AL East standings, 1996
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
New York Yankees (NYY)
92
70
.568
-
5-5
L1
Baltimore Orioles (BAL)
88
74
.543
4
5-5
L1
Boston Red Sox (BOS)
85
77
.525
7
6-4
W1
Toronto Blue Jays (TOR)
74
88
.457
18
6-4
W1
Detroit Tigers (DET)
53
109
.327
39
2-8
L6
Final standings.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 5 times.
The New York Yankees trailed by as many as 4.5 games on April 17, 1996.
The New York Yankees took first place for good on May 31, 1996.
The Baltimore Orioles led by 4.5 games as late as April 17, 1996.
The New York Yankees went 25-12 from June 17, 1996 to July 28, 1996, turning a lead of 1.5 games into a lead of 12 games.
Five teams held first place.
The New York Yankees spent 157 of the season's 183 charted days in first place.