Orioles fans got some joy this week when the Yankees were swept in four games by the Tigers. The astute fans knew that the Orioles had never been swept in a three or four-game playoff series.

When Orioles fans tuned into the Giants-Cardinals series last night, they were reminded that St. Louis, which had a 3-1 lead before losing 5-0 on Friday night, had managed to blow similar series leads  three times before.

Orioles fans know about that humiliation. In 1979, the heavily favored Orioles took a 3-1 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates and lost three straight.

Fans who are 40 and older might remember the Pirates theme song: “We are Family” endlessly playing during those games.

Fortunately for the Orioles, a number of the players on the 1979 team were still around four years later when the Orioles held a 3-1 lead over the Phillies in the World Series and won the fifth game.

The last time a team led by 3-1 and lost a seven-game series was in 2007. The Cleveland Indians led the Boston Red Sox and dropped three straight.

The Cardinals lost 3-1 leads to the Braves in the 1996 NLCS,  Royals in the 1985 World Series and Tigers in the 1968 World Series.

If St. Louis wins on Sunday night, they’ll play the Tigers for the third time in the World Series since 1968.