MLB World Series Winners List 1903-2025: Every Champion

The World Series started in 1903 when the Boston Americans defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a best-of-nine showdown.

More than 120 years later, the Los Angeles Dodgers just captured their ninth championship with a thrilling Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.

Between these bookends lies the complete history of baseball’s championship battles: 27 Yankees titles, the Cubs’ 108-year curse, the Black Sox scandal, Babe Ruth’s dominance, and recent dynasties that reshaped October.

MLB World Series Winners List

This is your complete MLB World Series winners list from 1903 to 2025. Every champion. Every matchup. Every series outcome.

Whether you’re looking for when your team last won it all or want to trace baseball’s championship lineage through different eras, you’ll find it here.

World Series Winners: 2020-2025 (Most Recent Champions)

The past six years have delivered drama, dynasties, and drought-breakers worthy of October baseball.

• 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Toronto Blue Jays (4-3)

The Dodgers became the first team to win back-to-back World Series since their own three-peat from 1998-2000. Game 7 went 11 innings, with Will Smith’s home run sealing the victory at Rogers Centre. Game 3 stretched 18 innings—the longest World Series game in history alongside 2018’s marathon—ending on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off homer after 6 hours and 39 minutes.

• 2024: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated New York Yankees (4-1)

In a matchup between baseball’s two most storied franchises, the Dodgers dominated at Yankee Stadium to capture their eighth championship. After taking a commanding 3-0 series lead, they clinched in Game 5 with a stunning 7-6 comeback despite trailing 5-0. Freddie Freeman made history by homering in each of the first four games, including a walk-off grand slam in Game 1.

• 2023: Texas Rangers defeated Arizona Diamondbacks (4-1)

The Rangers won their first championship in franchise history, ending a drought that dated back to the team’s founding in 1961 (as the Washington Senators). Corey Seager earned World Series MVP honors as Texas won the deciding game at Chase Field, with Marcus Semien’s two-run homer in the ninth inning providing the exclamation point.

• 2022: Houston Astros defeated Philadelphia Phillies (4-2)

The Astros captured their second title in six years, with rookie Jeremy Peña earning MVP honors. Dusty Baker, at 73, became the oldest manager to win a World Series. Game 4 featured the second combined no-hitter in World Series history—only the second such feat since Don Larsen’s 1956 perfect game.

• 2021: Atlanta Braves defeated Houston Astros (4-2)

The Braves won their first championship since 1995, with Jorge Soler taking home MVP honors. Atlanta overcame losing star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to injury earlier in the season.

• 2020: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Tampa Bay Rays (4-2)

In a pandemic-shortened season, the Dodgers won their first championship since 1988, ending a 32-year drought. The entire World Series was played at a neutral site in Arlington, Texas, due to COVID-19 protocols.

World Series Winners: 2010-2019

This decade featured the Cubs’ historic breakthrough and the rise of the Houston-Los Angeles rivalry that would define the next era.

• 2019: Washington Nationals defeated Houston Astros (4-3)

The Nationals won their first championship in franchise history, remarkable because the road team won every game in the series—a World Series first.

• 2018: Boston Red Sox defeated Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1)

The Red Sox won their fourth title in 15 years, dominating a Dodgers team hungry for their first championship in three decades. Game 3 lasted 18 innings and 7 hours, 20 minutes—the longest World Series game ever played.

• 2017: Houston Astros defeated Los Angeles Dodgers (4-3)

The Astros captured their first championship in a thrilling seven-game series, though the title was later tainted by the sign-stealing scandal that emerged in 2019.

• 2016: Chicago Cubs defeated Cleveland Indians (4-3)

After 108 years, the Cubs ended the longest championship drought in sports history. Game 7 went to extra innings at Progressive Field, with Ben Zobrist’s RBI double in the 10th breaking the curse that had haunted Chicago since 1908.

• 2015: Kansas City Royals defeated New York Mets (4-1)

The Royals won their first title since 1985, dominating with aggressive baserunning and shutdown pitching just one year after losing in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.

• 2014: San Francisco Giants defeated Kansas City Royals (4-3)

Madison Bumgarner delivered one of the most dominant World Series performances ever, pitching a shutout in Game 5 and returning on two days’ rest to throw five scoreless innings for the save in Game 7. The Giants won their third championship in five years.

• 2013: Boston Red Sox defeated St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)

Boston won its third title in 10 years, bringing the trophy home just months after the Boston Marathon bombing united the city.

• 2012: San Francisco Giants defeated Detroit Tigers (4-0)

The Giants swept the Tigers to win their second championship in three years, with exceptional pitching carrying them through October.

• 2011: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Texas Rangers (4-3)

One of the wildest World Series ever, featuring David Freese’s walk-off homer in Game 6 after the Cardinals were twice down to their final strike. They completed the comeback with a Game 7 victory.

• 2010: San Francisco Giants defeated Texas Rangers (4-1)

The Giants won their first championship since moving to San Francisco in 1958, launching a dynasty run that would net three titles in five years.

World Series Winners: 2000-2009

The Yankees bookended this decade with championships while the Red Sox finally broke their curse.

• 2009: New York Yankees defeated Philadelphia Phillies (4-2)
• 2008: Philadelphia Phillies defeated Tampa Bay Rays (4-1)
• 2007: Boston Red Sox swept Colorado Rockies (4-0)
• 2006: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Detroit Tigers (4-1)
• 2005: Chicago White Sox swept Houston Astros (4-0)
• 2004: Boston Red Sox swept St. Louis Cardinals (4-0)

The Red Sox broke the “Curse of the Bambino,” winning their first championship since 1918 after an epic ALCS comeback from 0-3 against the Yankees.

• 2003: Florida Marlins defeated New York Yankees (4-2)
• 2002: Anaheim Angels defeated San Francisco Giants (4-3)
• 2001: Arizona Diamondbacks defeated New York Yankees (4-3)

The Diamondbacks won their first and only championship in just their fourth year of existence, with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling dominating.

• 2000: New York Yankees defeated New York Mets (4-1)

The first Subway Series since 1956 went to the Yankees in five games.

World Series Winners: 1990-1999

The Yankees dynasty returned while Toronto made Canadian baseball history.

• 1999: New York Yankees swept Atlanta Braves (4-0)
• 1998: New York Yankees swept San Diego Padres (4-0)
• 1997: Florida Marlins defeated Cleveland Indians (4-3)
• 1996: New York Yankees defeated Atlanta Braves (4-2)
• 1995: Atlanta Braves defeated Cleveland Indians (4-2)
• 1994: No World Series (canceled due to players’ strike)
• 1993: Toronto Blue Jays defeated Philadelphia Phillies (4-2)

Joe Carter’s walk-off three-run homer in Game 6 remains one of baseball’s most iconic moments.

• 1992: Toronto Blue Jays defeated Atlanta Braves (4-2)

The Blue Jays became the first non-U.S. team to win the World Series.

• 1991: Minnesota Twins defeated Atlanta Braves (4-3)
• 1990: Cincinnati Reds swept Oakland Athletics (4-0)

World Series Winners: 1980-1989

Parity defined this decade with nine different champions across 10 series.

• 1989: Oakland Athletics swept San Francisco Giants (4-0)

The “Bay Bridge Series” was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake before Game 3.

• 1988: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Oakland Athletics (4-1)

Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homer in Game 1 on two bad legs became an all-time World Series moment.

• 1987: Minnesota Twins defeated St. Louis Cardinals (4-3)
• 1986: New York Mets defeated Boston Red Sox (4-3)

Bill Buckner’s error in Game 6 remains one of baseball’s most painful moments.

• 1985: Kansas City Royals defeated St. Louis Cardinals (4-3)
• 1984: Detroit Tigers defeated San Diego Padres (4-1)
• 1983: Baltimore Orioles defeated Philadelphia Phillies (4-1)
• 1982: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Milwaukee Brewers (4-3)
• 1981: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated New York Yankees (4-2)
• 1980: Philadelphia Phillies defeated Kansas City Royals (4-2)

World Series Winners: 1970-1979

The Oakland A’s dynasty and Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine dominated this era.

• 1979: Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Baltimore Orioles (4-3)
• 1978: New York Yankees defeated Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2)
• 1977: New York Yankees defeated Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2)

Reggie Jackson earned “Mr. October” by hitting three home runs in Game 6.

• 1976: Cincinnati Reds swept New York Yankees (4-0)
• 1975: Cincinnati Reds defeated Boston Red Sox (4-3)

Game 6 featured Carlton Fisk’s iconic walk-off homer.

• 1974: Oakland Athletics defeated Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1)
• 1973: Oakland Athletics defeated New York Mets (4-3)
• 1972: Oakland Athletics defeated Cincinnati Reds (4-3)

The A’s three-peat remains the last time an AL team won three consecutive championships.

• 1971: Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Baltimore Orioles (4-3)
• 1970: Baltimore Orioles defeated Cincinnati Reds (4-1)

World Series Winners: 1960-1969

The Yankees continued their dominance before the Miracle Mets shocked baseball.

• 1969: New York Mets defeated Baltimore Orioles (4-1)
• 1968: Detroit Tigers defeated St. Louis Cardinals (4-3)
• 1967: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Boston Red Sox (4-3)
• 1966: Baltimore Orioles swept Los Angeles Dodgers (4-0)
• 1965: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Minnesota Twins (4-3)
• 1964: St. Louis Cardinals defeated New York Yankees (4-3)
• 1963: Los Angeles Dodgers swept New York Yankees (4-0)
• 1962: New York Yankees defeated San Francisco Giants (4-3)
• 1961: New York Yankees defeated Cincinnati Reds (4-1)
• 1960: Pittsburgh Pirates defeated New York Yankees (4-3)

Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in Game 7 was the first Series-ending homer ever.

World Series Winners: 1950-1959

The Yankees won six championships in this decade while Brooklyn finally broke through.

• 1959: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Chicago White Sox (4-2)
• 1958: New York Yankees defeated Milwaukee Braves (4-3)
• 1957: Milwaukee Braves defeated New York Yankees (4-3)
• 1956: New York Yankees defeated Brooklyn Dodgers (4-3)

Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history in Game 5.

• 1955: Brooklyn Dodgers defeated New York Yankees (4-3)

Brooklyn won their first and only championship before moving to Los Angeles.

• 1954: New York Giants swept Cleveland Indians (4-0)

Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder catch remains iconic.

• 1953: New York Yankees defeated Brooklyn Dodgers (4-2)
• 1952: New York Yankees defeated Brooklyn Dodgers (4-3)
• 1951: New York Yankees defeated New York Giants (4-2)
• 1950: New York Yankees swept Philadelphia Phillies (4-0)

World Series Winners: 1940-1949

The Yankees dynasty began in earnest, winning five championships this decade.

• 1949: New York Yankees defeated Brooklyn Dodgers (4-1)
• 1948: Cleveland Indians defeated Boston Braves (4-2)
• 1947: New York Yankees defeated Brooklyn Dodgers (4-3)

Jackie Robinson’s first World Series after breaking baseball’s color barrier.

• 1946: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Boston Red Sox (4-3)
• 1945: Detroit Tigers defeated Chicago Cubs (4-3)
• 1944: St. Louis Cardinals defeated St. Louis Browns (4-2)

The only all-St. Louis World Series ever played.

• 1943: New York Yankees defeated St. Louis Cardinals (4-1)
• 1942: St. Louis Cardinals defeated New York Yankees (4-1)
• 1941: New York Yankees defeated Brooklyn Dodgers (4-1)
• 1940: Cincinnati Reds defeated Detroit Tigers (4-3)

World Series Winners: 1930-1939

The Yankees established themselves as baseball’s premier franchise.

• 1939: New York Yankees swept Cincinnati Reds (4-0)
• 1938: New York Yankees swept Chicago Cubs (4-0)
• 1937: New York Yankees defeated New York Giants (4-1)
• 1936: New York Yankees defeated New York Giants (4-2)
• 1935: Detroit Tigers defeated Chicago Cubs (4-2)
• 1934: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Detroit Tigers (4-3)
• 1933: New York Giants defeated Washington Senators (4-1)
• 1932: New York Yankees swept Chicago Cubs (4-0)

Babe Ruth’s alleged “called shot” remains baseball lore.

• 1931: St. Louis Cardinals defeated Philadelphia Athletics (4-3)
• 1930: Philadelphia Athletics defeated St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)

World Series Winners: 1920-1929

The Yankees won their first championship, and Babe Ruth transformed baseball.

• 1929: Philadelphia Athletics defeated Chicago Cubs (4-1)
• 1928: New York Yankees swept St. Louis Cardinals (4-0)
• 1927: New York Yankees swept Pittsburgh Pirates (4-0)

Ruth’s “Murderers’ Row” Yankees are considered one of the greatest teams ever.

• 1926: St. Louis Cardinals defeated New York Yankees (4-3)
• 1925: Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Washington Senators (4-3)
• 1924: Washington Senators defeated New York Giants (4-3)
• 1923: New York Yankees defeated New York Giants (4-2)

The Yankees’ first championship in franchise history.

• 1922: New York Giants defeated New York Yankees (4-0-1)

One game ended in a tie.

• 1921: New York Giants defeated New York Yankees (5-3)
• 1920: Cleveland Indians defeated Brooklyn Robins (5-2)

World Series Winners: 1910-1919

This era was marked by Philadelphia’s dominance and baseball’s darkest scandal.

• 1919: Cincinnati Reds defeated Chicago White Sox (5-3)

The “Black Sox Scandal” saw eight White Sox players accused of intentionally losing.

• 1918: Boston Red Sox defeated Chicago Cubs (4-2)

Babe Ruth won two games as a pitcher in his final World Series with Boston.

• 1917: Chicago White Sox defeated New York Giants (4-2)
• 1916: Boston Red Sox defeated Brooklyn Robins (4-1)
• 1915: Boston Red Sox defeated Philadelphia Phillies (4-1)
• 1914: Boston Braves swept Philadelphia Athletics (4-0)

The “Miracle Braves” came from last place in July to win it all.

• 1913: Philadelphia Athletics defeated New York Giants (4-1)
• 1912: Boston Red Sox defeated New York Giants (4-3-1)
• 1911: Philadelphia Athletics defeated New York Giants (4-2)
• 1910: Philadelphia Athletics defeated Chicago Cubs (4-1)

World Series Winners: 1903-1909

The first decade of the modern World Series established October baseball as an American tradition.

• 1909: Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Detroit Tigers (4-3)
• 1908: Chicago Cubs defeated Detroit Tigers (4-1)
• 1907: Chicago Cubs swept Detroit Tigers (4-0-1)
• 1906: Chicago White Sox defeated Chicago Cubs (4-2)

The only all-Chicago World Series ever played.

• 1905: New York Giants defeated Philadelphia Athletics (4-1)
• 1904: No World Series (NL champion Giants refused to play)
• 1903: Boston Americans defeated Pittsburgh Pirates (5-3)

The first modern World Series was a best-of-nine format.

FAQs

• How many World Series have been played?

Through 2025, a total of 121 World Series have been contested. The championship has been played every year since 1903 except 1904 (when the NL Giants refused to play) and 1994 (canceled due to the players’ strike).

• Which team has won the most recent World Series?

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. It was their second consecutive championship and ninth title overall, moving them into a three-way tie for third all-time.

• What was the longest World Series game ever?

Two World Series games have gone 18 innings: Game 3 of the 2018 series between the Red Sox and Dodgers (7 hours, 20 minutes) and Game 3 of the 2025 series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays (6 hours, 39 minutes). Both ended on walk-off home runs by the Dodgers.

• Has any team won the World Series three years in a row?

Yes. The Yankees accomplished this feat twice—winning four straight from 1936 to 1939 and an unprecedented five consecutive championships from 1949 to 1953. The Yankees also won three straight from 1998 to 2000. The Oakland Athletics won three in a row from 1972 to 1974.

• Which teams have never won a World Series?

Five MLB teams have never won a championship: the Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, and San Diego Padres. The Mariners are the only franchise that has never even appeared in a World Series.

• When did the Cubs finally win the World Series?

The Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians in seven games and ending a 108-year championship drought—the longest in professional sports history. Their previous title came in 1908.