The World Series
The World Series
The World Series began in 1903 when Pittsburgh of the older National League (founded in 1876) invited Boston of the American League (founded in 1901) to play a best-of-9 game series to determine which of the two league champions was the best. Boston was the surprise winner, 5 games to 3. The 1904 NL champion New York Giants refused to play Boston the following year, so there was no Series. Giants' owner John T. Brush and his manager John McGraw both despised AL president Ban Johnson and considered the junior circuit to be a minor league. By the following year, however, Brush and Johnson had smoothed out their differences and the Giants agreed to play Philadelphia in a best-of-7 game series. Since then the World Series has been a best-of-7 format, except from 1919-21 when it returned to best-of-9.
After surviving two world wars and an earthquake in 1989, the World Series was cancelled for only the second time in 1994 due to the players' strike.
In the chart below, the National League teams are listed in CAPITAL letters. Also, each World Series champion's wins and losses are noted in parentheses after the Series score in games.
Multiple champions: New York Yankees (26); Philadelphia-Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals (9); Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers (6); Cincinnati Reds, New York-San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates (5); Detroit Tigers (4); Baltimore Orioles, Boston-Milwaukee-Atlanta Braves and Washington Senators-Minnesota Twins (3); Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays (2).
| Year | Winner | Manager | Series | Loser | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | Boston Red Sox | Jimmy Collins | 5-3 (LWLLWWWW) | PITTSBURGH | Fred Clarke |
| 1904 | Not held | ||||
| 1905 | NY GIANTS | John McGraw | 4-1 (WLWWW) | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack |
| 1906 | Chicago White Sox | Fielder Jones | 4-2 (WLWLWW) | CHICAGO CUBS | Frank Chance |
| 1907 | CHICAGO CUBS | Frank Chance | 4-0-1 (TWWWW) | Detroit | Hughie Jennings |
| 1908 | CHICAGO CUBS | Frank Chance | 4-1 (WWLWW) | Detroit | Hughie Jennings |
| 1909 | PITTSBURGH | Fred Clarke | 4-3 (WLWLWLW) | Detroit | Hughie Jennings |
| 1910 | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack | 4-1 (WWWLW) | CHICAGO CUBS | Frank Chance |
| 1911 | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack | 4-2 (LWWWLW) | NY GIANTS | John McGraw |
| 1912 | Boston Red Sox | Jake Stahl | 4-3-1 (WTLWWLLW) | NY GIANTS | John McGraw |
| 1913 | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack | 4-1 (WLWWW) | NY GIANTS | John McGraw |
| 1914 | BOSTON BRAVES | George Stallings | 4-0 | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack |
| 1915 | Boston Red Sox | Bill Carrigan | 4-1 (LWWWW) | PHILA. PHILLIES | Pat Moran |
| 1916 | Boston Red Sox | Bill Carrigan | 4-1 (WWLWW) | BROOKLYN | Wilbert Robinson |
| 1917 | Chicago White Sox | Pants Rowland | 4-2 (WWLLWW) | NY GIANTS | John McGraw |
| 1918 | Boston Red Sox | Ed Barrow | 4-2 (WLWWLW) | CHICAGO CUBS | Fred Mitchell |
| 1919 | CINCINNATI | Pat Moran | 5-3 (WWLWWLLW) | Chicago White Sox | Kid Gleason |
| 1920 | Cleveland | Tris Speaker | 5-2 (WLLWWWW) | BROOKLYN | Wilbert Robinson |
| 1921 | NY GIANTS | John McGraw | 5-3 (LLWWLWWW) | NY Yankees | Miller Huggins |
| 1922 | NY GIANTS | John McGraw | 4-0-1 (WTWWW) | NY Yankees | Miller Huggins |
| 1923 | NY Yankees | Miller Huggins | 4-2 (LWLWWW) | NY GIANTS | John McGraw |
| 1924 | Washington | Bucky Harris | 4-3 (LWLWLWW) | NY GIANTS | John McGraw |
| 1925 | PITTSBURGH | Bill McKechnie | 4-3 (LWLLWWW) | Washington | Bucky Harris |
| 1926 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Rogers Hornsby | 4-3 (LWWLLWW) | NY Yankees | Miller Huggins |
| 1927 | NY Yankees | Miller Huggins | 4-0 | PITTSBURGH | Donie Bush |
| 1928 | NY Yankees | Miller Huggins | 4-0 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Bill McKechnie |
| 1929 | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack | 4-1 (WWLWW) | CHICAGO CUBS | Joe McCarthy |
| 1930 | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack | 4-2 (WWLLWW) | ST.L. CARDINALS | Gabby Street |
| 1931 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Gabby Street | 4-3 (LWWLWLW) | Philadelphia A's | Connie Mack |
| 1932 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-0 | CHICAGO CUBS | Charlie Grimm |
| 1933 | NY GIANTS | Bill Terry | 4-1 (WWLWW) | Washington | Joe Cronin |
| 1934 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Frankie Frisch | 4-3 (WLWLLWW) | Detroit | Mickey Cochrane |
| 1935 | Detroit | Mickey Cochrane | 4-2 (LWWWLW) | CHICAGO CUBS | Charlie Grimm |
| 1936 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-2 (LWWWLW) | NY GIANTS | Bill Terry |
| 1937 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-1 (WWWLW) | NY GIANTS | Bill Terry |
| 1938 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-0 | CHICAGO CUBS | Gabby Hartnett |
| 1939 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-0 | CINCINNATI | Bill McKechnie |
| 1940 | CINCINNATI | Bill McKechnie | 4-3 (LWLWLWW) | Detroit | Del Baker |
| 1941 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-1 (WLWWW) | BKLN. DODGERS | Leo Durocher |
| 1942 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Billy Southworth | 4-1 (LWWWW) | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy |
| 1943 | NY Yankees | Joe McCarthy | 4-1 (WLWWW) | ST.L. CARDINALS | Billy Southworth |
| 1944 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Billy Southworth | 4-2 (LWLWWW) | St. Louis Browns | Luke Sewell |
| 1945 | Detroit | Steve O'Neill | 4-3 (LWLWWLW) | CHICAGO CUBS | Charlie Grimm |
| 1946 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Eddie Dyer | 4-3 (LWLWLWW) | Boston Red Sox | Joe Cronin |
| 1947 | NY Yankees | Bucky Harris | 4-3 (WWLLWLW) | BKLN. DODGERS | Burt Shotton |
| 1948 | Cleveland | Lou Boudreau | 4-2 (LWWWLW) | BOSTON BRAVES | Billy Southworth |
| 1949 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-1 (WLWWW) | BKLN. DODGERS | Burt Shotton |
| 1950 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-0 | PHILA. PHILLIES | Eddie Sawyer |
| 1951 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-2 (LWLWWW) | NY GIANTS | Leo Durocher |
| 1952 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-3 (LWLWLWW) | BKLN. DODGERS | Charlie Dressen |
| 1953 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-2 (WWLLWW) | BKLN. DODGERS | Charlie Dressen |
| 1954 | NY GIANTS | Leo Durocher | 4-0 | Cleveland | Al Lopez |
| 1955 | BKLN. DODGERS | Walter Alston | 4-3 (LLWWWLW) | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel |
| 1956 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-3 (LLWWWLW | BKLN. DODGERS | Walter Alston |
| 1957 | MILW. BRAVES | Fred Haney | 4-3 (LWLWWLW) | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel |
| 1958 | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel | 4-3 (LLWLWWW) | MILW. BRAVES | Fred Haney |
| 1959 | LA DODGERS | Walter Alston | 4-2 (LWWWLW) | Chicago White Sox | Al Lopez |
| 1960 | PITTSBURGH | Danny Murtaugh | 4-3 (WLLWWLW) | NY Yankees | Casey Stengel |
| 1961 | NY Yankees | Ralph Houk | 4-1 (WLWWW) | CINCINNATI | Fred Hutchinson |
| 1962 | NY Yankees | Ralph Houk | 4-3 (WLWLWLW) | SF GIANTS | Alvin Dark |
| 1963 | LA DODGERS | Walter Alston | 4-0 | NY Yankees | Ralph Houk |
| 1964 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Johnny Keane | 4-3 (WLLWWLW) | NY Yankees | Yogi Berra |
| 1965 | LA DODGERS | Walter Alston | 4-3 (LLWWWLW) | Minnesota | Sam Mele |
| 1966 | Baltimore | Hank Bauer | 4-0 | LA DODGERS | Walter Alston |
| 1967 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Red Schoendienst | 4-3 (WLWWLLW) | Boston Red Sox | Dick Williams |
| 1968 | Detroit | Mayo Smith | 4-3 (LWLLWWW) | ST.L. CARDINALS | Red Schoendienst |
| 1969 | NY METS | Gil Hodges | 4-1 (LWWWW) | Baltimore | Earl Weaver |
| 1970 | Baltimore | Earl Weaver | 4-1 (WWWLW) | CINCINNATI | Sparky Anderson |
| 1971 | PITTSBURGH | Danny Murtaugh | 4-3 (LLWWWLW) | Baltimore | Earl Weaver |
| 1972 | Oakland A's | Dick Williams | 4-3 (WWLWLLW) | CINCINNATI | Sparky Anderson |
| 1973 | Oakland A's | Dick Williams | 4-3 (WLWLLWW) | NY METS | Yogi Berra |
| 1974 | Oakland A's | Alvin Dark | 4-1 (WLWWW) | LA DODGERS | Walter Alston |
| 1975 | CINCINNATI | Sparky Anderson | 4-3 (LWWLWLW) | Boston Red Sox | Darrell Johnson |
| 1976 | CINCINNATI | Sparky Anderson | 4-0 | NY Yankees | Billy Martin |
| 1977 | NY Yankees | Billy Martin | 4-2 (WLWWLW) | LA DODGERS | Tommy Lasorda |
| 1978 | NY Yankees | Bob Lemon | 4-2 (LLWWWW) | LA DODGERS | Tommy Lasorda |
| 1979 | PITTSBURGH | Chuck Tanner | 4-3 (LWLLWWW) | Baltimore | Earl Weaver |
| 1980 | PHILA. PHILLIES | Dallas Green | 4-2 (WWLLWW) | Kansas City | Jim Frey |
| 1981 | LA DODGERS | Tommy Lasorda | 4-2 (LLWWWW) | NY Yankees | Bob Lemon |
| 1982 | ST.L. CARDINALS | Whitey Herzog | 4-3 (LWWLLWW) | Milwaukee Brewers | Harvey Kuenn |
| 1983 | Baltimore | Joe Altobelli | 4-1 (LWWWW) | PHILA. PHILLIES | Paul Owens |
| 1984 | Detroit | Sparky Anderson | 4-1 (WLWWW) | SAN DIEGO | Dick Williams |
| 1985 | Kansas City | Dick Howser | 4-3 (LLWLWWW) | ST.L. CARDINALS | Whitey Herzog |
| 1986 | NY METS | Davey Johnson | 4-3 (LLWWLWW) | Boston Red Sox | John McNamara |
| 1987 | Minnesota | Tom Kelly | 4-3 (WWLLLWW) | ST.L. CARDINALS | Whitey Herzog |
| 1988 | LA DODGERS | Tommy Lasorda | 4-1 (WWLWW) | Oakland A's | Tony La Russa |
| 1989 | Oakland A's | Tony La Russa | 4-0 | SF GIANTS | Roger Craig |
| 1990 | CINCINNATI | Lou Piniella | 4-0 | Oakland A's | Tony La Russa |
| 1991 | Minnesota | Tom Kelly | 4-3 (WWLLLWW) | ATLANTA BRAVES | Bobby Cox |
| 1992 | Toronto | Cito Gaston | 4-2 (LWWWLW) | ATLANTA BRAVES | Bobby Cox |
| 1993 | Toronto | Cito Gaston | 4-2 (WLWWLW) | PHILA. PHILLIES | Jim Fregosi |
| 1994 | Not held | ||||
| 1995 | ATLANTA BRAVES | Bobby Cox | 4-2 (WWLWLW) | Cleveland | Mike Hargrove |
| 1996 | NY Yankees | Joe Torre | 4-2 (LLWWWW) | ATLANTA BRAVES | Bobby Cox |
| 1997 | FLORIDA | Jim Leyland | 4-3 (WLWLWLW) | Cleveland | Mike Hargrove |
| 1998 | NY Yankees | Joe Torre | 4-0 | SAN DIEGO | Bruce Bochy |
| 1999 | NY Yankees | Joe Torre | 4-0 | ATLANTA BRAVES | Bobby Cox |
| 2000 | NY Yankees | Joe Torre | 4-1 (WWLWW) | NY METS | Bobby Valentine |
| 2001 | ARIZONA | Bob Brenly | 4-3 (WWLLLWW) | NY Yankees | Joe Torre |
| 2002 | Anaheim | Mike Scioscia | 4-3 (LWWLLWW) | SF GIANTS | Dusty Baker |
| 2003 | FLORIDA | Jack McKeon | 4-2 (WLLWWW) | NY Yankees | Joe Torre |
| 2004 | Boston | Terry Francona | 4-0 | ST. LOUIS | Tony La Russa |
Most Valuable Players
Currently selected by media panel and World Series official scorers. Presented by Sport magazine from 1955-88 and by Major League Baseball since 1989. Winner who did not play for World Series champions is in bold type.
Multiple winners: Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson and Sandy Koufax (2).
| Year | |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Johnny Podres, Bklyn, P |
| 1956 | Don Larsen, NY, P |
| 1957 | Lew Burdette, Mil., P |
| 1958 | Bob Turley, NY, P |
| 1959 | Larry Sherry, LA, P |
| 1960 | Bobby Richardson, NY, 2B |
| 1961 | Whitey Ford, NY, P |
| 1962 | Ralph Terry, NY, P |
| 1963 | Sandy Koufax, LA, P |
| 1964 | Bob Gibson, St.L., P |
| 1965 | Sandy Koufax, LA, P |
| 1966 | Frank Robinson, Bal., OF |
| 1967 | Bob Gibson, St.L., P |
| 1968 | Mickey Lolich, Det., P |
| 1969 | Donn Clendenon, NY, 1B |
| 1970 | Brooks Robinson, Bal., 3B |
| 1971 | Roberto Clemente, Pit., OF |
| 1972 | Gene Tenace, Oak., C |
| 1973 | Reggie Jackson, Oak., OF |
| 1974 | Rollie Fingers, Oak., P |
| 1975 | Pete Rose, Cin., 3B |
| 1976 | Johnny Bench, Cin., C |
| 1977 | Reggie Jackson, NY, OF |
| 1978 | Bucky Dent, NY, SS |
| 1979 | Willie Stargell, Pit., 1B |
| 1980 | Mike Schmidt, Phi., 3B |
| 1981 | Pedro Guerrero, LA, OF; |
| Ron Cey, LA, 3B; | |
| & Steve Yeager, LA, C | |
| 1982 | Darrell Porter, St.L., C |
| 1983 | Rick Dempsey, Bal., C |
| 1984 | Alan Trammell, Det., SS |
| 1985 | Bret Saberhagen, KC, P |
| 1986 | Ray Knight, NY, 3B |
| 1987 | Frank Viola, Min., P |
| 1988 | Orel Hershiser, LA, P |
| 1989 | Dave Stewart, Oak., P |
| 1990 | Jose Rijo, Cin., P |
| 1991 | Jack Morris, Min., P |
| 1992 | Pat Borders, Tor., C |
| 1993 | Paul Molitor, Tor., DH/1B/3B |
| 1994 | Series not held. |
| 1995 | Tom Glavine, Atl., P |
| 1996 | John Wetteland, NY, P |
| 1997 | Livan Hernandez, Fla., P |
| 1998 | Scott Brosius, NY, 3B |
| 1999 | Mariano Rivera, NY, P |
| 2000 | Derek Jeter, NY, SS |
| 2001 | Curt Schilling, Ari., P |
| & Randy Johnson, Ari., P | |
| 2002 | Troy Glaus, Ana., 3B |
| 2003 | Josh Beckett, Fla., P |
| 2004 | Manny Ramirez, Bos., OF |
| Through The Years | All-Time World Series Leaders |
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