Major League Baseball’s World Series represents the pinnacle of professional baseball achievement. Since the first modern World Series in 1903, 121 championships have been decided in best-of-seven competition between the American League and National League champions.
The complete World Series winners list shows the New York Yankees dominate baseball history with 27 championships. The St. Louis Cardinals follow with 11 titles.
Together with the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland Athletics, these franchises account for 65 of 121 total championships awarded.
All-Time World Series Champions
Below is the definitive World Series winners list showing all franchises with multiple championships:
| Rank | Team | Championships | Last Title | Appearances |
| 1 | New York Yankees | 27 | 2009 | 41 |
| 2 | St. Louis Cardinals | 11 | 2011 | 19 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 9 | 2025 | 22 |
| 4 | Boston Red Sox | 9 | 2018 | 14 |
| 5 | Oakland Athletics | 9 | 1989 | 15 |
| 6 | San Francisco Giants | 8 | 2014 | 11 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 5 | 1979 | 7 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Reds | 5 | 1990 | 10 |
| 9 | Detroit Tigers | 4 | 1984 | 11 |
| 10 | Atlanta Braves | 4 | 2021 | 8 |
The Yankees won their unprecedented 27th title in 2009, beating Philadelphia. No other franchise approaches this total dominance. Five other franchises have won five or more titles.
World Series Winners: 2020 to 2025
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Series Result |
| 2025 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Toronto Blue Jays | 4-3 |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Dodgers | New York Yankees | 4-1 |
| 2023 | Texas Rangers | Arizona Diamondbacks | 4-1 |
| 2022 | Houston Astros | Philadelphia Phillies | 4-2 |
| 2021 | Atlanta Braves | Houston Astros | 4-2 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tampa Bay Rays | 4-2 |
The Dodgers have won three of the past five titles, establishing themselves as modern baseball’s dominant franchise. They repeated as champions in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first team in 25 years to win back-to-back Series.
Greatest World Series Dynasties
The World Series winners list reveals several franchises that dominated across different eras. The Yankees, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Giants each built championship dynasties that defined their times.
The Yankees won 20 of their 27 titles before 1965. They captured five consecutive championships from 1949 to 1953. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio led the most dominant franchise in sports history.
Sixteen of their championships came during the 1920s through 1950s era. The Yankees made the World Series 41 times total, more than any other team. Their sustained excellence remains unmatched in professional baseball.
St. Louis Cardinals (1920s-2010s)
The Cardinals built an empire through excellent organization and consistent winning. They won eleven championships across six decades of competition. The Cardinals made the World Series 19 times, second only to the Yankees.
Stan the Man Musial anchored multiple championship teams during the 1940s and 1950s. The Cards won back-to-back titles in 1931 and 1934. Their longevity in winning reflects championship-level organizational stability.
Los Angeles Dodgers (1950s-2000s and 2020s)
The Dodgers have won nine titles as one franchise split between two cities. They won five titles as the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1955 to 1965. After relocating to Los Angeles, they won four more, including three consecutive from 1963 to 1965.
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Recently, the Dodgers captured three titles in five seasons from 2020 to 2024. They won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025 against the Yankees and Blue Jays. Modern baseball’s dominant team continues building a new dynasty era.
San Francisco Giants (2010s)
The Giants won three championships in five years from 2010 to 2014. Buster Posey and the dominant pitching staff led San Francisco to glory. Manager Bruce Bochy won three titles in five seasons with this franchise.
The 2014 championship marked their final title of this dynasty. After 2014, the Giants made the playoffs regularly but failed to return to the World Series. Their sustained excellence transformed from historical underperformance to championship legitimacy.
Teams That Have Never Won the World Series
Five major league franchises have never won a championship despite competing for decades. The Seattle Mariners are the only team never to appear in a World Series. The Milwaukee Brewers have appeared twice but never won.
The Tampa Bay Rays appeared twice without winning. The Colorado Rockies made their only appearance in 2007 but lost to Boston. The San Diego Padres appeared twice but lost both matchups. These teams continue searching for their first championships.
Recent Championship Trends
The American League has won 68 of 121 World Series played through 2025. The Yankees alone account for 39.7% of all American League victories. American League dominance continues, though it has narrowed in recent decades.
National League teams have improved competitiveness since 2010. The Giants, Dodgers, and Braves have won multiple titles recently. The NL produced five different champions between 2016 and 2022.
Repeat championships have become rare in modern baseball. The Dodgers repeated in 2024 and 2025, the first back-to-back titles since the Yankees in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Salary cap parity makes sustained excellence far more difficult today.
How the World Series Format Works
The World Series features the champions of the American League and National League. All games follow a best-of-seven format except in 1903, 1919, 1920, and 1921 when best-of-nine was used.
The series begins in October following the League Championship Series. The team with the better regular season record receives home field advantage. This advantage has become less significant in recent years.
The winning team receives the Commissioner’s Trophy, awarded since 1967. Prior to 1967, teams received the Walter A. Brown Trophy. The winning team’s city celebrates with championship parades and festivities.
Notable World Series Winners Records and Facts
Looking at the complete World Series winners list throughout history reveals iconic moments. Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in 1960 remains the most famous World Series moment.
The Boston Red Sox broke the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004, ending an 86-year championship drought. These historic moments define baseball’s greatest tradition.
The 2019 World Series saw the Washington Nationals win their first title in franchise history. The 2016 Cubs ended a 108-year drought, the longest championship drought in major sports. These historic achievements captivated entire nations of fans.
The Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal in 2017 tainted their championship legitimacy despite winning fairly in 2022. The Chicago Cubs defeated Cleveland in a dramatic seven-game series in 2016. Every championship carries stories that define generations of fans.
FAQs
Which Team Has Won the Most World Series?
The New York Yankees hold the all-time record with 27 championships through 2025. Their last title came in 2009 against Philadelphia. No other franchise approaches this unprecedented dominance.
How Many World Series Titles Has Each League Won?
The American League has won 68 championships while the National League has won 53. American League teams won 15 of the past 20 World Series through 2025. Recent parity has narrowed historical advantages.
What Teams Have Never Won a World Series?
Five teams have never won: Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres. The Mariners are the only team never to appear in a World Series. These franchises continue searching for their elusive first titles.
Which Team Won the 2025 World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. The Dodgers won the decisive Game 7 in extra innings in Toronto. This was Los Angeles’s second consecutive championship and ninth overall.
