World Series

The "World" appellation has stuck despite the fact that only teams in the United States and Canada participate. Attempts to pit the North American champions against champions in the Japanese or Latin American leagues have, so far, not succeeded.

A persistent myth is that the "World" in "World Series" came about because the New York World[?] newspaper sponsored it. Baseball researcher Doug Pappas refutes that claim, demonstrating a linear progression from the phrase "World's Championship Series" (used to describe the 1903 series) to "World's Series" to "World Series". (For details, see Mr. Pappas's web page on the subject: http://roadsidephotos.com/baseball/name.htm ).

Baseball tournaments between international teams do occur, notably at the world championships and at the Olympic Games. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, the US sent a team of minor-league players, they won the gold medal, suggesting that a major league team could defeat any non-American national team. Of course major league teams do not consist entirely of US nationals, and the famed Cuban team (which was beaten by the Americans in 2000) has defeated Major League teams in some confrontations.

Early World Series

During the 1880s, the National League and American Association champions met on occasion, to determine the Championship of the United States. The series were not well-planned and the clubs in them organized things themselves. The series varied from six to 15 games.

1884[?]: Providence NL defeated New York AA, 3 games to none.

1885[?]: Chicago NL defeated St. Louis AA, 3 games to none (one tie)

1886[?]: St. Louis AA defeated Chicago NL, 4 games to 2

1887[?]: Detroit NL defeated St. Louis AA, 10 games to 5.

1888[?]: New York NL (1) defeated St. Louis AA, 6 games to 4.

1889[?]: New York NL (1) defeated Brooklyn AA, 6 games to 3

1890[?]: Brooklyn AA and Louisville NL tied, 3 games to 3 (one tie).

1891[?]: No series held; the American Association folded after the season ended.

In 1892, the National League (expanded to twelve teams after taking in four of the American Association clubs) played a split season, with the first-half and second-half champions meeting in a postseason series. The split-season experiment was not repeated.

1892[?]: Boston defeated Cleveland, 5 games to none (one tie)

1893[?]: no series held

In 1894, the first-place and second-place National League teams met in postseason play. The games became known as the Temple Cup games, after Pittsburgh sportsman William C. Temple donated a cup to serve as the trophy. The games did not draw the interest people had hoped for.

1894[?]: New York NL (1) defeated Baltimore, 4 games to none

1895[?]: Cleveland defeated Baltimore, 4 games to 1

1896[?]: Baltimore defeated Cleveland, 4 games to none

1897[?]: Baltimore defeated Boston, 4 games to 1

1898[?]: no series played due to the unprofitability of the 1897 series

1899[?]: no series played

1900[?]: Brooklyn defeated Pittsburgh, 3 games to 1

The Modern World Series

The First Attempt

After two years of bitter competition and player raiding, the National and American Leagues made peace and, as part of the accord, agreed to a postseason series between the league pennant winners.

1903: Boston AL defeats Pittsburgh NL, 5 games to 3.

The Boycott of 1904

The 1904 Series[?] was supposed to be between the AL's Boston Pilgrims and the NL's New York Giants. The Giants' owner, John Brush, refused to allow his team to play, citing the inferiority of the upstart American League. Brush also cited the lack of rules under which the games would be played and the money would be split. During the winter of 1904/05, however, Brush proposed what came to be known as the "Brush Rules", under which the series would be played over subsequent years.

One rule was that player shares would come from gate receipts from the first four games only. This was to discourage teams from throwing early games in order to prolong the series and make more money. Receipts for later games were split among the two teams and the National Commission (the new governing body for the sport, which was able to cover much of its annual operating expenses from World Series revenue).

The list evolved over time. In 1925, Brooklyn owner Charles Ebbets convinced owners to adopt the current 2-3-2 system of scheduling World Series games (one team would host the first two games, the other team would host the next three, and the first team would host the last two if necessary; the leagues alternated which representative would host the first games).

List of World Series after 1904 The World Series has been a best-of-seven series except in the years 1903, 1919, 1920 and 1921, when it was best-of-nine.

1905-1919: the "Deadball Era"

1905: New York NL (1) defeats Philadelphia AL, 4 games to 1.

Every game was a shutout. Christy Mathewson hurled three of these, over a span of just six days, in one of the most dominant pitching performances in history.

1906[?]: Chicago AL defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 2.

Some consider this the greatest World Series upset. The Chicago Cubs record was 116-36, setting a regular-season winning percentage record which still stands. The White Sox had a strong pitching staff but were the worst-hitting team in the American League. The "Hitless Wonders" got all the hitting they needed to shock their crosstown rivals.

1907[?]: Chicago NL defeats Detroit AL, 4 games to 0 (one tie).

1908[?]: Chicago NL defeats Detroit AL, 4 games to 1.

1909[?]: Pittsburgh NL defeats Detroit AL, 4 games to 3.

The Tigers might have finally won the Fall Classic in their third try had it not been for Babe Adams. A rookie pitcher for Pittsburgh that year, manager Fred Clarke[?] started him, on a hunch, in game 1. Adams won that game and two more.

1910[?]: Philadelphia AL defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 1.

Jack Coombs of Philadelphia won three games, and Eddie Collins[?] supplied timely hitting as the Athletics won their first Fall Classic.

1911[?]: Philadelphia AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 2.

Philadelphia third baseman Frank "Home Run" Baker[?] earned his nickname during this series. His home run in Game 2 was the margin of victory for the Athletics, and his blast in Game 3 off Christy Mathewson tied that game, which the Athletics subsequently won. The Giants never recovered.

1912[?]: Boston AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 3 (one tie).

This dramatic Series involved great pitching from Christy Mathewson and from Boston fireballer Smoky Joe Wood, who won two of his three starts and pitched in relief in the final game, won when Boston rallied for two runs in the ninth inning thanks to two costly Giant fielding misplays.

1913[?]: Philadelphia AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 1.

1914[?]: Boston NL defeats Philadelphia AL, 4 games to none.

Another contender for greatest upset of all time. The "Miracle Braves", in last place on July 4th, roared on to win the NL pennant and sweep the stunned Athletics.

1915[?]: Boston AL defeats Philadelphia NL, 4 games to 1.

1916[?]: Boston AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 1.

1917[?]: Chicago AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 2.

1918[?]: Boston AL defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 2.

1919[?]: Cincinnati NL defeats Chicago AL , 5 games to 3.

The Black Sox scandal. Eight Chicago players are later implicated for taking money from gamblers to lose the Series, despite being heavy favorites.

1920-1941: the "Lively Ball Era" (sometimes "The Golden Age")

1920[?]: Cleveland AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 5 games to 2.

Cleveland second baseman Bill Wambsganss turned an unassisted triple play -- one of only nine such plays in major-league history, and the only one to happen in a World Series.

1921[?]: New York NL (1) defeats New York AL, 5 games to 3.

1922[?]: New York NL (1) defeats New York AL, 4 games to 0 (one tie).

1923[?]: New York AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 2.

1924[?]: Washington AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 3.

Walter Johnson, making his first World Series appearance toward the end of his storied career, lost his two starts. Washington battled back to force a game seven, giving Johnson a chance to redeem himself when he came on in relief in that game. Johnson held on to get the win and to give Washington its only World Series win.

1925[?]: Pittsburgh NL defeats Washington AL, 4 games to 3.

1926[?]: St. Louis NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 3.

1927[?]: New York AL defeats Pittsburgh NL, 4 games to none.

1928[?]: New York AL defeats St. Louis NL, 4 games to none.

1929[?]: Philadelphia AL defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 1.

1930[?]: Philadelphia AL defeats St. Louis NL, 4 games to 2.

1931[?]: St. Louis NL defeats Philadelphia AL, 4 games to 3.

1932[?]: New York AL defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to none.

"Babe" Ruth[?] hits his famous "called shot" home run--which is followed immediately by a Lou Gehrig solo home run--in Game 3 of this dominating New York Yankee performance.

1933[?]: New York NL (1) defeats Washington AL, 4 games to 1.

1934[?]: St. Louis NL defeats Detroit AL, 4 games to 3.

Brothers Dizzy Dean[?] and Paul Dean each won two games for the "Gas House Gang" Cardinals.

1935[?]: Detroit AL, defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 2.

1936[?]: New York AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 2.

1937[?]: New York AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 1.

1938[?]: New York AL defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 0.

1939[?]: New York AL defeats Cincinnati NL, 4 games to 0.

1940[?]: Cincinnati NL defeats Detroit AL, 4 games to 3.

1941[?]: New York AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 1.

1942-1945: the war years

1942[?]: St. Louis NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 1.

1943[?]: New York AL defeats St. Louis NL, 4 games to 1.

1944[?]: St. Louis NL defeats St. Louis AL, 4 games to 2.

This year saw perhaps the nadir of 20th-century baseball, as the long-moribund St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles) won their only American League pennant.

1945[?]: Detroit AL, defeats Chicago NL, 4 games to 3.

Frank Graham called this Series jokingly "the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic." It is the last time to date that the Chicago Cubs have appeared in the World Series.

1946-1960: the postwar years

1946[?]: St. Louis NL defeats Boston AL , 4 games to 3.

1947[?]: New York AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 3.

1948[?]: Cleveland AL defeats Boston NL, 4 games to 2.

The Cleveland Indians ruined a possible all-Boston World Series by defeating the Boston Red Sox in a playoff after the two top American League teams were tied at the end of the season.

1949[?]: New York AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 1.

1950[?]: New York AL defeats Philadelphia NL, 4 games to 0.

1951[?]: New York AL defeats New York NL (1), 4 games to 2.

1952[?]: New York AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 3.

1953[?]: New York AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 2.

The New York Yankees won their fifth straight World Series, a feat which has never been accomplished before or since.

1954[?]: New York NL (1) defeats Cleveland AL, 4 games to 0.

In Game 1, Willie Mays makes "The Catch" -- a dramatic over-the-shoulder catch of a line drive to deep center field which would otherwise have given Cleveland the lead. Dusty Rhodes won two games with his bat, pinch-hitting.

1955[?]: Brooklyn NL, defeats New York AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Johnny Podres, Brooklyn

Brooklyn wins its only World Series title.

1956[?]: New York AL defeats Brooklyn NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Don Larsen, New York

Larsen pitched the only no-hitter in World Series play -- a perfect game, no less -- for the Yankees.

1957[?]: Milwaukee NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Lew Burdette, Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Braves become the first team to win a Championship after relocating. Until 1953, they had been the Boston Braves, winners of the 1914 Series. In 1995 they would win again, as the Atlanta Braves.

1958[?]: New York AL defeats Milwaukee NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Bob Turley, New York

1959[?]: Los Angeles NL defeats Chicago AL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Larry Sherry, Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Dodgers win the franchise's first title since moving to the West Coast from Brooklyn after the 1957 season.

1960[?]: Pittsburgh NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Bobby Richardson, New York

1961-1968: the first expansion period

1961[?]: New York AL defeats Cincinnati NL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Whitey Ford[?], New York

1962[?]: New York AL defeats San Francisco NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Ralph Terry, New York

1963[?]: Los Angeles NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles

Before Randy and Curt, there was Sandy and Don. Koufax, Drysdale and Johnny Podres[?] combine to give up only 4 runs in 4 complete games This is the first time that the New York Yankees were swept in a World Series in four games (the 1922 series had one tie).

1964[?]: St. Louis NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Bob Gibson[?], St. Louis

For an account of this Series, and the lively season that preceded it, see David Halberstam's book, October 1964.

1965[?]: Los Angeles NL defeats Minnesota AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles

Koufax and Drysdale return to the Series. LA's lefty-righty one-two punch had combined for 49 wins and 15 shutouts in '65, but after Sandy and Don got rocked by the Twins in the first two games, it took a five-hit shoutout by Claude Osteen to get the Dodgers back into the series. By Game 7, Koufax regained his form and clinched the title with a three-hit, 10-strikeout, 2-0 victory. Koufax was the MVP while Ron Fairly hit two home runs.

1966[?]: Baltimore AL defeats Los Angeles NL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Frank Robinson, Baltimore

This was a thoroughly dominating performance by Hank Bauer's Baltimore club. Sandy Koufax announced his retirement after the series due to a bum elbow.

1967[?]: St. Louis NL defeats Boston AL , 4 games to 3. MVP: Bob Gibson[?], St. Louis

1968[?]: Detroit AL defeats St. Louis NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Mickey Lolich, Detroit

1969-1976: second expansion

Starting in 1969, the World Series pitted the National League Championship Series winner against that of the American League Championship Series.

1969[?]: New York NL (2) defeats Baltimore AL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Donn Clendenon, New York

The Miracle Mets: The New York Mets, 73-89 in 1968, won 100 regular seasons games and swept all before them in only their 8th year of existence, behind the pitching of Tom Seaver and Jerome "Jerry" Koosman.

1970[?]: Baltimore AL defeats Cincinnati NL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Brooks Robinson[?], Baltimore

1971[?]: Pittsburgh NL defeats Baltimore AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh

Game two of this World Series was the first night game played in World Series history.

1972[?]: Oakland AL defeats Cincinnati NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Gene Tenace, Oakland

1973[?]: Oakland AL defeats New York NL (2), 4 games to 3. MVP: Reggie Jackson, Oakland

Oakland reliever Darold Knowles becomes the first (and so far, only) pitcher to appear in every game of a seven-game World Series.

1974[?]: Oakland AL defeats Los Angeles NL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Rollie Fingers, Oakland

1975[?]: Cincinnati NL defeats Boston AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Pete Rose, Cincinnati

1976[?]: Cincinnati NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Johnny Bench, Cincinnati

1977-1992: third expansion

1977[?]: New York AL defeats Los Angeles NL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Reggie Jackson, New York

1978[?]: New York AL defeats Los Angeles NL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Bucky Dent, New York

1979[?]: Pittsburgh NL defeats Baltimore AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Willie Stargell[?], Pittsburgh

1980[?]: Philadelphia NL defeats Kansas City AL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Mike Schmidt[?], Philadelphia

1981[?]: Los Angeles NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Tie: Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager, Los Angeles

1982[?]: St. Louis NL defeats Milwaukee AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Darrell Porter, St. Louis

1983[?]: Baltimore AL defeats Philadelphia NL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Rick Dempsey, Baltimore

1984[?]: Detroit AL defeats San Diego NL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Alan Trammell, Detroit

1985[?]: Kansas City AL defeats St. Louis NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Bret Saberhagen, Kansas City

1986[?]: New York NL (2) defeats Boston AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Ray Knight, New York

Famed for the Bill Buckner error in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6, with the Red Sox leading.

1987[?]: Minnesota AL, defeats St. Louis NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Frank Viola, Minnesota

1988[?]: Los Angeles NL defeats Oakland AL, 4 games to 1. MVP: Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles

In the bottom of the ninth inning of the opening game, with Mike Davis on base and Dodgers down 4-3, the injured Kirk Gibson[?] hits the game-winning home run off Oakland's ace reliever Dennis Eckersley[?] and limps around the bases in what would be his only at-bat in the series.

1989[?]: Oakland AL defeats San Francisco NL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Dave Stewart, Oakland

A sweep of the San Francisco Bay Area Series is delayed only after a severe earthquake shortly before Game 3 causes a 10-day postponement.

1990[?]: Cincinnati NL defeats Oakland AL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Jose Rijo, Cincinnati

1991[?]: Minnesota AL, defeats Atlanta NL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Jack Morris, Minnesota

Five of the seven games in this series were decided by one run. Three of those games went into extra innings. Morris started three games and won two, including the dramatic seventh game. Down three games to two, the Twins won Game 6 behind Kirby Puckett's extra-inning home run. The next night, after Morris pitched ten innings of shutout ball in game 7, Gene Larkin's single scored Dan Gladden in the bottom of the tenth for the deciding game's only run.

1992[?]: Toronto AL defeats Atlanta NL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Pat Borders, Toronto

Toronto became the first Canadian team to play in a World Series.

1993-1997: fourth expansion

1993[?]: Toronto AL defeats Philadelphia NL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Paul Molitor, Toronto.

Joe Carter[?], Toronto, hit the first (and so far only) come-from-behind walk-off home run to win a World Series (Bill Mazeroski's famous home run was hit with the score tied). The fourth game, won 15-14 by Toronto, was the highest-scoring game in any World Series.

1994[?]: World Series cancelled due to strike.

1995[?]: Atlanta NL defeats Cleveland AL, 4 games to 2. MVP: Tom Glavine, Atlanta

1996[?]: New York AL defeats Atlanta NL, 4 games to 2. MVP: John Wetteland, New York

1997[?]: Florida NL defeats Cleveland AL, 4 games to 3. MVP: Livan Hernandez, Florida

1998-present: fifth expansion

1998[?]: New York AL defeats San Diego NL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Scott Brosius, New York

1999[?]: New York AL defeats Atlanta NL, 4 games to 0. MVP: Mariano Rivera, New York

2000[?]: New York AL defeats New York NL (2), 4 games to 1. MVP: Derek Jeter, New York AL

2001: Arizona NL defeats New York AL, 4 games to 3. MVPs: Randy Johnson[?] and Curt Schilling, Arizona.

2002[?]: Anaheim AL defeats San Francisco NL by 4 games to 3. MVP: Troy Glaus[?], Anaheim.

Note: New York NL (1) represents the New York Giants (1883-1957), later the San Francisco Giants. New York NL (2) represents the New York Mets (1962-present).

See also: Caribbean World Series