World Series Winners by Year … and by Baseball Cards!

If you’ve been a baseball fan for awhile, a list of World Series winners by year will take you back through the stages of your own life …

Like how you and your dad were jumping around in front of the black-and-white living room TV, right along with Carlton Fisk in Game 6 of the 1975 Fall Classic …

Or how you griped to your friends at school the next day after Don Denkinger dinked up Game 6 in 1985.

Or how the Braves ruined your fall semester at college in 1995.

Or how you barely even noticed what was happening in 2015 — kids, job, hassles — until someone mentioned that the Royals — the Royals — were about to take it all.

Whether these were your exact scenarios or not, I’ll bet dollars to donuts the general sentiment fits your fandom.

And I’ll bet, too, that this list of World Series winners by year — accompanied by a representative baseball card for each decade — will get your memories all stirred up.

1900s World Series Winners

We all know that the Chicago Cubs suffered through a century-plus World Series drought, but the truth is, they were the bomb in the first decade of the Fall Classic.

The Cubbies took two Series in a row, in 1907 and 1908, which accounted for a third of all championships in the 1900s.

The team even inspired some poetry, courtesy of their famed double-play combination.

T202 Hassan Triple Folders Frank Chance – Johnny Evers – Joe Tinker

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1903 World Series – Boston Pilgrims (AL) over Pittsburgh Pirates (NL), 5 games to 3
1904 World Series – no World Series
1905 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over Philadelphia Athletics (AL), 4 games to 1
1906 World Series – Chicago White Sox (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 2
1907 World Series – Chicago Cubs (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 0
1908 World Series – Chicago Cubs (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 1
1909 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 3

1910s World Series Winners

Like the Cubs, the Boston Red Sox went forever between championships — 86 years, in fact.

But before they fell under the Curse of the Bambino in 1919, they were the class franchise of the game in the 1910s, nabbing titles in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918.

This success was due in no small part to the dude they sold off to induce the aforementioned curse …

1916 M101-4 — M101-5 Babe Ruth rookie card (#151)

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1910 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 1
1911 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1912 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
1913 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 1
1914 World Series – Boston Braves (NL) over Philadelphia Athletics (AL), 4 games to 0
1915 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 1
1916 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Brooklyn Robins (NL), 4 games to 1
1917 World Series – Chicago White Sox (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1918 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 2
1919 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Chicago White Sox (AL), 5 games to 3

1920s World Series Winners

Where Ruth went, wins followed, and the New York Yankees rode their new stallion to six World Series appearances and three championships in the 1920s.

1925 Exhibits Babe Ruth

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1920 World Series – Cleveland Indians (AL) over Brooklyn Robins (NL), 5 games to 2
1921 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 5 games to 3
1922 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 0
1923 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1924 World Series – Washington Senators (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
1925 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Washington Senators (AL), 4 games to 3
1926 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1927 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Pittsburgh Pirates (NL), 4 games to 0
1928 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 0
1929 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 1

1930s World Series Winners

Turns out, the Bombers were just getting started as the Great Depression dawned. And, with Ruth pushing into his 30s, Lou Gehrig emerged as maybe the greatest player in the game in the new decade.

That combo, plus a cadre of other superstars, pushed New York to five titles in the 1930s.

1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig Rookie Card (#92)

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1930 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 2
1931 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Philadelphia Athletics (AL), 4 games to 3
1932 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 0
1933 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over Washington Senators (AL), 4 games to 1
1934 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 3
1935 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 2
1936 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1937 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 1
1938 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 0
1939 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 0

1940s World Series Winners

Even as Gehrig succumbed to the disease that today bears his name, young Joe DiMaggio was building himself into the next Yankees legend.

With Joe D. in center, New York continued to dominate the sport and copped four more World Series titles in the 1940s.

1940 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio (#1)

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1940 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 3
1941 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1
1942 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 1
1943 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 1
1944 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over St. Louis Browns (AL), 4 games to 2
1945 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over Chicago Cubs (NL), 4 games to 3
1946 World Series – St. Louise Cardinals (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1947 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
1948 World Series – Cleveland Indians (AL) over Boston Braves (NL), 4 games to 2
1949 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1

1950s World Series Winners

Yankee-hating became something of a national hobby in the 1950s, as yet another NYY youngster — Mickey Mantle — ascended to lead yet another Bomber streak of dominance.

In the 1950s, New York won a ridiculous six titles and came within two wins of two more crowns.

1956 Topps Mickey Mantle (#135)

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1950 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 0
1951 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Giants (NL), 4 games to 2
1952 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
1953 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 2
1954 World Series – New York Giants (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 0
1955 World Series – Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1956 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Brooklyn Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
1957 World Series – Milwaukee Braves (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1958 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Milwaukee Braves (NL), 4 games to 3
1959 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over Chicago White Sox (AL), 4 games to 2

1960s World Series Winners

The Yankees won two more titles in the early 1960s, but the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers joined them in the two-title circle.

And, with a 1959 World Series crown and the transcendent Sandy Koufax on their side, it’s tough to pick anyone but the Dodgers as the team of the 1960s.

1965 Topps Sandy Koufax (#300)

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1960 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1961 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 1
1962 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over San Francisco Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
1963 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 0
1964 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
1965 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over Minnesota Twins (AL), 4 games to 3
1966 World Series – Baltimore Orioles (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 0
1967 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1968 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 3
1969 World Series – New York Mets (NL) over Baltimore Orioles (AL), 4 games to 1

1970s World Series Winners

The 1970s were a great time for dynasties, as the Oakland A’s won three consecutive titles in the early part of the decade, the Yankees took two in a row (1977-78), and the Pittsburgh Pirates scored rings in 1971 and 1979.

But there was only one Big Red Machine, and even though the Cincinnati Reds won “only” two Series in the decade, they appeared in two more and copped six National League MVP awards.

And, of all the superstars who wore Cincinnati Red in the 1970s, it was Little Joe Morgan who paced the team at their 1975-76 peak.

1976 Topps Joe Morgan (#420)

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1970 World Series – Baltimore Orioles (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 1
1971 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Baltimore Orioles (AL), 4 games to 3
1972 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over Cincinnati Reds (NL), 4 games to 3
1973 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over New York Mets (NL), 4 games to 3
1974 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1
1975 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1976 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 0
1977 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 2
1978 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 2
1979 World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) over Baltimore Orioles (AL), 4 games to 3

1980s World Series Winners

The 1980s were all about parity when it came to championships, with ten different teams winning the ten World Series that decade.

Of all those clubs, though, it was the 1984 Detroit Tigers who felt like a dynasty in the moment, and who ran away with the whole sport that magical summer.

Their plucky Hall of Fame shortstop, Alan Trammell was named the MVP of the Fall Classic that October.

1984 Topps Alan Trammell (#510)

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1980 World Series – Philadelphia Phillies (NL) over Kansas City Royals (AL), 4 games to 2
1981 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 2
1982 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Milwaukee Brewers (AL), 4 games to 3
1983 World Series – Baltimore Orioles (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 1
1984 World Series – Detroit Tigers (AL) over San Diego Padres (NL), 4 games to 1
1985 World Series – Kansas City Royals (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 3
1986 World Series – New York Mets (NL) over Boston Red Sox (AL), 4 games to 3
1987 World Series – Minnesota Twins (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 3
1988 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) over Oakland Athletics (AL), 4 games to 1
1989 World Series – Oakland Athletics (AL) over San Francisco Giants (NL), 4 games to 0

1990s World Series Winners

The 1990s were almost like two different decades, delimited by the ugly strike that cancelled the 1994 World Series and shortened the 1995 season.

On the front side, you had the Toronto Blue Jays and their rings in 1992 and 1993.

Then, after the fall, who should emerge but our old friends, the New York Yankees.

From 1996 through 1999, the Yanks won three Series (with another in 2000), and youngster Derek Jeter established himself as a legend.

1993 Topps Derek Jeter Rookie Card (#98)

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1990 World Series – Cincinnati Reds (NL) over Oakland Athletics (AL), 4 games to 0
1991 World Series – Minnesota Twins (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 3
1992 World Series – Toronto Blue Jays (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 2
1993 World Series – Toronto Blue Jays (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 2
1994 World Series – No World Series due to players strike (BOO!!)
1995 World Series – Atlanta Braves (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 2
1996 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 2
1997 World Series – Florida Marlins (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 3
1998 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over San Diego Padres (NL), 4 games to 0
1999 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Atlanta Braves (NL), 4 games to 0

2000s World Series Winners

In 2004, the Red Sox finally broke through to win the World Series after decades and decades of near misses.

That win changed the entire tenor of the franchise, and they won another title in 2007 … and two more in the 2010s.

Along the way, Big Papi became a baseball god and likely punched his ticket to Cooperstown as a designated hitter.

2004 Topps David Ortiz (#623)

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2000 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over New York Mets (NL), 4 games to 1
2001 World Series – Arizona Diamondbacks (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 3
2002 World Series – Anaheim Angels (AL) over San Francisco Giants (NL), 4 games to 3
2003 World Series – Florida Marlins (NL) over New York Yankees (AL), 4 games to 2
2004 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 0
2005 World Series – Chicago White Sox (AL) over Houston Astros (NL), 4 games to 0
2006 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 1
2007 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Colorado Rockies (NL), 4 games to 0
2008 World Series – Philadelphia Phillies (NL) over Tampa Bay Rays (AL), 4 games to 1
2009 World Series – New York Yankees (AL) over Philadelphia Phillies (NL), 4 games to 2

2010s World Series Winners

Even though the Sox added to their title count in the 2010s, and even though the Royals, Cubs, and Houston Astros broke their own championship droughts, none of them could match the San Francisco Giants when it came to October glory.

Copping titles every other year from 2010 through 2014, San Fran had us all believing that even-numbered years would always end in the Bay.

And the face of the franchise, especially when it came to big games, was a dude the world called Mad Bum.

2010 Bowman Madison Bumgarner Rookie Card (#206)

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2010 World Series – San Francisco Giants (NL) over Texas Rangers (AL), 4 games to 1
2011 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals (NL) over Texas Rangers (AL), 4 games to 3
2012 World Series – San Francisco Giants (NL) over Detroit Tigers (AL), 4 games to 0
2013 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over St. Louis Cardinals (NL), 4 games to 2
2014 World Series – San Francisco Giants (NL) over Kansas City Royals (AL), 4 games to 3
2015 World Series – Kansas City Royals (AL) over NY Mets (NL), 4 games to 1
2016 World Series – Chicago Cubs (NL) over Cleveland Indians (AL), 4 games to 3
2017 World Series – Houston Astros (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 3
2018 World Series – Boston Red Sox (AL) over Los Angeles Dodgers (NL), 4 games to 1
2019 World Series – Washington Nationals (NL) over Houston Astros (AL), 4 games to 3

2020s World Series Winners

The 2020s got off to a rough start all over the world and in all aspects of life — thanks, COVID.

But, after some fits and starts, and with a looming strike or lockout, baseball managed to keep their stuff together enough to not miss any World Series at all.

Here’s how they went down …

2020 World Series – Los Angeles Angels (NL) over Tampa Bay Rays (AL), 4 games to 2
2021 World Series – Atlanta Braves (NL) over Houston Astros (AL), 4 games to 2

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