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World Series history

1977 World Series: The Yankees & Dodgers Renew An Old Rivalry

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The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers were old sparring partners in the World Series. Their eight previous meetings in the Fall Classic were the most of any matchup combination and they had met six times in ten years (1947-56) when the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn. They met again in 1963 after the Dodgers moved west. So perhaps it was appropriate that the Yankees’ first championship in sixteen years—and first under the ownership of George Steinbrenner—came over the Dodgers in the 1977 World Series.

1976 World Series: The Big Red Machine Sweeps Their Way To A Dynasty

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One team was the powerful defending champions, already one of the dominant teams of the decade and looking to secure the legacy of a dynasty. Another was the team making its first World Series appearance in over a decade. It was the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.

1984 World Series: Dominating Detroit Survives Gritty San Diego

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It was expected that Detroit would win decisively and the fact they did so in five games shows the Tigers met expectations. But if you were a Tiger fan living through it in the moment, there were some nervous moments, as the Padres played competitive baseball throughout this Fall Classic and continually fought back whenever Detroit threatened to blow games open.

The 2003 World Series: Beckett’s Charge Leads The Marlins

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The 2003 World Series had a tough act to follow, but while the Fall Classic couldn’t quite live up to the expectations of the previous two rounds, it still provided a great story. The underdog Florida Marlins, led by 23-year-old Josh Beckett, upset the New York Yankees to win an improbable title

The 1995 Atlanta Braves Avert History’s Harsh Verdict

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The Atlanta Braves had come up short in the World Series in 1991 and 1992, then been upset in the National League Championship Series in 1993, before their likely playoff berth of 1994 was ended by the players’ strike. The 1995 Atlanta Braves spared the franchise and the fan base from the ignominy of constant playoff defeat by winning the World Series.

The Cincinnati Reds Stun The Oakland A’s In The 1990 World Series

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It was Cincinnati’s first time on top since the days of the Big Red Machine. As for Oakland, with three straight pennants and a 1989 World Series title, there was no question what they’d accomplished. But this stunning sweep in the 1990 World Series marked twice in three years that they’d folded up in the Fall Classic as a heavy favorite.