Eight teams have won at least five World Series titles — and two of them are going head to head to capture another in 2024. Either the Yankees will extend their record to 28 championships, or the Dodgers will tie the rival Giants for fifth place, with eight.
Below is a breakdown of the teams with the most World Series success.
1. Yankees: 27
Years: 1923, ’27, ’28, ’32, ’36, ’37, ’38, ’39, ’41, ’43, ’47, ’49, ’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’56, ’58, ’61, ’62, ’77, ’78, ’96, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’09
There is no other franchise in the Yankees’ class when it comes to World Series titles. Not only are the Yanks the only team to win the World Series at least four times in a row, but they did it twice, winning four in a row from 1936-39, and five in a row from 1949-53. Not surprisingly, New York also holds the record for most World Series appearances (41, including 2024).
2. Cardinals: 11
Years: 1926, ’31, ’34, ’42, ’44, ’46, ’64, ’67, ’82, 2006, ’11
While they aren’t close to the Yankees in terms of overall World Series titles, they are the class of the National League. St. Louis has maintained an impressive level of success even in non-World Series years, finishing with a record below .500 just once this century thus far.
3 (tie). Red Sox: 9
Years: 1903, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’18, 2004, ’07, ’13, ’18
Boston infamously went 86 years between titles thanks to the “Curse of the Bambino,” but the Red Sox have come on strong in recent years, winning four titles in a span of 15 seasons from 2004-18. As a result, they are the first team to win four titles in the 21st century.
3 (tie). Athletics: 9
Years: 1910, ’11, ’13, ’29, ’30, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’89
The A’s did much of their damage in the franchise’s early years while they were still in Philadelphia, and then came on strong in Oakland after a brief stint in Kansas City from 1955-67. Along with the Yankees (1998-2000), they are one of two teams in the Divisional Era (which began in 1969) to win the World Series three times in a row (1972-74).
5. Giants: 8
Years: 1905, ’21, ’22, ’33, ’54, 2010, ’12, ’14
The Giants are tied with the Dodgers for the most World Series appearances by an NL club (20), but they suffered a championship lull after moving to San Francisco prior to the 1958 season. They only appeared in the Fall Classic three times in their first 41 years out west, before winning it three times in five seasons to form a mini-dynasty under manager Bruce Bochy and catcher Buster Posey.
6. Dodgers: 7
Years: 1955, ’59, ’63, ’65, ’81, ’88, 2020
The Dodgers have had most of their World Series success since moving to L.A. for the 1958 season, with six of their seven titles coming on the West Coast. They were a frequent World Series participant when they were in Brooklyn, but they went 1-8 in the Fall Classic while playing in their original home. After losing back-to-back World Series to the Astros in 2017 and the Red Sox in ’18, the Dodgers hold the distinction of having lost the most World Series of any franchise with 14 (the Yankees are next at 13). They put those two Series behind them and ended a 31-season drought by knocking off the Rays in the ’20 World Series.
7 (tie). Pirates: 5
Years: 1909, ’25, ’60, ’71, ’79
Pittsburgh is one of baseball’s original franchises, and though the Pirates have made just seven World Series appearances in their history, they have made them count. The Bucs’ .714 winning percentage in the World Series (5-2) is the best of any of the teams that have made the World Series more than twice.
7 (tie). Reds: 5
Years: 1919, ’40, ’75, ’76, ’90
Cincinnati hasn’t come close to the World Series since shocking Oakland with a four-game sweep in 1990, but the Big Red Machine is arguably most dominant squad in the history of the NL, and the Reds hold the distinction of being the last NL team to repeat as champion.
Best of the rest (teams with at least 3):
Braves: 4
1914, ’57, ’95, 2021
Tigers: 4
1935, ’45, ’68, ’84
White Sox: 3
1906, ’17, 2005
Twins/Senators: 3
1924, ’87, ’91
