The World Series

The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) and concludes the MLB postseason. First played in 1903, the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and is a contest between the champions of baseball's National League (NL) and American League (AL). Often referred to as the "Fall Classic",[3] the modern World Series has been played every year since 1903 with two exceptions: in 1904, when the NL champion New York Giants declined to play the AL champion Boston Americans; and in 1994, when the series was canceled due to the players' strike. The best-of-seven style has been the format of all World Series except in 1903, 1919, 1920 and 1921, when the winner was determined through a best-of-nine playoff. The Series-winning team is awarded the Commissioner's Trophy.[6] Players, coaches, and others associated with the team are generally given World Series rings to commemorate their victory; however, they have received other items such as pocket watches and medallions in the past. The team that won the World Series in any given year is traditionally invited to the White House to meet the President of the United States.

History of the first World Series:

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A total of 111 Series have been contested, with the NL champion winning 47 and the AL champion winning 64. The New York Yankees of the AL have played in 40 of the 111 Series through 2015 and have won 27 World Series championships, the most Series appearances and victories of any Major League franchise. The Yankees have also lost more Series (13) than any other club. The St. Louis Cardinals, who represented the NL for a 19th time in 2013, have won 11 championships, which is the second-most among all 30 Major League teams as well as most among NL teams.[3] Only the Giants have been NL champions more times, appearing in 20 World Series (14 in New York and six in San Francisco), with eight Series victories (second-most in the National League), including their most recent in 2014. The Seattle Mariners and the Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos) are the only current Major League franchises to have never appeared in the World Series; the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers (formerly the 1961�1971 version of the Washington Senators), Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers (formerly Seattle Pilots) have played in the Series but have never won it. The original Washington Senators, who became the Minnesota Twins starting in the 1961 season, played in and won the World Series in 1924. The Toronto Blue Jays are the only franchise from outside the United States to appear in a World Series, winning in 1992 and 1993.

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Great moments in World Series History:

Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run occurred in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, on October 15, 1988, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Gibson, pinch hitting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth inning, with injuries to both legs, hit a two-run walk-off home run off the Oakland Athletics' Dennis Eckersley that won Game 1 for the Dodgers by a score of 5�4. After winning the National League West division, the Dodgers were considered the underdogs throughout the 1988 postseason, first to the New York Mets in the NLCS, then to the A's in the World Series. Gibson, who was not expected to play due to injuries in both legs sustained during the NLCS, was surprisingly inserted as a pinch hitter with the Dodgers trailing 4�3 with two outs and the tying run at first base in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gibson's home run�his only plate appearance of the series�helped the Dodgers defeat the A's, 4 games to 1, securing their sixth World Series title. The play has since become legendary in the baseball world, and is regarded as one of the greatest home runs of all time.[1] It was voted the "greatest moment in L.A. sports history" in a 1995 poll.[2] Many of the images associated with the home run, particularly Gibson pumping his fist while circling the bases, are often shown in classic highlight reels, usually accompanied by Vin Scully or Jack Buck's call. Though not related to his World Series home run, Gibson would be named the 1988 NL MVP. He was named to 2 All-Star teams (1985 AL & 1988 NL), but declined both invitations.

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All Teams who have won the World Series

2015........Kansas City Royals 2014......San Francisco Giants 2013............Boston Red Sox 2012......San Francisco Giants 2011.......St. Louis Cardinals 2010......San Francisco Giants 2009..........New York Yankees 2008.....Philadelphia Phillies 2007............Boston Red Sox 2006.......St. Louis Cardinals 2005.........Chicago White Sox 2004............Boston Red Sox 2003...........Florida Marlins 2002............Anaheim Angels 2001......Arizona Diamondbacks 2000..........New York Yankees 1999..........New York Yankees 1998..........New York Yankees 1997...........Florida Marlins 1996..........New York Yankees 1995............Atlanta Braves 1993.........Toronto Blue Jays 1992.........Toronto Blue Jays 1991...........Minnesota Twins 1990...........Cincinnati Reds 1989.........Oakland Athletics 1988.......Los Angeles Dodgers 1987...........Minnesota Twins 1986.............New York Mets 1985........Kansas City Royals 1984............Detroit Tigers 1983.........Baltimore Orioles 1982.......St. Louis Cardinals 1981.......Los Angeles Dodgers 1980.....Philadelphia Phillies 1979........Pittsburgh Pirates 1978..........New York Yankees 1977..........New York Yankees 1976...........Cincinnati Reds 1975...........Cincinnati Reds 1974.........Oakland Athletics 1973.........Oakland Athletics 1972.........Oakland Athletics 1971........Pittsburgh Pirates 1970.........Baltimore Orioles 1969.............New York Mets 1968............Detroit Tigers 1967.......St. Louis Cardinals 1966.........Baltimore Orioles 1965.......Los Angeles Dodgers 1964.......St. Louis Cardinals 1963.......Los Angeles Dodgers 1962..........New York Yankees 1961..........New York Yankees 1960........Pittsburgh Pirates 1959.......Los Angeles Dodgers 1958..........New York Yankees 1957..........Milwaukee Braves 1956..........New York Yankees 1955..........Brooklyn Dodgers 1954...........New York Giants 1953..........New York Yankees 1952..........New York Yankees 1951..........New York Yankees 1950..........New York Yankees 1949..........New York Yankees 1948.........Cleveland Indians 1947..........New York Yankees 1946.......St. Louis Cardinals 1945............Detroit Tigers 1944.......St. Louis Cardinals 1943..........New York Yankees 1942.......St. Louis Cardinals 1941..........New York Yankees 1940...........Cincinnati Reds 1939..........New York Yankees 1938..........New York Yankees 1937..........New York Yankees 1936..........New York Yankees 1935............Detroit Tigers 1934.......St. Louis Cardinals 1933...........New York Giants 1932..........New York Yankees 1931.......St. Louis Cardinals 1930....Philadelphia Athletics 1929....Philadelphia Athletics 1928..........New York Yankees 1927..........New York Yankees 1926.......St. Louis Cardinals 1925........Pittsburgh Pirates 192.......4Washington Senators 1923..........New York Yankees 1922...........New York Giants 1921...........New York Giants 1920.........Cleveland Indians 1919...........Cincinnati Reds 1918............Boston Red Sox 1917.........Chicago White Sox 1916............Boston Red Sox 1915............Boston Red Sox 1914.............Boston Braves 1913....Philadelphia Athletics 1912............Boston Red Sox 1911....Philadelphia Athletics 1910....Philadelphia Athletics 1909........Pittsburgh Pirates 1908..............Chicago Cubs 1907..............Chicago Cubs 1906.........Chicago White Sox 1905...........New York Giants 1903..........Boston Americans

Hightlights from the 2015 World Series

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