The 2026 World Series is upon us. The Milwaukee Brewers, seeking their first championship, will battle the Tampa Bay Rays, who are also looking for their first championship. This edition of the Fall Classic seems poised to make the history books as one of the best.
Before the series gets underway, let’s take a trip down memory lane at the last 10 World Series. Let’s rank them, from least memorable to most memorable.
These rankings are my own and are not cumulative of what the staff of Last Word On Baseball believes as a whole.
Ranking the Last 10 World Series
The criteria for this is simple. Each World Series from 2016-2025 is being ranked based on how memorable it is. We’ll look at historical moments, exciting finishes, unexpected heroes, etc.
#10 2018 World Series: Boston Red Sox Defeat Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1
The best team in the 2018 regular season was the best team when the postseason ended. Alex Cora led the Sox to the championship in his first year as manager. Mookie Betts won the American League MVP. Steve Pearce was an unexpected hero in the World Series, hitting .333 with three home runs.
However, the Red Sox controlled this series from start to finish. Yes, the Dodgers won a marathon in Game 3 and led 4-0 in Game 4 before the Red Sox rallied to win. However, the Dodgers never felt like a true threat. After the Red Sox won the first two games at Fenway Park, it was clear how this would end.
The Red Sox 2018 postseason run as a whole is incredibly impressive. The World Series itself lacked the excitement.
#9 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers Defeat Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2
The 2020 season felt strange at the time, and it still does—no fans in attendance. Teams played only within their own division and against their interleague counterpart. After the Wild Card Series, the postseason was played entirely at neutral sites.
Many would rank the 2020 World Series last on a list like this for those reasons alone. It did not feel like a real World Series. However, if you look only at the quality of play, it was very entertaining. The Dodgers and Rays went toe-to-toe in a six-game thriller. Brett Phillips delivered a walk-off hit to win Game 4 for the Rays, but the Dodgers took the lead, capitalizing on a controversial Game 6 decision by Rays manager Kevin Cash to remove Blake Snell from the game.
I just watched the entire Brett Phillips at bat during the 2020 World Series and I don’t think people realize how insane that moment was.
1-2 count against one of the best closers in the game. Not only did the Rays tie it, but they scored the go-ahead run https://t.co/92LIuLEjsT
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) June 19, 2023
This is definitely the least memorable of the three Dodger championships on this list.
#8 2023 World Series: Texas Rangers Defeat Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-1
From this one onward, I will only have positive things to say about these matchups. That made ranking them difficult.
The Rangers’ run to their first championship was elite. They lost the division title and settled for a wild-card spot in the postseason. However, they went 9-3 to reach the World Series, then beat the Diamondbacks in five games. The Rangers also didn’t lose a single road game during their run.
Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia delivered the memorable moments in Game 1: Seager forced extras with a game-tying home run in the ninth, and Garcia hit a walk-off in the 11th. In Game 5, the Rangers blew the game open with four runs in the ninth to win 5-0. Seager also made history, becoming the fourth player to win World Series MVP twice and the first to do so in both leagues.
#7 2024 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers Defeat New York Yankees, 4-1.
This highly anticipated World Series was a little disappointing because it lasted only five games. Still, we got plenty of memorable moments in those five games.
Freddie Freeman started the series with a walk-off grand slam, channeling his inner Kirk Gibson. He also homered in Game 2. And Game 3. And Game 4. The Yankees started picking up some momentum, winning Game 4 and taking a 5-0 lead in Game 5. However, a series of mistakes let the Dodgers back in, and they eventually won 7-6 to take the title.
IT’S GONE
IT’S GONE
IT’S GONE
IT’S GONE
FREDDIE FREEMAN #WALKOFF GRAND SLAM https://t.co/LlVU1ZGyGx— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
In a universe where the Yankees hold leads, they send the series back to Los Angeles with a 3-2 lead. Alas, we do not live in that universe.
#6 2022 World Series: Houston Astros Defeat Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2
This World Series was fun from the start. The Astros took an early lead in Game 1 before the Phillies rallied to win. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber hit mammoth home runs in another Philly win in Game 3. The Astros, however, regained momentum with a combined no-hitter, the second no-no in World Series history. After winning Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead, the Astros finished the job back home thanks to a three-run home run by Yordan Alvarez.
For the Astros, this was their second straight World Series appearance, and they finished the job after 2021. For the Phillies, it was their first pennant since 2009 and their first playoff appearance since signing Harper. In watching the games, you could tell how much each organization wanted to win. The Astros took it all this time.
#5 2021 World Series: Atlanta Braves Defeat Houston Astros, 4-2
The Braves won their first World Series in 25 years behind Jorge Soler‘s MVP performance. He hit .300 and drove in three home runs, including a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning in Game 1, a World Series first. His pinch-hit home run in Game 4 was the game-winning run, and his three-run moonshot in Game 6 opened the scoring as the Braves finished the series with a 7-0 win.
Coming to the Bay Area soon 💪
A look back at Jorge Soler’s 3-run homer in Game 6 of the 2021 World Series 💥 https://t.co/4YzRlQZzkW
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 13, 2024
Game 5 was perhaps the best game of the series. Seeking a championship in front of their home fans, the Braves jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead on a grand slam by Adam Duvall. The Astros, however, rallied to tie, but a Freddie Freeman home run in the third put the Braves back on top. The Astros went on to score five unanswered runs to extend the series, but their momentum faded as soon as Soler sent one deep into the Houston night in Game 6.
This was also the final World Series in which the pitcher batted in National League parks. Starting in 2022, the NL adopted the designated hitter, meaning Game 5 of the 2021 World Series was the last time lineups included a pitcher’s spot. Zack Grienke singled in the fourth as a pinch hitter, becoming the last pitcher, other than Shohei Ohtani, to record a hit in the postseason. He was also the first pitcher to record a hit as a pinch-hitter in the postseason since Jack Bentley in 1923.
#4 2017 World Series: Houston Astros Defeat Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3
The Astros’ sign-stealing scandal certainly has ruined the reputation of this classic World Series. However, this series still stands out for the big moments each game seemed to have.
In Game 1, Clayton Kershaw struck out 11 batters in seven innings as the Dodgers won. The Astros, behind some ninth- and tenth-inning home runs, rallied to win Game 2 and the series. After the Astros won Game 3, the Dodgers won Game 4, scoring five runs in the ninth to tie the series.
That brings us to Game 5. This may be the best non-Game 7 game of any of the 10 World Series we look at. In a 10-inning game started by both teams’ aces, the teams combined for 25 runs on 28 hits and seven home runs. After the Dodgers scored three runs in the ninth to tie the game, Alex Bregman won it in the 10th on a single.
The Dodgers forced a Game 7, but the Astros cruised to their first title in the final game, winning 5-1. George Springer, the World Series MVP, hit a two-run home run in the second inning that broke the game open. Charlie Morton pitched four innings out of the bullpen to finish the game and earn the win.
#3 2019 World Series: Washington Nationals Defeat Houston Astros, 4-3
Every time we thought we knew where this series was headed, we were proven wrong. The Nationals won the first two games in Houston, but the Astros won all three games in the Nation’s Capital. The road team continued to dominate, as the Nationals won again in Houston, forcing a Game 7.
Future Hall of Famers Greinke and Max Scherzer started Game 7. Scherzer made the start despite a back injury. Both pitched well. The Astros took a 2-0 lead going into the seventh inning when Anthony Rendon hit a home run to put the Nats on the board. The Astros went to the bullpen, but controversially did not bring in Gerrit Cole. Howie Kendrick would hit a two-run home run off the right-field foul pole to give the Nationals the lead. They added three more runs over the final two innings to put the game away.
One year ago today…
Howie Kendrick hit the CLANG! heard ‘round the world.
#NATITUDE https://t.co/U38UXHT3vf
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 30, 2020
For the first time in any major North American sports league, the road team won every game in a seven-game series. The Nationals also became the third team in 2019 to win its first championship. In June, the St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup, and the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA Finals title. 2019 was certainly a season of firsts.
#2 2025 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers Defeat Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3
The Dodgers cemented their dynasty and became the first team since the 1998-00 Yankees to win consecutive titles.
Similar to 2017, this World Series seemed to have something big in each game. The Blue Jays scored nine runs in the sixth inning in Game 1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a complete game in Game 2, the first World Series complete game since Johnny Cueto in 2015. The Dodgers won an 18-inning marathon on a Freddie Freeman walk-off home run, giving them a 2-1 series lead. The Blue Jays evened things up in Game 4 behind Trey Yesavage‘s 16 strikeouts. After winning Game 5, the Blue Jays came home with a chance to win it all in front of their home fans. They had a runner on second with no outs in the ninth, but the Dodgers got three outs on three pitches, including a double play, to end the game.
Then we get to Game 7. The Dodgers trailed late, but Max Muncy‘s eighth-inning home run brought them within one, and unlikely hero Miguel Rojas tied the game in the ninth with a long ball. In the bottom of the ninth, Yamamoto, who had thrown 96 pitches the night before, came in with two men on base and got out behind some great defense.
Will Smith homered in the top of the 11th, and Yamamoto sealed the dynasty by getting Alejandro Kirk to ground into a double play with runners on the corners to end the game.
This World Series had everything. What could top it?
#1 2016 World Series: Chicago Cubs Defeat Cleveland Indians, 4-3
The teams with the longest World Series droughts met in this Fall Classic. Cleveland seemed destined to end their drought by winning three of the first four games. The Cubs won Games 5 and 6, forcing a Game 7. That game would end the drought.
Game 7 is considered one of the best World Series games ever played. It is not hard to see why. Dexter Fowler homered to lead off, and David Ross homered in what was his final game. The Cubs took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth. Aroldis Chapman entered to seal the deal, but Cleveland rallied to tie the game with three runs, highlighted by a two-run home run by Raja Davis.
Game 7 would require extra innings, but not before a brief rain delay. When play resumed, Ben Zobrist drove in the go-ahead run in the tenth, and Miguel Montero added an insurance run. Cleveland, however, would still not go away quietly. After a two-out walk, Davis singled, driving in a run to make it 8-7 and bring the winning run to the plate. Michael Montgomery retired Michael Martinez on a ground ball to third base. Kris Bryant‘s throw to Anthony Rizzo ended the Curse of the Billy Goat.
At long last, the Cubs were World Series Champions.
The Last Word
This list featured many classic seven-game thrillers. Title droughts ended. First championships were run. A dynasty was established. Heroes came in all kinds, from star players living up to their reputations to some who appeared out of nowhere.
On Friday, the Brewers and Rays start the 2026 World Series. With one of these organizations poised to win its first championship, this series is set up to be a classic. Time will tell where it ranks on this list and the all-time list. However, one thing is for sure. The World Series is never boring. Sometimes, we even see something we have not seen before.
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