Several teams have played in the World Series. Since the 19th century, there have been 16 franchises that have won at least two consecutive World Series titles. The only team to do so outside the United States is the Toronto Blue Jays.
Throughout the history of the World Series, teams have won 56.8% of the total number of series played. Of the 118 World Series played, the American League has won 67. The National League has won 51. The most recent edition was in 2022, when the Houston Astros won the title in six games. In addition to the number of games played, the winner of the World Series is awarded home-field advantage. This is determined by the league champion, who has the best record during the regular season.
Before the modern divisions were created in 1958, the World Series was played in a single series between two teams, each from their respective league. The teams would play home and away games. These were not always held on the same site, but the team that won the first three games on their home field would have home-field advantage for the next two. During this period, the home-field advantage was usually alternating between the AL and NL. The current world Series consists of a seven game series. The winner is the first team to win four games.
The first World Series was played in 1921, the year that New York Yankees made their first appearance. Their opponents were the Boston Americans, who were an American League team. The Yankees won eight of their 11 World Series. They went on to win the World Series in 1977 and 1978. In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Yankees to claim the title. In 2000, the New York Yankees defeated the Mets four games to one. They also received the Most Valuable Player award.
The Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, and hold the record for the most World Series wins. They have also suffered 13 losses. The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have participated in the World Series on at least 21 occasions. They have lost fourteen times.
In the years that followed the establishment of the modern AL/NL divisions, home-field advantage was awarded to the winning team of the NL All-Star Game. This was extended to the World Series, where the league that won the All-Star Game received home-field advantage for the championship series. This was an unusual move, because it made the World Series an extra-ordinary event.
The World Series has been held every year except for 1994, when a players’ strike prevented the World Series from being completed. The National Commission, which was a governing body of baseball, operated the matches. The revenue from World Series matches covered the annual operating expenses of the National Commission. The final game of the series was played at Fenway Park in Boston.
After the expansion of the league to two divisions in 1958, the NL won a majority of the World Series. The AL had a strong record during the 1960s, but lost all but one of its World Series to the NL. The NL won five of the seven series that the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers participated in. The Dodgers lost in 1981 and 1988, but in both cases, they won the World Series after losing the first game.
