The MLB World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in North America. It is contested between the champions of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The World Series has a rich history, dating to its establishment in 1903. It is widely regarded as the pinnacle of professional baseball and is often referred to as the "Fall Classic."
The series is played in a best-of-seven format, with the first team to win four games being crowned the World Series champion. The winning team is awarded the Commissioner's Trophy, the only championship trophy in the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada that is not named after a particular person. As of the 2023 season, the World Series has been contested 119 times. The American League teams have emerged victorious 68 times, while the National League teams have won 51 times.
MLB Teams Without a World Series Win
The Major League Baseball teams that have not won any World Series championship are the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, and Seattle Mariners. Although the Padres, Rays, Brewers, and Rockies have each reached the World Series at least once, they have not succeeded in winning it. The Mariners have never competed in a World Series since their establishment in 1977.
List of MLB teams without a World Series win:
| Team | Wins | Losses | Appearances |
| San Diego Padres | 0 | 2 | 1984, 1998 |
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays | 0 | 2 | 2008, 2020 |
| Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers | 0 | 1 | 1982 |
| Colorado Rockies | 0 | 1 | 2007 |
| Seattle Mariners | 0 | 0 | No appearances |
MLB Teams With Most World Series Championships
The New York Yankees hold the record for the most World Series titles, having claimed 27 championships. This represents 23.1% of all series contested and 40.9% of victories by American League teams. Additionally, they have made the most appearances in the World Series as representatives of the American League, totaling 40 times.
They are followed by the St. Louis Cardinals overall among all 30 teams with their 11 World Series wins, leading National League clubs.
Here is the table summarizing the MLB teams with the most World Series championships:
| Team | Championships | Wins | Losses | Win % |
| New York Yankees | 27 | 27 | 13 | .675 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 11 | 11 | 8 | .579 |
| Philadelphia / Kansas City / Oakland Athletics | 9 | 9 | 5 | .643 |
| Boston Americans / Red Sox | 9 | 9 | 4 | .692 |
| New York / San Francisco Giants | 8 | 8 | 12 | .400 |
| Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers | 7 | 7 | 14 | .333 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 5 | 5 | 4 | .556 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 5 | 5 | 2 | .714 |
| Detroit Tigers | 4 | 4 | 7 | .364 |
| Boston / Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves | 4 | 4 | 6 | .400 |
| Chicago Cubs | 3 | 3 | 8 | .273 |
| St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles | 3 | 3 | 4 | .429 |
| Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins | 3 | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| Chicago White Sox | 3 | 3 | 2 | .600 |
FAQs on MLB World Series
A. The first MLB World Series was played in 1903 between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A. The World Series is a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games taking the championship.
A. The New York Yankees have the most World Series appearances with 40.
A. The Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series, their first championship in franchise history.
A. The World Series is held annually in October, concluding the MLB season.
