- Score: 4-2
- Stadium: South Side Park (Chicago White Sox home) & Cubs Park (Chicago Cubs home)
In 1906, the Chicago White Sox entered the World Series as one of the biggest underdogs in baseball history. Nicknamed the “Hitless Wonders” due to their league-worst .230 batting average during the regular season, the White Sox were hardly expected to compete against the powerhouse Chicago Cubs. The Cubs boasted an astonishing 116-win season that seemed insurmountable.
However, the White Sox proved that scrappy determination could triumph over bad odds. Led by player-manager Fielder Jones, they relied on strong pitching and defense to keep the games close. The White Sox shocked the baseball world in a six-game series by clinching the championship. The turning point came in Game 6, where the White Sox exploded for seven runs, defying their reputation as an offensively weak team.
- Score: 4-0
- Stadium: Polo Grounds (New York)
The 1914 Boston Braves stunned the baseball world with a remarkable turnaround, earning them the moniker "The Miracle Braves." Midseason, the Braves were dead last in the National League standings, seemingly destined for another mediocre year. However, led by manager George Stallings and key players like Rabbit Maranville, Johnny Evers, and Bill James, the Braves embarked on an astonishing surge, climbing to first place by season’s end.
The Philadelphia Athletics AKA "The A’s" were favored to win the 1914 World Series given their roster full of future Hall of Famers. Butthe Braves defied the odds, sweeping the Athletics in four games. Stellar pitching from James and Dick Rudolph, combined with timely hitting, carried the Braves to their first-ever championship.
- Score: 4-3
- Stadium: Forbes Field (Pittsburgh)
The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off one of the most dramatic upsets in baseball history by defeating the heavily favored New York Yankees in the World Series. The Yankees, led by legends like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, had outscored the Pirates by an astounding 55 runs over the seven-game series. Yet, it was the Pirates who emerged victorious.
The series came down to Game 7 at Forbes Field, where Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning remains the only Game 7-ending homer in World Series history. While the Yankees showcased their offensive firepower, the Pirates relied on resilience, capitalizing on key moments to win games. The Pirates’ victory was a triumph of heart over statistics.
- Score: 4-1
- Stadium: Shea Stadium (New York)
The 1969 New York Mets, long a laughingstock in Major League Baseball, stunned the world by defeating the powerful Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Known as the “Amazin’ Mets,” they had never finished above ninth place before their miraculous season. Led by manager Gil Hodges, ace pitchers Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, and an array of clutch hitters, the Mets surged to a 100-win season.
They entered the Series as heavy underdogs against an Orioles team that featured stars like Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Frank Robinson. The Mets defied expectations with dominant pitching and stellar defense, winning the series in five games. Key plays, such as Ron Swoboda’s diving catch in Game 4 and Donn Clendenon’s timely home runs, turned the tide in the Mets’ favor.
- Score: 4-1
- Stadium: Shea Stadium (New York)
The Kansas City Royals faced their cross-state rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, at the 1985 World Series. The Royals were down three games to one in the series, but led by stars like George Brett, Bret Saberhagen, and manager Dick Howser, they clawed their way back to victory.
Game 6 became infamous for a controversial call by umpire Don Denkinger, which kept the Royals alive. They capitalized on the opportunity, forcing a decisive Game 7. In the final game, Saberhagen pitched a masterful shutout, and the Royals’ bats came alive, clinching their first World Series title with an 11-0 win.
- Score: 4-3
- Stadium: Royals Stadium (Kansas City)
The 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the world by defeating the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. The A’s, led by sluggers Mark McGwire and José Canseco, were heavy favorites, but the Dodgers had other plans.
In Game 1, Kirk Gibson, hobbled by injuries, delivered one of baseball’s most iconic moments. His pinch-hit walk-off home run against A’s closer Dennis Eckersley set the tone for the series. The Dodgers, led by ace Orel Hershiser, dominated with pitching and grit, winning the series in five games.
- Score: 4-1
- Stadium: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)
The 1990 Cincinnati Reds pulled off a stunning sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Managed by Lou Piniella and anchored by stars like Eric Davis and José Rijo, the Reds were massive underdogs against the defending champion A’s.
Rijo’s dominant pitching and timely hitting by the Reds overwhelmed the heavily favored Athletics, who were expected to cruise to victory. The Reds’ relentless play showcased teamwork and determination, making their championship one of the greatest upsets in baseball history.
- Score: 4-3
- Stadium: Bank One Ballpark (Phoenix)
In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks dethroned the New York Yankees in a thrilling seven-game World Series. Facing a Yankees dynasty that had won three consecutive titles, the Diamondbacks relied on aces Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who delivered legendary performances.
The series culminated in Game 7, with Luis Gonzalez’s walk-off single against Mariano Rivera securing Arizona’s first championship. The Diamondbacks’ victory was a David-versus-Goliath moment, cementing their legacy as underdogs who shocked the world.
- Score: 4-2
- Stadium: Pro Player Stadium (Miami)
The 2003 Florida Marlins, a young and scrappy team, defied expectations by defeating the powerhouse Yankees in six games. Managed by the savvy Jack McKeon, who took over midseason, the Marlins clawed their way into playoff contention. They knocked off the heavily favored San Francisco Giants in the Division Series and stunned the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS, thanks in part to the infamous "Bartman Game" in Game 6.
Josh Beckett emerged as the series hero. In Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, Beckett delivered a legendary performance, throwing a complete-game shutout to clinch the championship. His dominance symbolized the Marlins’ grit and determination. This victory marked the Marlins’ second World Series title and cemented their place as one of baseball’s most unlikely champions, showcasing the power of heart and resilience.
- Score: 4-3
- Stadium: Minute Maid Park (Houston) & Nationals Park (Washington)
The 2019 Washington Nationals wrote one of the most extraordinary underdog stories in baseball history. Midway through the season, their prospects looked grim with a 19-31 record, and whispers of a lost season loomed. But led by the steady hand of manager Dave Martinez, the Nationals refused to quit. The turning point came as their veteran core, including Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, found their groove, while young stars like Juan Soto and Trea Turner ignited the offense.
The Nationals carried their momentum into the postseason, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a dramatic Wild Card game and toppling the Los Angeles Dodgers in a nail-biting NLDS. Strasburg earned MVP honors with two masterful outings, while Soto’s clutch hitting and Howie Kendrick’s Game 7 heroics delivered the decisive blows.
