If you’ve been paying any attention to baseball lately, you know the landscape has shifted. We aren't just seeing the same old dynasties coasting on legacy. Instead, the last few years have given us a weird, electric mix of first-time champions, redemption arcs, and a West Coast powerhouse finally turning its "paper greatness" into a literal mountain of rings.
Honestly, keeping track of who won the last 5 world series can feel like a blur because the game has changed so much since 2021. We’ve seen the shift from the "juiced ball" era to the pitch clock era, and the teams that came out on top are the ones that didn't just have the biggest payrolls—they had the most grit when the lights got bright.
The 2025 Repeat: Dodgers Cement the Dynasty
The most recent Fall Classic was a heart-stopper. The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the Toronto Blue Jays in a seven-game war that ended in early November 2025. This wasn't just another win; it was a statement. By winning back-to-back titles, the Dodgers became the first team to repeat as champions since the Yankees did it at the turn of the millennium.
It came down to Game 7 at the Rogers Centre. Imagine the tension. The Dodgers were down, but a clutch ninth-inning home run by Miguel Rojas tied it up. Then, in the 11th, Will Smith blasted one to give LA a 5-4 lead they wouldn't give back. People sorta expected the Dodgers to be good, but nobody expected them to survive a seven-game gauntlet against a Blue Jays lineup that looked unstoppable.
2024: A Coastal Clash for the Ages
Before the repeat, there was the 2024 showdown. This was the one everyone wanted: Dodgers vs. Yankees. It was the first time these two legendary franchises met in the World Series since 1981. The Dodgers took it in five games, finishing things off with a 7-6 comeback win at Yankee Stadium.
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Freddie Freeman was the hero here. Even with a bum ankle that looked like it belonged in a cast, he hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history during Game 1. That moment basically broke the Yankees' spirit right out of the gate. While the Bronx Bombers kept it close, the Dodgers’ depth was just too much. They rallied from five runs down in the clincher, which is basically unheard of on that stage.
2023: The Texas Rangers Finally Get Theirs
Go back one more year, and the story changes completely. In 2023, the Texas Rangers finally ended a 63-season drought. They weren't even supposed to be there. They were a wild card team that had lost 102 games just two years prior.
They faced the Arizona Diamondbacks, another underdog, making it a "Wild Card World Series." The Rangers took it in five games. Corey Seager, who seems to turn into a superhero every October, won his second World Series MVP. He and Marcus Semien powered an offense that just wouldn't quit. Bruce Bochy, their manager, came out of retirement just to steer this ship, and he ended up with his fourth ring. It was a masterclass in how to build a team through aggressive free agency and veteran leadership.
2022: Houston’s Redemption
The 2022 season was all about the Houston Astros. Love them or hate them, you have to admit they were the most consistent force in the American League for a decade. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to grab their second title.
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This win felt different than their 2017 run. There was no shadow of a scandal here—just dominant pitching. In Game 4, they actually threw a combined no-hitter, which is only the second time that's ever happened in World Series history. Yordan Alvarez hit a 450-foot moonshot in Game 6 that practically landed in another zip code, sealing the 4-1 victory. It also finally gave Dusty Baker, one of the most beloved figures in the sport, his first ring as a manager.
2021: The Atlanta Braves’ Impossible Run
If you want to talk about a team that "sorta" came out of nowhere, it’s the 2021 Braves. At the halfway point of that season, they were under .500. They lost their best player, Ronald Acuña Jr., to a torn ACL. Most experts thought they should be sellers at the trade deadline.
Instead, they traded for an entire new outfield and went on a tear. They took down the Astros in six games. Jorge Soler, one of those mid-season trade acquisitions, hit three massive home runs and took home the MVP trophy. The image of his Game 6 blast leaving Minute Maid Park is still burned into the brains of Braves fans. It was Atlanta's first title since 1995, and it proved that a hot bullpen and some trade-deadline magic can beat a "better" team on paper.
World Series Winners at a Glance
To make it easy to see the progression of who won the last 5 world series, here is how the hardware has moved around:
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The Los Angeles Dodgers took the crown in 2025 by beating Toronto 4-3.
The year before, in 2024, the Dodgers handled the Yankees 4-1.
In 2023, the Texas Rangers made history by defeating Arizona 4-1.
The Houston Astros claimed the 2022 title over Philadelphia 4-2.
And in 2021, the Atlanta Braves shocked the world by beating Houston 4-2.
What This Tells Us About the Future
What’s the takeaway from all this? First, the National League has been dominant, winning four of the last five. Second, the "Wild Card" era is real. You don't need to win 110 games in the regular season to win it all. You just need to be healthy and hot in October.
The Dodgers have clearly figured out the formula for sustained success, but the Rangers and Braves showed that the window can open suddenly for anyone. If you're looking to place bets or just follow the narrative for the 2026 season, watch the teams that are aggressive at the trade deadline. Every single one of these winners made a move in July that pushed them over the top in October.
Your next steps for following the MLB season:
- Check the current injury reports for the Dodgers to see if their "three-peat" chances are hampered by pitching depth.
- Monitor the American League's "arms race" to see who might challenge the NL dominance.
- Keep an eye on the newly relocated Athletics in West Sacramento; history shows that teams in transition sometimes find a weird, desperate spark.
The road to the 2026 trophy is already underway, and if the last five years have taught us anything, it’s that the regular season is just a long, beautiful prologue to the chaos of the Fall Classic.