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World Series

The World Series is Major League Baseball’s annual championship series, played between the winners of the American League and National League.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The World Series is Major League Baseball’s (MLB) annual championship series, played between the winners of the American League and National League. First held in 1903, the series is typically a best-of-seven playoff, with the winner receiving the Commissioner's Trophy. Often referred to as the Fall Classic, the World Series is a major North American sporting event with a significant Canadian audience and history of Canadian teams.

Overview

The World Series is the final playoff round of Major League Baseball. It is played each year between the champions of MLB’s two leagues, the American League and the National League, to determine the overall league champion.

History

The series began in 1903. It has since become one of North American sport’s best-known championship events. The standard format has been best-of-seven since 1922, with earlier best-of-nine formats used in some early years.

Champions and records

The New York Yankees have won the most World Series titles. Other clubs such as the St. Louis Cardinals have also had multiple titles. The 2024 World Series was won by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Yankees.

Awards and format

The winning team receives the Commissioner's Trophy. Since 1955, a World Series Most Valuable Player has been selected for each series.

Key facts

  • The World Series is MLB’s championship series and decides the league’s overall champion.
  • It is contested by the champions of the American League and National League.
  • The standard format has been best-of-seven since 1922.
  • The New York Yankees have won the most World Series titles.
  • The 2024 World Series was won by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Canadian context

The World Series is relevant to Canadian readers because MLB includes Canadian fans and has historically featured Canadian teams; it is also commonly described in North American terms rather than only U.S.-only terms.[3][4][9]

Frequently asked questions

What is the World Series?
The World Series is MLB’s annual championship series between the American League and National League champions.
Who are the World Series winners?
The World Series winners are the team that wins the final championship series each year; the New York Yankees have the most titles overall.
Who won the World Series in 2024?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees.
What is the World Series schedule?
It is played after the MLB postseason and is usually a best-of-seven series. The exact dates vary each year based on the postseason calendar.
What is the World Series history?
The World Series began in 1903 and has been MLB’s championship series ever since, with a best-of-seven format becoming standard in the 1920s.
What is the World Series MVP?
The World Series MVP is the player selected as the most valuable performer in the series. The award has been given each year since 1955.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series
    Supports: Definition, participants, first played in 1903, best-of-seven format, Commissioner's Trophy
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/sports/World-Series
    Supports: Championship series description, 1903 origin, MVP award since 1955
  3. Major League Baseball — https://www.mlb.com/news/why-do-they-call-it-the-world-series-anyway
    Supports: MLB championship role and AL/NL participants
  4. Simple English Wikipedia — https://www.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series
    Supports: 2024 champion and opponent
  5. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/sports/World-Series
    Supports: History and awards
  6. Betway Insider — https://www.betway.com/other-sports/what-is-the-world-series-world-series-explained/
    Supports: Yankees title record and general format