Ranking every World Series winners in history

By Staff | Nov 3, 2015

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

21 of 113

KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 19: Larry Bowa (R) of the Philadelphia Philles congratulates teammates after their victory during World Series game five between the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies on October 19, 1980 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Phillies defeated the Royals 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images) /

93. 1980 Philadelphia Phillies

91-71, AL East Champions, Won World Series 4-2 Over Kansas City

It’s rare for a World Series matchup to produce a guaranteed first-time winner – especially when one of the teams has nearly 100 years of history under its belt – but that was the case when the Philadelphia Phillies met the Kansas City Royals in the 1980 Fall Classic.

Having been a member of the National League since 1883, the Phillies were arguably the least successful franchise in the NL for nearly a century. The Phils had been to just two World Series in their history prior to 1980, with the most recent being 1950. The Royals made it to the Fall Classic for the first time in 1980 – but it took just 11 years to get there. Of course, it would take five more years for KC to win it all.

With a roster that included some of the very best to play the game, including Cy Young Award Winner Steve Carlton (24-9, 2.34), Pete Rose (.282/.352/.354) and MVP Mike Schmidt (.286/.380/.624, 48 HR, 121 RBI), the Phillies outlasted the Montreal Expos by a single game to win the NL East. In the NLCS, Philadelphia beat Houston 3-2, before defeating the Royals in six games to claim the first World Series title in the 98-year history of the franchise.

Home/MLB