The World Series in a sentence

After a loss to the American League in the first Fall Classic, the World Series belonged to the Senior Circuit for pretty much the rest of the decade. The Pirates, Cubs and Tigers prove to be baseball's early royalty.

1903 -- Boston Americans 5, Pirates 3: The first World Series ends in a triumph for Boston.
1904 -- John McGraw's pride kept baseball from enjoying a second World Series when he canceled the Fall Classic.
1905 -- Giants 4, Athletics 1: Christy Mathewson makes John McGraw proud tossing three - yes three - shutouts.
1906 -- White Sox 4, Cubs 2: In the first intra-city showdown, the Chicago White Sox came in as "Hitless Wonders" and left as World Champions.
1907 -- Cubs 4, Tigers 0: That's right, Game 1 ended in a tie.
1908 -- Cubs 4, Tigers 1: Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance highlights the Cubs' run which is capped by a third straight pennant and second straight crown.
1909 -- Pirates 4, Tigers 3: Honus Wagner outshines Ty Cobb in a matchup of the game's premiere players.

Several of the game's biggest names - Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, Joe Jackson - make their World Series debuts, but shadows loom.

1910 -- Athletics 4, Cubs 1: The American League gives birth to its first dynasty, Connie Mack's 104-win A's.
1911 -- Athletics 4, Giants 2: Frank Baker becomes baseball's postseason home run king.
1912 -- Red Sox 4, Giants 3: Fred Snodgrass made his famous blunder by dropping a short fly ball, but don't forget Smokey Joe Wood won three games, struck out 21 Giants and collected two hits of his own.
1913 -- Athletics 4, Giants 1: In a duel between future Hall of Famers, Eddie Plank beat Christy Mathewson in Game 7.
1914 -- Braves 4, Athletics 0: It was a miracle the Braves made it, not that they shellacked Connie Mack's club.
1915 -- Red Sox 4, Phillies 1: Babe Ruth makes his World Series debut by going hitless in his only at-bat, but his Red Sox are able to survive.
1916 -- Red Sox 4, Dodgers 1: The Red Sox become the first team to win four World Series crowns.
1917 -- White Sox 4, Giants 2: Joe Jackson batted .304, 71 points below the mark he reached in the series that cost him his life in the game.
1918 -- Red Sox 4, Cubs 2: At this point in time, Babe Ruth was making a name for himself, having pitched in 37 World Series innings to the tune of a 0.87 ERA.
1919 -- Reds 5, White Sox 3: Nine heroes fall as a series is thrown.

It was 10 years that started out with frills and frivolities. It ended with a crash.
On the ballfield, the '20s, not to mention the rest of the century, belonged to one team.

1920 -- Indians 4, Dodgers 3: Elmer Smith helped the Tribe's cause with a grand slam, the first in series history, in Game 5.
1921 -- Giants 5, Yankees 3: John McGraw's team established itself as New York's first dynasty.
1922 -- Giants 4, Yankees 0: It's hard to believe, but the Yankees lost their first two trips to the Fall Classic.
1923 -- Yankees 4, Giants 2: Babe Ruth hit three solo home runs, batted .368 and started a trend.
1924 -- Senators 4, Giants 3: Walter Johnson's legendary career is capped with a heroic relief appearance in Game 7.
1925 -- Pirates 4, Senators 3: Capitalizing on two errors in Game 7, Pittsburgh overcomes a 3-games-to-1 deficit.
1926 -- Cardinals 4, Yankees 3: With Lou Gehrig at the plate, George Herman Ruth - Yes, the Babe - is caught stealing to end the series.
1927 -- Yankees 4, Pirates 0: The '27 Yankees, Murderers' Row, hallowed be thy name.
1928 -- Yankees 4, Cardinals 0: Ruth was ridiculous, batting .625 in the series and launching three round trippers in game 4 alone.
1929 -- Athletics 4, Cubs 1: The Athletics ran rampant in Game 4, overcoming an eight-run deficit.

Off the field, America went through a depression. On the field, players like Ruth, Dean, Hubbel and DiMaggio helped us forget our daily woes.

1930 -- Athletics 4, Cardinals 2: While seven Hall of Famers took the field in this series, it wasn't easy to watch because the teams combined to bat .198.
1931 -- Cardinals 4, Athletics 3: The Cardinals won the rematch.
1932 -- Yankees 4, Cubs 0: Some say the Babe called his shot, some say he was pointing at the Cubs' dugout; either way his mammoth shot won Game 3.
1933 -- Giants 4, Senators 1: Carl Hubbell's spiffy screwball confounds Washington's batters as he pitches 20 innings without giving up an earned run.
1934 -- Cardinals 4, Tigers 3: After putting Detroit in a tizzy, America goes Dizzy for the Dean Bros.
1935 -- Tigers 4, Cubs 2: The Tigers had a monopoly on great nicknames: Goose, The Mechanical Man, Schoolboy, Chief, Flea and Jo-Jo.
1936 -- Yankees 4, Giants 2: America, say hello to Joltin' Joe.
1937 -- Yankees 4, Giants 1: Something special is brewing in the Big Apple.
1938 -- Yankees 4, Cubs 0: An amazing seven Hall of Famers - Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing - showcase their talents for the Yankees.
1939 -- Yankees 4, Reds 0: Joe McCarthy's boys win an unprecedented fourth straight title.

As America was caught in a war, baseball was caught in its most superstitious decade.
The Cubs, who'd won two World Series and been to 10 World Series, make their last trip. The Red Sox reach their first Fall Classic since trading the Babe. The Indians, Tigers and White Sox all reach the World Series for the last time in at least 40 years.
1940 -- Reds 4, Tigers 3: Paul Derringer was dangerous against Detroit.
1941 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 1: All Mickey Owens needed to do was catch the pitch.
1942 -- Cardinals 4, Yankees 1: The Yankees lose their first World Series since Ruth got caught stealing in 1926.
1943 -- Yankees 4, Cardinals 1: With many stars off to war the Yankees still won.
1944 -- Cardinals 4, Browns 2: No home field advantage in this one since both teams shared the same park.
1945 -- Tigers 4, Cubs 3: They should have just let the stupid goat in.
1946 -- Cardinals 4, Red Sox 3: Teddy Ballgame can't beat the shift.
1947 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 3: Maybe if the Yankees hadn't played the Dodgers so much they wouldn't have had as many trophies.
1948 -- Indians 4, Braves 2: Spahn and Sain needed more rain facing Feller and Lemon.
1949 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 1: The Dodgers get their regular October beating.

New York teams were involved in every World Series but one in the 1950s. The Bronx Bombers won six World Series and Eight pennants during the decade.

1950 -- Yankees 4, Phillies 0: New decade, same champs.
1951 -- Yankees 4, Giants 1: Third opponent, third title.
1952 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 3 : Mantle, Berra and the boys are the kings of swing.
1953 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 2: The Dodgers are still waiting 'til next year.
1954 -- Giants 4, Indians 0: Willie Mays wasn't an optical illusion.
1955 -- Dodgers 4, Yankees 3: Dodgers fans don't have to wait anymore.
1956 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 3: Back to waiting.
1957 -- Braves 4, Yankees 3: The Hammer pounds away at the Bombers.
1958 -- Yankees 4, Braves 3: The Yankees exact their revenge.
1959 -- Dodgers 4, White Sox 1: The Dodgers couldn't get Ted Kluszewski (.391, 3, 10) out, but had no trouble with anyone else.

The sixties gave us the Summer of Love and the Summer of Gibson.
They brought several key World Series achievements. Maz hit the first series-ending blast. There's a Miracle in New York. Bob Gibson pitched in three Game 7s.
1960 -- Pirates 4, Yankees 3: Bill Mazeroski did to the Yankees what every kid dreams of doing when they're playing Wiffle ball in the back yard.
1961 -- Yankees 4, Reds 1: The M&M Boys starred during the regular season but the World Series belonged to Whitey Ford, who won twice.
1962 -- Yankees 4, Giants 3: Future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey roped a liner toward the gap, but Bobby Richardson saved the day.
1963 -- Dodgers 4, Yankees 0: The Dodgers held the mighty Yankees to just four runs.
1964 -- Cardinals 4, Yankees 3: Ironically, both managers were out of a job just a day after the series ended.
1965 -- Dodgers 4, Twins 3: After losing Game 2, Sandy Koufax caught fire and pitched two shutouts.
1966 -- Orioles 4, Dodgers 0: Boy, could those O's throw.
1967 -- Cardinals 4, Red Sox 3: The "Impossible Dream" turned into a nightmare when Bob Gibson took the hill.
1968 -- Tigers 4, Cardinals 3: With Bob Gibson on the hill, the Cardinals were confident, but not successful.
1969 -- Mets 4, Orioles 1: The Miracle on Roosevelt Avenue.

The swingin' 70s were full of teams who reached the playoffs in consecutive years. They opened with Brooks and the O's, filled out with Reggie's A's, the Big Red Machine and Reggie's Yankees before finishing with a family.

1970 -- Orioles 4, Pirates 1: Brooks Robinson, ranging to his right and diving to his left, is etched in our memories forever.
1971 -- Pirates 4, Orioles 3: Roberto Clemente showed us how he could do it all: Glide across the outfield, run powerfully around the bases, rifle throws from right, crush good pitches into the gaps and hammer bad ones over the wall.
1972 -- Athletics 4, Reds 3: Oakland has garish uniforms, a greedy owner and gaudy talent.
1973 -- Athletics 4, Mets 3: Reggie Jackson finds the spotlight.
1974 -- Athletics 4, Dodgers 1: Oakland had Jesus (Alou) on its side, plus Blue Moon, Vida, Catfish and Rollie.
1975 -- Reds 4, Red Sox 3: Carlton Fisk could wave a ball fair, but he couldn't wave away the Big Red Machine.
1976 -- Reds 4, Yankees 0: The Yankees get Bench pressed.
1977 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 2: Chant it with me now: "Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!"
1978 -- Yankees 4, Dodgers 2: Business as usual in the Bronx.
1979 -- Pirates 4, Orioles 3: Pops leads the charge, singing Sister Sledge along the way.

The decade that brought us Wham and Webster also gave us the Wizard and a wobbly Kirk Gibson. Not once during the 10 years did a team win back-to-back championships.

1980 -- Phillies 4, Royals 2: After 97 years, the Phillies win their first World Series.
1981 -- Dodgers 4, Yankees 2: After a strike-shortened season, Tommy Lasorda released Fernandomania on the baseball establishment.
1982 -- Cardinals 4, Brewers 3: Whitey's speedsters eked past Harvey's Wallbangers.
1983 -- Orioles 4, Phillies 1: Baltimore won its third World Series in 17 years by beating Schmidt, Carlton, McGraw and a bunch of aging former Reds.
1984 -- Tigers 4, Padres 1: Sparky Anderson proved his team didn't need to wear red to be a machine.
1985 -- Royals 4, Cardinals 3: The "Show me Series" is remembered for a blown call and not Bret Saberhagen blowing away Redbirds with ease.
1986 -- Mets 4, Red Sox 3: Vin Scully described the scene simply: "Little roller up along first. ... behind the bag. It gets through Buckner ... Here comes Knight and the Mets win it."
1987 -- Twins 4, Cardinals 3: Frank Viola starred as the home team won every game in a seven game set.
1988 -- Dodgers 4, Athletics 1: Kirk Gibson hobbled, and will never be forgotten.
1989 -- Athletics 4, Giants 0: The ground shook, but Oakland didn't.

The 1990s saw several teams have dominant runs. The decade started with the end of the Athletics' run and moved through consecutive Canadian crowns and ended with the Yankees winning three of four World Series. In between, the Braves went to five Fall Classics while the Indians were bridesmaids twice.

1990 -- Reds 4, Athletics 0: Lou Piniella's Reds shock the world outside of Ohio with a sweep of Tony LaRussa and his vaunted Athletics.
1991 -- Twins 4, Braves 3: The most exciting World Series ever ends with the best World Series game ever.
1992 -- Blue Jays 4, Braves 2: In the first World Series involving teams from two countries, Canada trumps the United States.
1993 -- Blue Jays 4, Phillies 2: Joe Carter hops around the bases after taking Mitch Williams deep and giving baseball its first back-to-back winners since the late 1970s.
1994 -- Now we know an October without a World Series is just as lonesome as a December without the holidays.
1995 -- Braves 4, Indians 2: "The team of the nineties has its World Championship," declared Bob Costas a bit prematurely.
1996 -- Yankees 4, Braves 2: New York renaissance.
1997 -- Marlins 4, Indians 3: In their fourth year of existence Florida climbs over Cleveland to the top of the baseball world.
1998 -- Yankees 4, Padres 0: After their most dominant season, the Yankees win their first of two consecutive sweeps.
1999 -- Yankees 4, Braves 0: The Bombers cement a century of championships by cruising to a quick 25th crown.

Steroids ran rampant. But so did postseason drama, including a thrown bat, two series that went seven games and a dramatic championship series rally.
The millennium begins with a familiar winner. Then chaos breaks loose. The Diamondbacks Angels, White Sox, Red Sox and Phillies, all teams who struggled through the previous century, win.

2000 -- Yankees 4, Mets 1: The Yankees start the new century sitting in the place they sat during most of the previous 100 years: the throne.
2001 -- Diamondbacks 4, Yankees 3: Mystique and Aura work in The Bronx, but wilt in the desert against Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.
2002 -- Angels 4, Giants 3: Big Barry Bonds can bash and he can work a walk, but he can't beat the Angels.
2003 -- Marlins 4; Yankees 2: An aging squad of Yankees can't handle the young, hungry Fish.
2004 -- Red Sox 4; Cardinals 0: Eighty-six years of misery wiped away.
2005 -- White Sox 4, Astros 0: In an easily forgettable four games, the White Sox won their first championship since World War I.
2006 -- Cardinals 4, Tigers 1: The Cardinals, having won just 83 regular season games, dispatched the 95-win Tigers with ease.
2007 -- Red Sox 4, Rockies 0: The Rockies entered the Fall Classic having won 21 of 22; none of those were against the Red Sox.
2008 -- Phillies 4; Rays 1: Thillies couldn't be stopped, winning two games in one day and one game that took three nights.
2009 -- Yankees 4; Phillies 2: Chase Utley's five home runs can't stop Godzilla from conquering Philadelphia.