Best World Series Games in the Last 25 Years

The World Series is an event where you hope to see your favorite team hoist the Commissioner's Trophy. In this story, I'll highlight some of my favorite World Series games that occurred between the years 2000-2024. You've probably seen the following games that I'm about to feature more than once.

Please note that I'll be excluding the Astros' 2017 and 2022 World Series wins, because I don't respect a team who cheated and unwilling to take any responsibility for their actions. I'll also be excluding the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2020 World Series win, because it was a half season and didn't count. The following selections are not in any particular order.

Boston Red Sox

I wanted to choose either the 2007 or 2013 World Series victory by the Boston Red Sox. However, I decided to choose their 2004 World Series victory. After 86 years of agony, the Boston Red Sox broke the curse by winning the 2004 World Series, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals. Manny Ramírez was named World Series MVP. He said the following: "I don't believe in curses, I believe you make your own destination." This was Boston's first World Series title since 1918, ending the Curse of the Bambino. In case you don't know what that is, it was a superstitious curse that hovered over the Red Sox between 1918 to 2004. In 2024, the team celebrated the 20th anniversary of their historic World Series title.

Chicago Cubs

2016 was a spectacular year for the Cubbies. They were behind 3 games to 1 to the then Cleveland Indians. Cleveland was on the verge of their first Word Series title since 1948. However, the Cubs had other ideas. They were seeking to end a 71-year National League pennant drought and a 108-year World Series championship drought; both were the longest droughts in Major League Baseball history. After the 2016 World Series was tied at three games apiece, it all came down to an important and crucial Game 7. After nine innings and the game tied at 6, a 17-minute rain delay occurred. In the end, the Cubs held on to win 8-7 and Ben Zobrist was named World Series MVP. 108 years of heartbreak was over. The next entry is another Chicago team.

Chicago White Sox

Over a decade before the Cubs won their first World Series title since 1908, the 2005 World Series is considered one of the most forgotten Fall Classics. In order for the White Sox to win their first World Series title since 1917, they would have to get past the Houston Astros. They swept the Astros in four games to win the title and Jermaine Dye was named World Series MVP, who had the game-winning single, driving in Willie Harris in the 1-0 win in Game 4. In 2025, the White Sox will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their World Series title.

Philadelphia Phillies

The 2008 World Series matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays was one for the ages. Phillies players such as Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and the legendary pitcher Jamie Moyer were the best group of players I enjoyed watching. This was the Rays first World Series appearance in team history and seeking to win their first championship in franchise history, while the Phillies were looking to win their first World Series title since 1980. Fast forward to the end of Game 5: It's the top of the ninth inning and Phillies closer Brad Lidge gave up a one-out single to Rays Dioner Navarro and a stolen base to Fernando Perez. However, Lidge overcame these struggles by retiring Ben Zobrist and Eric Hinske to complete his perfect season of save opportunities, securing his second save of the Fall Classic. His reaction was one of the best I've ever seen. The final score was 4-3 and Pitcher Cole Hamels was named World Series MVP.

New York Yankees

The Yankees are one of the most storied teams in Major League Baseball. They're the only team who has the most championships. The 2000 World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and New York Mets was all the hype. This series was referred to as the Subway Series. The Yankees were seeking to clinch their third consecutive World Series title, while the Mets were looking to win their first championship since 1986. Just to note: Game 5 was the final World Series game at Shea Stadium. The final score was 4-2, with the Yankees securing their 26th World Series title and completing their three-peat for the second and final time. Derek Jeter was named World Series MVP. The last Yankees three-peat before this occurred between 1936-1938. However, I'm not going to acknowledge Roger Clemens as a World Series champion, due to his steroid use. I refuse to praise cheaters who don't respect or the integrity of game or themselves. As of 2025, the Yankees remain the sole team who has repeated as champions.

Before I proceed to my final selection, I want to remind everyone to like this story if you enjoyed it. Please follow me on my social media pages and subscribe to my page on here. Finally, please consider sending me a one-off tip, which is located at the end of this story. Your tips will show support of creators like me, allowing us to keep publish and write more stories to share with everyone.

Texas Rangers

For the final entry, I had to save this one for last. As a die-hard Rangers fan, the night of November 1, 2023 will always be memorable for Rangers fans and the team itself. The Texas Rangers have been to the Fall Classic twice before (2010 and 2011, before losing to the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals respectively). They were seeking to win their first World Series title in franchise history, while their opponent, the Arizona Diamondbacks, was hoping to clinch their first championship since 2001. This was the matchup no one expected, but I was hoping and praying that the Rangers would finally get over their 12-year heartbreak. Fast forward to Game 5 and it's the bottom of the ninth. Here comes Rangers Pitcher Josh Sborz and I was on my feet, feeling increasingly nervous. After he recorded the first two outs, I was saying to myself, "Oh no! Here comes the heartbreak yet again!" This was the opportunity for me to grab my phone and record the final out for a reaction video. When Sborz got the final out, I was screaming with joy and couldn't believe that the Rangers did the impossible. I never thought that I'd see them win a World Series title in my lifetime. This was the same feeling I expressed similar to Cubs fans witnessed their team winning a championship, ending 108 years of heartbreak. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, especially the City of Arlington, had a night to remember. I was on Cloud 9 that night and was crying happy tears for over an hour. The Rangers' heartbreak was no more, and they had their parade two days later, drawing between 500,000 and 700,000 spectators. Corey Seager was named World Series MVP and with all due respect to him, the 2020 World Series and World Series MVP he won with the Los Angeles Dodgers doesn't count, due to it being a pandemic year, which I still refuse to recognize. So technically, he has won one World Series title and his first World Series MVP. The Rangers finished the 2023 Postseason with an 11-0 record on the road, which was the most wins by a single team in any postseason and the longest road winning streak in postseason history. Manager Bruce Bochy became the sixth manager to win four or more World Series titles. His other three titles were with the San Francisco Giants (2010, 2012, and 2014). Finally, Nathan Eovaldi finished the Postseason with a 5-0 record. I urge everyone to watch the final calls: both the television and radio broadcasts on YouTube. They're definitely worth your time.

Which World Series games are your personal favorites? Sound off in the comments below.