Ranking The Dodgers’ Nine World Series-winning Teams

The 2025 Dodgers whitethorn beryllium remembered arsenic 1 of nan astir talented teams successful MLB history. With 4 erstwhile MVPs and a brace of Cy Young winners among its ranks—not to mention World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, nan highest-paid pitcher successful MLB history—Los Angeles was fittingly location to a star-studded roster. That being said, tin this year’s squad declare to beryllium nan champion successful squad history? It’s a fierce title considering nan franchise’s rich | history.

By winning 3 World Series titles successful nan past six years, giving nan franchise 9 full championships, nan Dodgers now find themselves tied pinch nan Athletics and Red Sox for nan third-most World Series wins, trailing only nan Yankees’ 27 and nan Cardinals’ 11. Those 9 titles span 70 years and person been divided among 3 managers, pinch Dave Roberts now a fastener to subordinate Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda successful nan Hall of Fame 1 day.

The Dodgers’ latest triumph presents a premier opportunity to comparison those 9 World Series-winning teams. As successful Sports Illustrated’s ranking of this century’s champions, statistical factors arsenic good arsenic intangibles were considered. If this decade’s results person been immoderate indication, we mightiness person to update these rankings awfully soon.

Pythagorean record: 82–74 | Playoff record: 4–2

Runs scored (MLB rank): 705 (6th) | Runs allowed (rank): 670 (7th)

Manager: Walter Alston

World Series MVP: Larry Sherry | Other cardinal players: Don Drysdale, Duke Snider, Wally Moon

Los Angeles was rather fortunate to big nan World Series for nan first time—its tally differential was third-best successful nan NL, hardly amended than that of nan 74–88 Reds—but nan Dodgers proved themselves arsenic elephantine killers. After tying nan Milwaukee Braves for nan champion grounds successful nan NL, they swept them successful a playoff, taking down a squad that boasted early Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn. Then, aft losing Game 1 of nan World Series by an 11–0 score, they recovered to conclusion nan White Sox, who had MLB Cy Young victor Early Wynn—back erstwhile location was conscionable 1 trophy fixed to nan majors’ champion pitcher—AL MVP Nellie Fox and AL MVP runner-up Luis Aparicio (all of them besides being early Hall of Famers). 

Sherry whitethorn person conscionable been a rookie, but this World Series marked nan highest of his career. The 24-year-old reliever remarkably recorded 2 wins and 2 saves against nan White Sox while signaling a 0.71 ERA successful 12 ⅔ innings (including nan last 5 ⅔ innings of nan series) to gain bid MVP honors. 

8. 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers (94-67-1)

Pythagorean record: 91–70 | Playoff record: 8–5

Runs scored (MLB rank): 628 (19th) | Runs allowed (rank): 544 (2nd)

Manager: Tommy Lasorda

World Series MVP: Orel Hershiser | Other cardinal players: Kirk Gibson, Tim Leary, Tim Belcher

Kirk Gibson’s Game 1 walk-off location tally remains 1 of nan World Series’s astir iconic moments. / Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated

These Dodgers weren’t favored successful either of their playoff series, but they pulled retired a seven-game triumph complete nan Mets successful nan NLCS and a five-game Fall Classic triumph complete nan A’s acknowledgment to heroic performances from nan NL Cy Young victor successful Hershiser and nan NL MVP successful Gibson. That was a continuation of what had occurred for astir of nan year—righty starter Leary was nan only different subordinate who produced moreover 3.0 WAR during nan regular season.

Gibson’s walk-off location tally connected 2 injured legs successful Game 1 of nan World Series is nan astir enduring image of this team, but Hershiser has a beardown statement for being moreover much invaluable than his teammate. This was famously nan play successful which Hershiser recorded 59 consecutive scoreless innings, a grounds that still stands. He besides started 3 games successful nan NLCS, shutting retired nan Mets successful Game 7 aft besides earning nan prevention successful Game 4. The 30-year-old past unopen retired nan A’s successful Game 2 of nan World Series earlier closing it retired pinch a complete crippled successful Game 5. It’s nary wonderment why nan three-time NL innings leader became nan first subordinate to acquisition enarthrosis reconstruction room successful 1990.

Pythagorean record: 67–43 | Playoff record: 10–6

Runs scored (MLB rank): 450 (10th) | Runs allowed (rank): 356 (3rd)

Manager: Tommy Lasorda

World Series MVPs: Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Steve Yeager | Other cardinal players: Fernando Valenzuela, Jerry Reuss, Burt Hooton, Dusty Baker

The 1981 play was shortened by a midseason players’ onslaught that lasted from June 12 to July 31, splitting nan play into 2 halves. The Dodgers earned their spot successful nan playoffs by starring nan NL West by a specified half-game complete nan Reds erstwhile nan onslaught began; they past played nan division’s second-half champions, nan Astros, successful nan first-ever section bid information contempt finishing 4th successful nan NL West successful nan 2nd half. 

One commonality that spanned nan 2 halves was Fernandomania. The arena named aft Valenzuela, nan eventual Rookie of nan Year and Cy Young victor pinch an MLB-high 180 strikeouts and 8 shutouts, carried each nan measurement to nan World Series.

There were zero Hall of Fame players connected this roster, but nan well-balanced Dodgers managed to prevail successful nan NLCS complete nan Expos, who were led by early Cooperstown inductees Andre Dawson, Gary Carter and Tim Raines. They did nan aforesaid successful a six-game Fall Classic complete a Yankees squad featuring Goose Gossage and Reggie Jackson. After losing nan first 2 games successful New York, Los Angeles gutted retired 3 consecutive one-run wins astatine location earlier finishing nan occupation pinch a 9–2 rout astatine Yankee Stadium.

6. 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers (97–65)

Pythagorean record: 92–70 | Playoff record: 4–3

Runs scored (MLB rank): 608 (15th) | Runs allowed (rank): 521 (1st)

Manager: Walter Alston

World Series MVP: Sandy Koufax | Other cardinal players: Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Jim Lefebvre

This was nan past of Alston’s 4 championships pinch nan Dodgers, each of which were won successful nan span of 11 seasons. The 1965 Dodgers were spectacular astatine preventing runs; they allowed 34 less than immoderate different team. Even successful an era known for ascendant starting pitchers, L.A.’s rotation stood retired pinch 3 hurlers who mixed for 931 innings and each logged ERAs nether 2.80. The champion of them was Koufax, who put distant his astir prolific play earlier he unsurprisingly retired 2 years later owed to arthritis successful his elbow. 

The 29-year-old lefthander won 26 games, recorded a 2.04 ERA and racked up a preposterous 382 strikeouts successful 335 ⅔ innings. No 1 had struck retired much batters since 1886 and only 1 subordinate (Nolan Ryan, 383 successful 1973) has since matched that output. Koufax went connected to transportation successful 3 World Series games against nan Twins, tossing shutouts successful Games 5 and 7—the second connected 2 days’ rest—to bring location nan title. 

Wills, a two-time Gold Glove victor astatine shortstop, vanished 3rd successful NL MVP voting (directly down Koufax and 2 spots up of Drysdale) aft starring nan fields pinch 94 stolen bases. Los Angeles’s discourtesy different near a batch to beryllium desired, arsenic nary subordinate deed much than 12 location runs. It didn’t matter pinch Koufax starring nan way.

Pythagorean record: 92–70 | Playoff record: 4–0

Runs scored (MLB rank): 640 (12th) | Runs allowed (rank): 550 (3rd)

Manager: Walter Alston

World Series MVP: Sandy Koufax | Other cardinal players: Don Drysdale, Jim Gilliam, Tommy Davis, Ron Perranoski

Sandy Koufax went 2–0 successful a four-game expanse of nan Yankees successful nan 1963 World Series. / Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated

Koufax earned his lone MVP grant successful 1963 to footwear disconnected possibly nan champion four-year tally by immoderate pitcher to ever toed nan rubber. To triumph nan first of his 3 Cy Young awards arsenic good arsenic nan first of 3 pitching triple crowns, he recorded 25 wins, a 1.88 ERA and 306 strikeouts successful 311 innings.

While nan early Hall of Famer had immoderate much thief from his discourtesy connected this team, this was still undoubtedly a squad reliant connected its pitching—a truth reinforced by a World Series successful which nan Dodgers gave up conscionable 4 runs successful 4 games. The Yankees ne'er held a lead astatine immoderate constituent successful nan bid arsenic Los Angeles dealt New York its first ever World Series sweep. This oddly remains arsenic nan only title nan Dodgers person clinched successful their location ballpark.

4. 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers (98–64)

Pythagorean record: 96–66 | Playoff record: 11–5

Runs scored (MLB rank): 842 (2nd) | Runs allowed (rank): 686 (13th)

Manager: Dave Roberts

World Series MVP: Freddie Freeman | Other cardinal players: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Entering 2024, nan Dodgers had yet to triumph a title successful a afloat play during a decade-plus tally of regular play dominance. Los Angeles near nary uncertainty astir its playoff bona fides this clip around, staving disconnected elimination doubly by winning nan last 2 games of nan NLDS against nan rival Padres, past winning 8 of 11 against MLB’s 2 New York teams. The highlight, of course, was nan first walk-off expansive slam successful World Series history, courtesy of Freeman successful Game 1. L.A. besides overcame deficits of 5–0 and 6–5 successful nan decisive Game 5.

Freddie Freeman won nan 2024 World Series MVP, highlighted by his Game 1 walk-off Grand Slam. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

Ohtani couldn’t transportation successful his first play arsenic a Dodger owed to an elbow injury, but he made up for it pinch his champion twelvemonth astatine nan plate—he led nan NL successful location runs (54), runs (134), RBIs (130), on-base percent (.390) and WAR (9.2)—to triumph his 3rd MVP grant successful 4 seasons. He was acold from L.A.’s only violative limb arsenic 1 of 5 All-Star hitters, pinch 8 of nan Dodgers’ apical 10 batters registering arsenic league-average aliases better. 

That made up for an injury-ravaged pitching unit that could muster only 2 value starts successful 16 postseason games. If you want to amuse your friends pinch a trivia question, inquire them who led nan 2024 Dodgers successful innings pitched. The answer: Gavin Stone, a rookie who hurled 140 ⅓ innings earlier succumbing to a enarthrosis wounded successful September. 

Pythagorean record: 95–67 | Playoff record: 13–4

Runs scored (MLB rank): 825 (2nd) | Runs allowed (rank): 683 (12th)

Manager: Dave Roberts

World Series MVP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Other cardinal players: Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman

The Dodgers cemented their position arsenic a dynasty by winning their 3rd title successful six years, doing truthful by nan tegument of their teeth pinch their backs up against nan wall successful Games 6 and 7 of nan World Series. 

Dave Roberts is successful elite institution aft winning his 3rd World Series successful six years. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

It was difficult to differentiate this squad from nan 1 that preceded it; their violative and protect stats are remarkably similar. The biggest opposition lies successful nan constitution of nan pitching staff; while nan 2024 Dodgers relied upon its bullpen to beforehand done longer playoff bid successful nan absence of capable dependable starters, nan 2025 version leaned connected starters Yamamoto, Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow to transportation them done nan postseason.

The consequence was a squad that, erstwhile astatine afloat health, marched done nan NL bracket pinch a 9–1 record—including a expanse of nan Brewers, who recorded MLB’s champion regular-season record—before getting pushed to nan limit by nan Blue Jays successful nan World Series. The beingness of Snell and a patient Ohtani connected nan mound gives nan 2025 Dodgers nan separator complete their predecessors. 

2. 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers (43–17)

Pythagorean record: 43–17 | Playoff record: 13–5

Runs scored (MLB rank): 349 (1st) | Runs allowed (rank): 213 (2nd)

Manager: Dave Roberts

World Series MVP: Corey Seager | Other cardinal players: Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner

The 2020 Dodgers classed beneath their 2024 compatriots successful our 21st period World Series champion rankings, which were decided by a three-person panel. But this is simply a one-man job, and I deliberation these shortened-season champs were underrated successful that exercise. I’ll fto my workfellow Nick Selbe return complete present via his publication to that piece, arsenic I couldn’t person said it amended myself:

Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos/Getty Images

The forgotten champions from a pandemic-shortened play don’t get astir capable in installments for achieving nan franchise’s first title since 1988, and arsenic a consequence aren’t mentioned among nan all-time awesome teams. But these Dodgers didn’t conscionable fluke into a title by kindness of a 60-game regular play and an expanded 16-team playoff field—they won successful spite of these conditions. Los Angeles’s +136 tally differential was 52 runs amended than immoderate different squad from this play (it’s besides amended than 11 full-season champs from this century).

Entering nan postseason connected a 116-win full-season pace, nan Dodgers had to navigate 4 playoff rounds without nan use of a home-field advantage, highlighted by coming backmost from a 3–1 NLCS shortage against nan Braves. This was besides nan twelvemonth nan postseason Clayton Kershaw communicative was put to bed: The early Hall of Famer, who struggled successful erstwhile playoff runs, posted a 2.91 ERA successful 5 postseason starts, including 2 wins successful nan World Series. 

Pythagorean record: 95–58 | Playoff record: 4–3

Runs scored (MLB rank): 857 (1st) | Runs allowed (rank): 650 (4th)

Manager: Walter Alston

World Series MVP: Johnny Podres | Other cardinal players: Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Don Newcombe, Gil Hodges

The Dodgers’ first ever World Series squad remains its greatest—and will beryllium difficult to top. In nan franchise’s third-to-last play earlier moving to Los Angeles, it boasted a whopping six early Hall of Famers connected nan roster—Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Gil Hodges, Duke Snider and Pee Wee Reese—as good arsenic HOF head Walt Alston successful nan first of his 4 titles.

Brooklyn led nan standings wire-to-wire earlier winning its title, becoming nan first squad since nan 1927 Yankees to do so. It scored 82 much runs and allowed 16 less than immoderate different NL team. Campanella won his 3rd MVP successful 5 years (though it was astir apt meant to spell to teammate and runner-up Snider, who led MLB pinch 126 runs and 136 RBIs, only for a bizarre voting mishap to manus it to Campanella). Newcombe became nan first Black pitcher to triumph 20 games and led nan fields pinch a 3.76 K/BB ratio and 1.5 walks per 9 to spell on pinch his 3.20 ERA. He besides very good whitethorn person won nan Cy Young award, but it was not introduced into nan pursuing year, arsenic its namesake passed successful 1955 earlier nan individual grant was introduced successful 1956. 

A 22-year-old Podres sounded 2 complete games successful nan World Series, including a shutout of nan Yankees successful Game 7, to declare bid MVP honors and thief Brooklyn hit its crosstown rivals successful nan Fall Classic for nan first clip aft losing to them 4 times successful nan erstwhile 8 years.

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