Interesting facts about the MLB World Series

The World Series is the ultimate game for any MLB (Major League Baseball) player. Since 1903, there have been changes to the rules, teams who have risen and fallen, and unbelievable records set. Here are some interesting facts that many people don't know about baseball's biggest game of the year.

The World Excluded - Despite the name, the World Series has never included any teams outside of the United States and Canada. It has always been a championship between the top National and American league teams.

Top Team - The New York Yankees have won more World Series titles than any other team. They have played in 40 World Series games and have won 27 times. From 1920 to 1964 alone, the Yankees made 29 of their 40 World Series appearances.

Under the Lights - The 1949 World Series was the first to be finished on an illuminated field. However, it wasn't until 1971 that the first World Series game was scheduled at night.

The 1989 Earthquake - During the 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's, Candlestick Stadium was shaken by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake. The quake even caused the live television broadcast to be briefly interrupted. The earthquake caused widespread damage and resulted in the death of 65 people.

Toronto Blue Jays - The Toronto Blue Jays are the only non-American team to win the World Series. The Canadian team defeated Atlanta Braves in 1992 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993. The are also the only non-American team to host World Series games.

Most Consecutive Appearances - The New York Giants (later moved to San Francisco) visited the World Series four consecutive times from 1921 to 1924. This is the most consecutive visits for any National League team.

Played Nearly Every Year - Since 1903, the World Series has been played every year except for 1904 and 1994. The games continued despite World War I, World War II, the Great Depression, and the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic. In 1904, the owner of the New York Giants (also known as the San Francisco Giants) refused to let his team play. In 1994, the season was cancelled during a players strike.

No Win Record - Six teams have played in the World Series yet have never won. The San Diego Padres have the most appearances with no wins at two.

Longest Dry Spell - The Chicago Cubs have not made an appearance in the World Series since the end of World War II in 1945. Their last World Series win was 1908.

Sources:

Baseball Almanac - World Series History

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