For the first time since 2019, the World Series is going to Game 7.
After the Blue Jays won Games 4 and 5 of the series at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers came back and won Game 6 in Toronto to even the series at 3-3. Now, the series will go to a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday.
Will the Dodgers pull off the comeback and win Game 7 to become the first back-to-back champions since the turn of the century? Or will the Blue Jays come out victorious in front of their home crowd and win their first championship in over 30 years?
Before the Dodgers and Blue Jays face off in the final game of the season, here’s a look back at the 40 previous times the World Series has reached a winner-take-all Game 7 in the past.
Year
Winner
Loser
2019
Nationals
Astros
2017
Astros
Dodgers
2016
Cubs
Cleveland
2014
Giants
Royals
2011
Cardinals
Rangers
2002
Anaheim Angels
Giants
2001
Diamondbacks
Yankees
1997
Florida Marlins
Cleveland
1991
Twins
Braves
1987
Twins
Cardinals
1986
Mets
Red Sox
1985
Royals
Cardinals
1982
Cardinals
Brewers
1979
Pirates
Orioles
1975
Reds
Red Sox
1973
Athletics
Mets
1972
Athletics
Reds
1971
Pirates
Orioles
1968
Tigers
Cardinals
1967
Cardinals
Red Sox
1965
Dodgers
Twins
1964
Cardinals
Yankees
1962
Yankees
Giants
1960
Pirates
Yankees
1958
Yankees
Milwaukee Braves
1957
Milwaukee Braves
Yankees
1956
Yankees
Brooklyn Dodgers
1955
Brooklyn Dodgers
Yankees
1952
Yankees
Brooklyn Dodgers
1947
Yankees
Brooklyn Dodgers
1946
Cardinals
Red Sox
1945
Tigers
Cubs
1940
Reds
Tigers
1934
Cardinals
Tigers
1931
Cardinals
Athletics
1926
Cardinals
Yankees
1925
Pirates
Washington Senators
1924
Washington Senators
New York Giants
1912
Red Sox
New York Giants
1909
Pirates
Tigers
The Dodgers have played in Game 7 of the World Series six times before, but have gone just 2–4 in those appearances. Their last victory in Game 7 of the World Series came in 1965, when Sandy Koufax pitched a three-hit complete game shutout on just two days rest to lead the Dodgers to a 2–0 win and the championship.
More recently, the Dodgers lost the World Series in seven games to the Astros in 2017, and are currently facing George Springer, the former Astros hitter that set a World Series record with home runs in each of the last four games of the series to win the series and MVP.
The Blue Jays have been to the World Series twice—in 1992 and ’93—and won both series in six games.
No team has won the World Series in Game 7 more often than the Cardinals, who have done so to capture eight of their 11 championship titles. The Pirates have also seen great success in Game 7, going a perfect 5–0 in those World Series.
One of the most memorable World Series victories took place nine years ago, when the Cubs fought off a comeback attempt from Cleveland to win their first World Series in over 100 years. Chicago took a 6–3 lead through the first seven innings before Brandon Guyer and Rajai Davis combined for three RBIs to tie up the game. The game went to the tenth inning, where the Cubs scored two runs and held Cleveland to just one run in the bottom of the inning to claim the title.
5 years ago today, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in Game 2 of the 2016 World Series to make the series 1-1. Jake Arrieta threw over 5 scoreless innings & Kyle Schwarber drove in 3 💪🏼
This was the first World Series win for the Cubs since 1945. 🐻
(📸: @cubs) pic.twitter.com/jwoCbNtnEL
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) October 26, 2021
The Cubs are also the most recent to come back from being down 3–1 in the World Series to win the championship. The 1985 Royals, 1979 Pirates, 1968 Tigers, 1958 Yankees and 1925 Pirates are the other five teams to accomplish this feat.
Few games have been more memorable than Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, which saw the Diamondbacks win their first and only championship with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. In just their fourth season as an expansion team, the Diamondbacks were trailing 2–1 in the bottom of the ninth before Luis Gonzalez hit the game-winning single to snatch the title from the Yankees.
The most dramatic game in World Series history though belongs to the 1960 clash between the Pirates and Yankees. The Pirates took an early 4–0 lead in the game, but the Yankees ended up nabbing a 5–4 lead through six innings. They extended their lead with two more runs in the eighth, only for the Pirates to respond with five runs in the bottom of the eighth. New York tied the game at 9–9 in the ninth, but Bill Mazeroski hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win. The game featured seven home runs, multiple lead changes, and to date, the only walk-off home run ever in Game 7 of the World Series.
October 13, 1960 — A swing that echoed through history.
65 years ago today, Maz connected on the only Game 7 walk-off homer in World Series history. pic.twitter.com/rfBqjoeoYx
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 13, 2025
Koufax’s shutout in 1965 was far from the only great pitching performance MLB has seen in Game 7 of the World Series. More recently in 2014, former Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner protected a one-run lead by pitching five scoreless innings in a Game 7 victory over the Royals, the longest save in postseason history. Bumgarner pitched five innings off of just two days rest after pitching a complete game shutout in Game 5 of the series.
7 years ago today, Madison Bumgarner came in & pitched 5 scoreless innings to help the @SFGiants win the 2014 World Series 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Xjy3Q0PGbn
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2021
Along with those performances, former Twins pitcher Jack Morris delivered for Minnesota in his first season with the team. In Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, Morris pitched 10 shutout innings before the Twins finally scored a run in the bottom of the 10th inning to win the game and series. Morris was named the World Series MVP.
Today in 1991: Jack Morris pitches 10 shutout innings & wins the greatest Game 7 ever played. The Twins are World Champions!
pic.twitter.com/aQaQfa61CU
— Jeff (@MNTwinsZealot) October 27, 2025
Bret Saberhagen, Ralph Terry, Lew Burdette, Johnny Kucks, Johnny Podres, Dizzy Dean and Babe Adams also all pitched complete game shutouts in a winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series. Dean and Adams remarkably did so on just one day of rest.
Out on the bases, Lou Brock made history in Game 7 of the 1967 World Series with a record three stolen bases in the game. Brock also went 2-for-4 at the plate.
In the 1956 World Series—one of his thirteen title victories as a player and coach—Yogi Berra hit two home runs in the Yankees’ dominant 9–0 victory. Both Berra and Bill Skowron finished the game with four RBIs. Skowron also hit a three-run home run in their World Series victory two years later.
Nearly 30 years later in 1985, Darryl Motley helped the Royals earn their first World Series victory by going 3-for-4 in Game 7, including hitting a home run after changing bats. The following year, Keith Hernandez recorded three RBIs in the Mets’ 8–5 win over the Red Sox in Game 7.
Darryl Motley (1) 2-Run Home Run
10/27/1985 (WS Game 7)
Team: Kansas City Royals
Opponent: St. Louis Cardinals
Pitcher: John Tudor
Inning: Bottom 2nd
After just missing a home run, Motley changes bats then homers on his next swing to put KC ahead in Game 7 of the World Series pic.twitter.com/Vc64B43F7M
— Paul☘️🇺🇸 #МVРеаrсе⚡ (@WayneTrain25MVP) October 8, 2024
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