The Biggest MLB Long Shots to Win the World Series Since 2000
Underdog stories are fan favorites, and Major League Baseball is no stranger to long shots winning the World Series.
Since 2000, seven franchises have hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy after entering the season with championship odds of +2500 or longer. In that example, a $100 bet would pay out $2,500.
But that +2500 mark is simply the starting point. Nearly two decades ago, we watched a +7500 long shot become the champion.
The list is focused entirely on preseason odds, using data from SportsOddsHistory.com. As a result, the 2019 Washington Nationals and 2021 Atlanta Braves are not included despite falling to +5000 odds or longer at some point during the regular season.
2010 San Francisco Giants
1 of 7
Preseason Odds: +2500
The 2010 campaign marked the beginning of a fun trend.
From this season through 2014, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series during the even years. They opened the unique run with a triumph over the Texas Rangers in 2010.
San Francisco atoned for its lineup's shortcomings—the team averaged 4.3 runs per game during the regular season, which finished just below the MLB average of 4.4—thanks to an overpowering pitching staff.
The rotation featured Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and 20-year-old rookie Madison Bumgarner, and the bullpen had a trio of dominant options in Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla and closer Brian Wilson. Altogether, the Giants registered a league-low 3.36 ERA.
Most impressively, San Francisco spun four shutouts in the postseason—including two against Texas.
2011 St. Louis Cardinals
2 of 7
Preseason Odds: +2500
One year later, the St. Louis Cardinals matched the Giants. The most memorable part, though, is that the Cardinals were incredibly fortunate to even reach the postseason.
As the calendar turned to September, the Milwaukee Brewers held a commanding 8.5-game edge in the NL Central. Additionally, the Braves enjoyed an identical advantage in the wild-card race. Barring a collapse from either one, the Cards would be watching the playoffs at home.
But the Braves faltered, and St. Louis earned the improbable spot with a victory on the final day of the regular season.
During the playoffs, the Cards certainly made it interesting. They played 18 of their 19 possible games, clipping the Philadelphia Phillies in five, the Brewers in six and Rangers in seven.
Perhaps it was only fitting that an unlikely player, David Freese—the clutch-hitting hero of Game 6 in Texas—earned World Series MVP honors over Cardinals stars Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Lance Berkman.
2014 San Francisco Giants
3 of 7
Preseason Odds: +2500
That San Francisco won a third championship in a five-year stretch is remarkable enough. Surviving the one-game wild-card matchup and navigating past a pair of division winners is yet another outstanding feat.
But what Madison Bumgarner accomplished during the postseason—and especially the World Series—is truly legendary.
The left-hander had a terrific season, tallying marks of 18 wins and 219 strikeouts while notching a 2.98 ERA. However, that merely set the stage for Bumgarner's playoff performance. He appeared in seven games, surrendering only six earned runs in 52.2 innings.
Bumgarner continually shut down the Kansas City Royals on the championship stage. He allowed one run in seven innings to win Game 1, tossed a nine-inning shutout in Game 5 and slammed the door in Game 7 by holding the Royals scoreless during a five-inning save.
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2013 Boston Red Sox
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Preseason Odds: +2800
After an offseason full of roster changes, the Boston Red Sox were hardly expected to contend in the AL East. Based on preseason odds, three division foes—the Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays—entered the year as stronger contenders.
But the overhauled Sox came out on top.
Led by first-year manager John Farrell, Boston surged to an MLB-leading 5.3 runs per game. David Ortiz smacked 30 homers, Jacoby Ellsbury stole a league-high 52 bases and the Red Sox offered an escape for a community reeling from the tragic Boston Marathon bombing in April.
Boston won the AL East and then dispatched the Rays in the opening round. Grand slams from David Ortiz and Shane Victorino highlighted the ALCS triumph over the Detroit Tigers, and the Sox recovered from a 2-1 series deficit to the Cardinals in the World Series.
Ortiz secured MVP honors with a ridiculous .688/.760/1.188 slash line during the Fall Classic.
2015 Kansas City Royals
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Preseason Odds: +3300
In the most underdog fashion possible, the Royals scored their championship-sealing run thanks to a player who hadn't recorded a single at-bat during the postseason until that moment.
Christian Colón provided the heroics opposite the New York Mets in Game 5 of the World Series. Eric Hosmer scored the game-tying run in the ninth inning, and Colon capped the comeback with a run-scoring single in the 12th that sparked a five-run frame to secure the title.
And manage a little bit of redemption.
Despite reaching the World Series in 2014, the low-budget Royals were widely expected to slip out of the postseason completely. Instead, they rode an elite defense and shutdown bullpen to an improbable ring.
2002 Anaheim Angels
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Preseason Odds: +4000
Heading into 2002, the Anaheim Angels were understandably a long shot. After losing 87 games in 2001, the franchise still hadn't reached the postseason since 1986.
But armed with a pitching staff that ceded an AL-low 4.0 runs per game, the Halos ended the drought.
Although the "Moneyball" Oakland A's won the AL West, the Angels entered the postseason as the wild-card team. They defeated the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins to reach the World Series, which featured an All-California matchup with Barry Bonds and the Giants.
The unexpected championship included plenty of drama, considering the Angels were on the brink of watching the Giants celebrate a championship on Anaheim's field in Game 6.
Trailing 3-2 in the series, Anaheim fell behind 5-0 in the seventh inning. However, the Angels stormed back with a pair of three-run frames to steal a 6-5 victory and downed the Giants 4-1 in Game 7. Star closer Troy Percival slammed the door on both nights, setting an MLB record with seven saves in a single postseason.
2003 Florida Marlins
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Preseason Odds: +7500
The 2003 season is an ideal underdog story.
On the AL side, the tradition-rich, big-budget Yankees won the pennant for the sixth time in eight years. They'd rattled off four World Series titles along the way, including three in a row from 1998 to 2000.
Conversely, the Florida Marlins—with a $49.1 million payroll compared to $152.7 million for the Yankees—represented the NL. Sure, the Fish had won a remarkable World Series in 1997, but the first of several infamous fire sales immediately followed that title. The organization hadn't posted a winning record during any of the next five seasons.
Then, suddenly, 2003 happened.
Florida fired manager Jeff Torborg after a 16-22 start and replaced him with Jack McKeon. He oversaw a 75-49 run that propelled the Marlins into the NL wild-card spot and introduced Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the national spotlight.
In the playoffs, they defeated the reigning NL champ Giants, overcame a 3-1 series deficit to the Chicago Cubs and recovered from a 2-1 hole to take down the Yankees in six games.
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