More Odd Year World Series Notes (National League)

Eleven of the fifteen National League teams have won the World Series, ten of them doing so at least once in an odd year.

A pre expansion team, the Philadelphia Phillies have won both their World Series crowns, (Del Unser’s great pinch hitting a highlight in 1980 and announcer Harry Kalas calling the last out in 2008), in even years.

The Dodgers lead NL teams with 5 odd year crowns followed by the Pirates with 4.

In Brooklyn once (1955) and the first four of the 5 Los Angeles based titles, the Dodgers won in odd years, their last to date coming in even year, 1988.

The Pirates also have a high percentage of titles won in odd years as all but one of their 5 were done so in odd years.

Two of baseball’s most famous home runs were hit, helping the Pirates in 1960 and the Dodgers in 1988 win their lone even year World Series crown.

Bill Mazeroski broke a (9-9) tie with a leadoff, second pitch home run to win the 1960 World title for the Pirates vs the New York Yankees.

Kirk Gibson’s 2 out, game 1 ending home run, was the key play in the Dodgers’ 5 game triumph vs the Oakland Athletics in the 1988 World Series.