The 2026 World Series delivered a compelling five-game matchup, but its lack of suspense keeps it out of the decade’s top tier: Milwaukee won its first championship, while Tampa Bay’s lone victory came in a 12-inning Game 4. The ranking puts the 2025 Blue Jays-Dodgers classic first, with the 2019 Nationals-Astros and 2017 Astros-Dodgers series rounding out the top three.

By the Numbers
  • 2026: The Brewers beat the Rays in 5 games.
  • Game 4: Tampa Bay won in 12 innings.
  • 2025: The Blue Jays-Dodgers series lasted 7 games, including an 18-inning Game 3.
  • 2017: The Astros and Dodgers combined for 25 runs, 28 hits and 7 home runs in Game 5.
Yes, But

The 2026 series had plenty of standout moments, including Milwaukee’s eight-run inning in Game 3 and a dramatic extra-inning finish in Game 4. But the Brewers’ overall control made the outcome feel inevitable, limiting the back-and-forth that typically lifts a World Series in an all-time ranking.

Bottom Line

Milwaukee’s first title made 2026 unforgettable for Brewers fans, but the best Fall Classics need more than memorable moments: they need sustained uncertainty, ideally all the way to a great Game 7.