The 2026 World Series Champion is guaranteed to make history. Three teams remain in the fight as of this writing, and all are long-suffering franchises eager to break through, for the first time or at least after a long while. One bit of historical trivia, however, won’t be rewritten: the Red Sox lead the 21st century with the most World Series victories. The Dodgers came close to tying that number, but the Boston Red Sox still hold the title.
For Boston fans, this might be a bizarre reminder, especially given the unfortunate way the 2026 season came to a close. Still, the past few complicated years don’t change the facts. Beantown's four rings have been unmatched since 2000. San Fransico has gotten close; the 2010s Giants managed three in five years before falling apart. If we only looked at World Series appearances, the Astros and Yankees would sit atop the mountain at five apiece. It’s been the modern-day Goliath, Los Angeles, though, that has clearly challenged the title for most dominant contemporary team. They came awfully close to a three-peat, which, combined with their 2020 dub, would have sealed it. If only they hadn’t run into the 2026 Brewers, who could not be stopped on their way to the National League crown.
What does this ultimately mean for the Fenway faithful? One could suggest that it doesn’t mean much at all. The century is still young; this is a far cry from the victory lap the 90s Yankees could afford. Most of the top MLB teams are within striking distance of this so-called record; one tumultuous decade could flip the script irreversibly. That perspective is understandable, but maybe not one I’d recommend for the long term. For all its magic, baseball can be uniquely painful if you let it. Stretches of games, of seasons, of life, can grow tedious and challenging. Over the past couple of seasons, the Red Sox have arguably slipped into one of those frustrating stretches. To stay sane, a fan's job is to create meaning. Celebrate records, regardless of how arbitrary or flimsy they may seem. The hope it generates can fuel tomorrow.
