You may have noticed that there hasn’t been a repeat World Series champion since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998 through 2000. The Phillies eliminated Atlanta in the division series, so the streak continues in 2022.
It’s the longest streak in M.L.B. history, but also the longest of its kind in the four major sports leagues (N.F.L., N.B.A. and N.H.L.). Before this, the longest streak without a repeat winner was 18 years in the N.B.A. from 1969-70 (when the Knicks won after two Boston Celtics titles) through 1986-87. The Los Angeles Lakers won that spring and repeated a year later.