Baseball fans have learned over the course of the past quarter century that repeating as World Series champions is not an easy thing to do.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2024 champions are learning how hard it is, too. They are down 3-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays heading into Game 6 on Friday night in Toronto. They are one game away from elimination.

The last time we had a repeat champion was when the New York Yankees won in 2000, finishing off their three-peat. No one has been able to do that since.

The Yankees have won 27 World Series, the most in baseball by far. The St. Louis Cardinals are second with 11 titles but, somewhat surprisingly, the Cardinals have never gone back to back.

The Yankees have done it often, they've won two in a row three times, and they've won three in a row, four in a row and five in a row.

It's rare to repeat. Here's the complete history of champions who's done it:

New York Yankees (1998-2000)

1998 — The Yankees swept the San Diego Padres, 4-0. 
1999 — The Yankees swept the Atlanta Braves, 4-0.
2000 — The Yankees beat the New York Mets, 4-1.

Toronto Blue Jays (1992-1993)

1992 — The Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves, 4-2.
1993 — The Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2.

New York Yankees (1977-1978)

1977 — The Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2.
1978 — The Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2.

Cincinnati Reds (1975-1976) 

1975 — The Reds defeated the Boston Red Sox, 4-3.
1976 — The Reds defeated the  New York Yankees, 4-0.

Oakland A's (1972-74)

1972 — The A's beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3.
1973 — The A's beat the New York Mets, 4-3.
1974 — The A's beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1.

New York Yankees (1961-1962)

1961 — The Yankees defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 4-1.
1962 — The Yankees defeated the San Francisco Giants, 4-3. 

New York Yankees (1949-1953) 

1949 — The Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-1.
1950 — The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia  Phillies, 4-0.
1951 — The Yankees defeated the New York Giants, 4-2.
1952 — The Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3.
1953 — The Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-2.

New York Yankees (1936-1939)

1936 — The Yankees defeated the New York Giants, 4-2.
1937 — The Yankees defeated the New York Giants, 4-1.
1938 — The Yankees defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4-0.
1939 — The Yankees defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 4-0.

Philadelphia A's (1929-1930)

1929 — The A's beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-1.
1930 — The A's beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-2.

New York Yankees (1927-1928) 

1927 — The Yankees defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-0.
1928 — The Yankees defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0.

New York Giants (1921-1922) Giants

1921 — The Giants defeated the New York Yankees, 5-3.
1922 — The Giants defeated the New York Yankees, 4-0-1.

Boston Red Sox (1915-1916) 

1915 — The Red Sox defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-1.
1916 — The Red Sox defeated the Brooklyn Robins, 4-1.

Philadelphia A's (1910-11) 

1910 —The A's defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4-1.
1911 — The A's defeated the New York Giants, 4-2.

Chicago Cubs (1907-1908) 

1907 — The Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-0-1.
1908 — The Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-1.