Will Smith World Series streak ends at six straight

Dodgers catcher and namesake reliever split titles

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

For the first time since 2019, a player named Will Smith won’t win the World Series 😳 Between the Dodgers catcher and t Via @espn on X

What happened: No player named Will Smith will win the 2026 World Series. The run paired the Los Angeles Dodgers catcher with a reliever with stints for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros. Together the two accounted for every title from 2020 through 2025.

Why it matters: The sequence is the longest shared-name title run in recent baseball history. It bridged multiple rosters and both leagues without interruption. The 2026 result guarantees a first-time namesake champion since 2019.

By the numbers: Six consecutive World Series, 2020-2025, went to a Will Smith. 2026 will be the first season since 2019 without one.

What to watch: The 2026 Fall Classic will crown the first non-Smith winner in seven years.

Sources

@espn 2026-10-16T13:08:35.005193+00:00

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