Unlikeliest World Series participants since 2000

Amos Santos

2014 Kansas City Royals

The 2014 Kansas City Royals are the American League Champions and take on the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series beginning tomorrow night (8pm/FOX). In honor of their historic run, let take a trip back in time and look at the most unlikely World Series participants in recent history.

2008 Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays went from being in last place the season before to World Series participants in 2008. The combination of pitching and defense help get the Rays to the Fall Class. They beat the Red Sox in 7 games to win the America League Pennant, but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.

2007 Colorado Rockies

The lethal trio of Todd Helton, Matt Holiday, and Troy Tulowitzki lead the Rockies to the organization’s first world series back in 2007. The ultimately got swept by the Boston Red Sox in 4 games that World Series.

2005 Houston Astros

Behind the dynamic pitching duo of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite, The Astros reached their 1 st World Series back in 2005. Although the 3-4-5 combination of Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman did their best, the lost to the Chicago White Sox in 4 games.

2004 Boston Red Sox

86 of frustration was ended on a cold night in late October 2004. The Boston Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games to win the club’s first World Series Championship since 1918 ending the “Curse of the Bambino”

2002 Anaheim Angels

The Angels rallied behind their “rally monkey” mascot and fans to beat Barry Bonds and The San Francisco Giants in 7 games to win the 2002 World Series. Troy Glaus was named M.V.P of the series.

2001 Arizona Diamondbacks

In what many call “The Greatest World Series Ever Played” The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks shocked the New York Yankees in 7 games to win the championship. Luis Gonzalez singled off Marino Rivera in the 9 th to give the club their first title