List of National League pennant winners

The Philadelphia Phillies won their second consecutive pennant in 2009 and lost to the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 NLCS.

The National League pennant winner of a given Major League Baseball season is the team that wins the championship—the pennant—of MLB's National League (NL). This team receives the Warren C. Giles Trophy and the right to play in the World Series against the champion of the American League (AL). The current NL pennant winners are the Arizona Diamondbacks, who beat out the Philadelphia Phillies to win the NL pennant in October 2023.

The trophy is named for Warren Giles, the league president from 1951 to 1969, and is presented immediately after each NL Championship Series (NLCS) by Warren's son Bill Giles, the honorary league president and former owner of the Philadelphia Phillies.

From 1876 through 1968, the pennant was awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. Beginning in 1969, the league was divided into East and West divisions, with the champions of each playing for the pennant in the League Championship Series (NLCS). Since 1995, there have been three divisions and a two-round playoff bracket which begins with two Division Series (NLDS).

The pennant has been awarded every year since 1876, except for 1994, when a players' strike forced the cancellation of the postseason. Until 1969, the pennant was presented to the team with the best win–loss record at the end of the season. In 1969, the league split into two divisions, and the teams with the best records in each division played one another in the NLCS to determine the pennant winner. The format of the NLCS was changed from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven format for the 1985 postseason. In 1995, an additional playoff series was added when MLB restructured the two divisions in each league into three. As of 2010, the winners of the Eastern, Central, and Western Divisions, as well as one wild card team, play in the NL Division Series, a best-of-five playoff to determine the opponents who will play for the pennant.

By pennants, the Los Angeles Dodgers (formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers; 24 pennants, 31 playoff appearances) are the winningest team in NL history. The San Francisco Giants (formerly the New York Giants; 23 pennants, 27 playoff appearances) are in second place, with the St. Louis Cardinals (19 pennants and 28 playoff appearances), in third place, followed by the Atlanta Braves (18 pennants and 23 postseason appearances between their three home cities of Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Boston) in fourth place and the Chicago Cubs (17 pennants and 20 playoff appearances as the Cubs and White Stockings) in fifth. The Philadelphia Phillies were NL champions in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009, becoming the first NL team to do so since the Braves in 1995 and 1996. The Dodgers were also league champions in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018. The modern World Series began in 1903, when the National League recognized the upstart American League, founded in 1901. There was an earlier "World's Championship Series" played between the pennant winners of the NL and the American Association 1884–1890; from 1894 to 1897 the NL's first- and second-place teams played a postseason series for the Temple Cup, which was considered to be the league championship. As of 2021, the Dodgers have the most modern-era World Series appearances at 21, followed by the San Francisco Giants with 20.

The team with the best record to win the NL pennant was the 1906 Cubs, who won 116 of 152 games during that season and finished 20 games ahead of the New York Giants. The best record by a pennant winner in the Championship Series era is 108–54, which was achieved by the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and the New York Mets in 1986; both of these teams went on to win the World Series.

NL champions have gone on to win the World Series 51 times, most recently in 2021. Pennant winners have also won the Temple Cup and the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, two pre-World Series league championships, although second-place teams won three of the four Temple Cup meetings. The largest margin of victory for a pennant winner, before the league split into two divisions in 1969, is 27+1⁄2 games; the Pittsburgh Pirates led the Brooklyn Superbas (now the Dodgers) by that margin on the final day of the 1902 season.

The only currently existing National League franchise to have never won an NL pennant are the Milwaukee Brewers; however, they did win a pennant during their time in the American League.

Key

Year	Links to the corresponding "year in baseball" (1876–1900) or "Major League Baseball season" (1901–present) article
Team	Links to the corresponding season in which each team played
Series	Links to the corresponding "National League Championship Series" article
Record	Regular season win–loss record
GA	Games ahead of the second-place team (pre-NLCS era)
WW	Wins by the winning team (NLCS era)
LW	Wins by the losing team (NLCS era)
Ref	Reference
	Won World Series (1884–1890, 1892)
	Won Temple Cup (1894–1897)
	Won Chronicle-Telegraph Cup (1900)
	Won World Series (1903–present)
E	National League East division member (1969–present)
C	National League Central division member (1995–present)
W	National League West division member (1969–present)
†	Wild card team (1995–present)

Single table era (1876–1968)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (back row) won the National League pennant in 1903, and played in the first modern World Series in baseball history.

The New York Giants won their first World Series appearance in 1905 after their owner refused to take part in the 1904 World Series.

Year	Team	Manager	Record	GA	Ahead of	Manager	Ref
1876	Chicago ("White Stockings")	Albert Spalding	52–14	6	St. Louis ("Brown Stockings/Browns")	George McManus
1877	Boston ("Red Stockings/Red Caps")	Harry Wright	42–18	7	Louisville ("Grays")	Jack Chapman
1878			41–19	4	Cincinnati ("Reds")
1879	Providence ("Grays")	George Wright	59–25	5	Boston ("Red Stockings/Red Caps")	Cal McVey
1880	Chicago ("White Stockings")	Cap Anson	67–17	15	Providence ("Grays")	Mike Dorgan
1881			56–28	9		Tom York
1882			55–29	3		Harry Wright
1883	Boston ("Beaneaters")	John Morrill	63–35	4	Chicago ("White Stockings")	Cap Anson
1884	Providence ("Grays")	Frank Bancroft	84–28	10+1⁄2	Boston ("Beaneaters")	John Morrill
1885	Chicago ("White Stockings")	Cap Anson	87–25	2	New York ("Giants")	Jim Mutrie
1886			90–34	2+1⁄2	Detroit ("Wolverines")	Bill Watkins
1887	Detroit ("Wolverines")	Bill Watkins	79–45	3+1⁄2	Philadelphia ("Quakers")	Harry Wright
1888	New York ("Giants")	Jim Mutrie	84–47	9	Chicago ("White Stockings")	Cap Anson
1889			83–43	1	Boston ("Beaneaters")	Jim Hart
1890	Brooklyn ("Bridegrooms")	Bill McGunnigle	86–43	6+1⁄2	Chicago ("Colts/Infants")	Cap Anson
1891	Boston ("Beaneaters")	Frank Selee	87–51	3+1⁄2	Chicago ("Colts")
1892			102–48	8+1⁄2	Cleveland ("Spiders")	Patsy Tebeau
1893			86–43	5	Pittsburgh ("Pirates")	Al Buckenberger
1894	Baltimore Orioles	Ned Hanlon	89–39	3	New York ("Giants")	John Montgomery Ward
1895			87–43		Cleveland ("Spiders")	Patsy Tebeau
1896			90–39	9+1⁄2
1897	Boston ("Beaneaters")	Frank Selee	93–39	2	Baltimore Orioles	Ned Hanlon
1898			102–47	6
1899	Brooklyn ("Superbas")	Ned Hanlon	101–47	8	Boston ("Beaneaters")	Frank Selee
1900			82–54	4+1⁄2	Pittsburgh ("Pirates")	Fred Clarke
1901	Pittsburgh ("Pirates")	Fred Clarke	90–49	7+1⁄2	Philadelphia ("Phillies")	Bill Shettsline
1902			103–36	27+1⁄2	Brooklyn ("Superbas")	Ned Hanlon
1903			91–49	6+1⁄2	New York ("Giants")	John McGraw
1904	New York ("Giants")	John McGraw	106–47	13	Chicago ("Colts/Cubs")	Frank Selee
1905			106–47	9	Pittsburgh ("Pirates")	Fred Clarke
1906	Chicago ("Cubs")	Frank Chance	116–36	20	New York ("Giants")	John McGraw
1907	Chicago Cubs		107–45	17	Pittsburgh ("Pirates")	Fred Clarke
1908			99–55	1
1909	Pittsburgh ("Pirates")	Fred Clarke	110–42	6+1⁄2	Chicago Cubs	Frank Chance
1910	Chicago Cubs	Frank Chance	104–50	13	New York ("Giants")	John McGraw
1911	New York Giants	John McGraw	99–54	7+1⁄2	Chicago Cubs	Frank Chance
1912			103–48	10	Pittsburgh Pirates	Fred Clarke
1913			101–51	12+1⁄2	Philadelphia Phillies	Red Dooin
1914	Boston Braves	George Stallings	94–59	10+1⁄2	New York Giants	John McGraw
1915	Philadelphia Phillies	Pat Moran	90–62	7	Boston Braves	George Stallings
1916	Brooklyn Dodgers	Wilbert Robinson	94–60	2+1⁄2	Philadelphia Phillies	Pat Moran
1917	New York Giants	John McGraw	98–56	10
1918	Chicago Cubs	Fred Mitchell	84–45	10+1⁄2	New York Giants	John McGraw
1919	Cincinnati Reds	Pat Moran	96–44	9
1920	Brooklyn Dodgers	Wilbert Robinson	93–61	7	New York Giants	George Gibson
1921	New York Giants	John McGraw	94–59	4	Pittsburgh Pirates	George Gibson
1922			93–61	7	Cincinnati Reds	Pat Moran
1923			95–58	4+1⁄2
1924			93–60	1+1⁄2	Brooklyn Dodgers	Wilbert Robinson
1925	Pittsburgh Pirates	Bill McKechnie	95–58	8+1⁄2	New York Giants	John McGraw
1926	St. Louis Cardinals	Rogers Hornsby	89–65	2	Cincinnati Reds	Jack Hendricks
1927	Pittsburgh Pirates	Donie Bush	94–60	1+1⁄2	St. Louis Cardinals	Bob O'Farrell
1928	St. Louis Cardinals	Bill McKechnie	95–59	2	New York Giants	John McGraw
1929	Chicago Cubs	Joe McCarthy	98–54		Pittsburgh Pirates	Jewel Ens
1930	St. Louis Cardinals	Gabby Street	92–62		Chicago Cubs	Rogers Hornsby
1931			101–53	13	New York Giants	John McGraw
1932	Chicago Cubs	Charlie Grimm	90–64	4	Pittsburgh Pirates	George Gibson
1933	New York Giants	Bill Terry	91–61	5
1934	St. Louis Cardinals	Frankie Frisch	95–58	2	New York Giants	Bill Terry
1935	Chicago Cubs	Charlie Grimm	100–54	4	St. Louis Cardinals	Frankie Frisch
1936	New York Giants	Bill Terry	92–62	5	St. Louis Cardinals	Frankie Frisch
1937			95–57	3	Chicago Cubs	Charlie Grimm
1938	Chicago Cubs	Charlie Grimm	89–63	2	Pittsburgh Pirates	Pie Traynor
1939	Cincinnati Reds	Bill McKechnie	97–57	4+1⁄2	St. Louis Cardinals	Ray Blades
1940			100–53	12	Brooklyn Dodgers	Leo Durocher
1941	Brooklyn Dodgers	Leo Durocher	100–54	2+1⁄2	St. Louis Cardinals	Billy Southworth
1942	St. Louis Cardinals	Billy Southworth	106–48	2	Brooklyn Dodgers	Leo Durocher
1943			105–49	18	Cincinnati Reds	Bill McKechnie
1944			105–49	14+1⁄2	Pittsburgh Pirates	Frankie Frisch
1945	Chicago Cubs	Charlie Grimm	98–56	3	St. Louis Cardinals	Billy Southworth
1946	St. Louis Cardinals	Eddie Dyer	98–58	2	Brooklyn Dodgers	Leo Durocher
1947	Brooklyn Dodgers	Burt Shotton	94–60	5	St. Louis Cardinals	Eddie Dyer
1948	Boston Braves	Billy Southworth	91–62	6+1⁄2
1949	Brooklyn Dodgers	Burt Shotton	97–57	1
1950	Philadelphia Phillies	Eddie Sawyer	91–63	2	Brooklyn Dodgers	Burt Shotton
1951	New York Giants	Leo Durocher	98–59	1	Brooklyn Dodgers	Chuck Dressen
1952	Brooklyn Dodgers	Chuck Dressen	96–57	4+1⁄2	New York Giants	Leo Durocher
1953			105–49	13	Milwaukee Braves	Charlie Grimm
1954	New York Giants	Leo Durocher	97–57	5	Brooklyn Dodgers	Walter Alston
1955	Brooklyn Dodgers	Walter Alston	98–55	13+1⁄2	Milwaukee Braves	Charlie Grimm
1956			93–61	1		Fred Haney
1957	Milwaukee Braves	Fred Haney	95–59	8	St. Louis Cardinals	Fred Hutchinson
1958			92–62		Pittsburgh Pirates	Danny Murtaugh
1959	Los Angeles Dodgers	Walter Alston	88–68	2	Milwaukee Braves	Fred Haney
1960	Pittsburgh Pirates	Danny Murtaugh	95–59	7		Chuck Dressen
1961	Cincinnati Reds	Fred Hutchinson	93–61	4	Los Angeles Dodgers	Walter Alston
1962	San Francisco Giants	Alvin Dark	103–62	1
1963	Los Angeles Dodgers	Walter Alston	99–63	6	St. Louis Cardinals	Johnny Keane
1964	St. Louis Cardinals	Johnny Keane	93–69	1	Philadelphia Phillies	Gene Mauch
1965	Los Angeles Dodgers	Walter Alston	97–65	2	San Francisco Giants	Herman Franks
1966			95–67	1+1⁄2
1967	St. Louis Cardinals	Red Schoendienst	101–60	10+1⁄2
1968			97–65	9

League Championship Series era (1969–present)

See also: National League Championship Series and League Championship Series MVP Award

The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series after capturing the National League pennant.

In 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off in the National League championship series for the pennant; the Phillies won, four games to one.

Year	Series	Winning team	Record	Games	Losing team	Record	Ref
1969	1969	New York MetsE	100–62	3–0	Atlanta BravesW	93–69
1970	1970	Cincinnati RedsW	102–60	3–0	Pittsburgh PiratesE	87–63
1971	1971	Pittsburgh PiratesE	97–65	3–1	San Francisco GiantsW	90–72
1972	1972	Cincinnati RedsW	95–59	3–2	Pittsburgh PiratesE	96–59
1973	1973	New York MetsE	82–79	3–2	Cincinnati RedsW	99–63
1974	1974	Los Angeles DodgersW	102–60	3–1	Pittsburgh PiratesE	88–74
1975	1975	Cincinnati RedsW	108–54	3–0		92–69
1976	1976		102–60	3–0	Philadelphia PhilliesE	101–61
1977	1977	Los Angeles DodgersW	98–64	3–1		101–61
1978	1978		95–67	3–1		90–72
1979	1979	Pittsburgh PiratesE	98–64	3–0	Cincinnati RedsW	90–71
1980	1980	Philadelphia PhilliesE	91–71	3–2	Houston AstrosW	93–70
1981[a]	1981	Los Angeles DodgersW	63–47	3–2	Montréal ExposE	60–48
1982	1982	St. Louis CardinalsE	92–70	3–0	Atlanta BravesW	89–73
1983	1983	Philadelphia PhilliesE	90–72	3–1	Los Angeles DodgersW	91–71
1984	1984	San Diego PadresW	92–70	3–2	Chicago CubsE	96–65
1985	1985	St. Louis CardinalsE	101–61	4–2	Los Angeles DodgersW	95–67
1986	1986	New York MetsE	108–54	4–2	Houston AstrosW	96–66
1987	1987	St. Louis CardinalsE	95–67	4–3	San Francisco Giants	90–72
1988	1988	Los Angeles DodgersW	94–67	4–3	New York MetsE	100–60
1989	1989	San Francisco GiantsW	92–70	4–1	Chicago CubsE	93–69
1990	1990	Cincinnati RedsW	91–71	4–2	Pittsburgh PiratesE	95–67
1991	1991	Atlanta BravesW	94–68	4–3		98–64
1992	1992		98–64	4–3		96–66
1993	1993	Philadelphia PhilliesE	97–65	4–2	Atlanta BravesW	104–58
1994	Not held due to players' strike.
1995[b]	1995	Atlanta BravesE	90–54	4–0	Cincinnati RedsC	85–59
1996	1996		96–66	4–3	St. Louis CardinalsC	88–74
1997	1997	Florida MarlinsE†	92–70	4–2	Atlanta BravesE	101–61
1998	1998	San Diego PadresW	98–64	4–2		106–56
1999	1999	Atlanta BravesE	103–59	4–2	New York MetsE†	97–66
2000	2000	New York MetsE†	94–68	4–1	St. Louis CardinalsC	95–67
2001	2001	Arizona DiamondbacksW	92–70	4–1	Atlanta BravesE	88–74
2002	2002	San Francisco GiantsW†	95–66	4–1	St. Louis CardinalsC	97–65
2003	2003	Florida MarlinsE†	91–71	4–3	Chicago CubsC	88–74
2004	2004	St. Louis CardinalsC	105–57	4–3	Houston AstrosC†	92–70
2005	2005	Houston AstrosC†	89–73	4–2	St. Louis CardinalsC	100–62
2006	2006	St. Louis CardinalsC	83–78	4–3	New York MetsE	97–65
2007	2007	Colorado RockiesW†	90–73	4–0	Arizona DiamondbacksW	90–72
2008	2008	Philadelphia PhilliesE	92–70	4–1	Los Angeles DodgersW	84–78
2009	2009		93–69	4–1		95–67
2010	2010	San Francisco GiantsW	92–70	4–2	Philadelphia PhilliesE	97–65
2011	2011	St. Louis CardinalsC†	90–72	4–2	Milwaukee BrewersC	96–66
2012	2012	San Francisco GiantsW	94–68	4–3	St. Louis CardinalsC†	88–74
2013	2013	St. Louis CardinalsC	97–65	4–2	Los Angeles DodgersW	92–70
2014	2014	San Francisco GiantsW†	88–74	4–1	St. Louis CardinalsC	90–72
2015	2015	New York MetsE	90–72	4–0	Chicago CubsC†	97–65
2016	2016	Chicago CubsC	103–58	4–2	Los Angeles DodgersW	91–71
2017	2017	Los Angeles DodgersW	104–58	4–1	Chicago CubsC	92–70
2018	2018		92–71	4–3	Milwaukee BrewersC	96–67
2019	2019	Washington NationalsE†	93–69	4–0	St. Louis CardinalsC	91–71
2020	2020	Los Angeles DodgersW	43–17	4–3	Atlanta BravesE	35–25
2021	2021	Atlanta BravesE	88–73	4–2	Los Angeles DodgersW†	106–56
2022	2022	Philadelphia PhilliesE†	87–75	4–1	San Diego PadresW†	89–73
2023	2023	Arizona DiamondbacksW†	84–78	4–3	Philadelphia PhilliesE†	90–72

Notes

• ^a A mid-season labor stoppage split the season into two halves. The winner of the first half played the winner of the second half in each division in the 1981 National League Division Series. The winners played in the 1981 NLCS for the National League pennant.
• ^b The leagues were re-aligned in 1994 to three divisions and a wild card was added to the playoffs, but the labor stoppage cancelled the postseason. Wild cards were first used in the 1995 playoffs.

NL pennants won by franchise

The 19th century Baltimore Orioles team won three National League pennants, one of three defunct teams to have won the league.

The Detroit Wolverines won their only pennant in 1887, followed by a victory in the World's Championship Series.

Italics represent a franchise that is defunct in Major League Baseball as of the 2023 season.

Team	Pennants won	Postseason appearances	Ref
Los Angeles Dodgers[a]	24	37
San Francisco Giants[b]	23	27
St. Louis Cardinals[c]	19	32
Atlanta Braves[d]	18	29
Chicago Cubs[e]	17	21
Pittsburgh Pirates[f]	9	17
Philadelphia Phillies[h]	8	16
Cincinnati Reds[g]	9	16
New York Mets	5	10
Baltimore Orioles (NL)[i]	3	5
San Diego Padres	2	5
Miami Marlins	2	3
Providence Grays	2	5
Houston Astros[j]	1	9
Arizona Diamondbacks	2	7
Washington Nationals[k]	1	6
Colorado Rockies	1	5
Detroit Wolverines	1	2
Milwaukee Brewers[l]	0	5

Notes

• ^a Previously known as Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Robins, Brooklyn Superbas, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Grooms, Brooklyn Grays and Brooklyn Atlantics. Does not include American Association pennant won in 1889
• ^b Previously known as New York Giants and New York Gothams
• ^c Previously known as St. Louis Perfectos, St. Louis Browns, and St. Louis Brown Stockings. Does not include four American Association pennants won in 1885–1888
• ^d Previously known as Milwaukee Braves, Boston Braves, Boston Bees, Boston Rustlers, Boston Doves, Boston Beaneaters and Boston Red Caps
• ^e Previously known as Chicago Orphans, Chicago Colts and Chicago White Stockings
• ^f Previously known as Pittsburgh Alleghenys
• ^g Previously known as Cincinnati Redlegs and Cincinnati Red Stockings. Does not include American Association pennant won in 1882
• ^h Previously known as Philadelphia Quakers and unofficially as Philadelphia Blue Jays
• ⁱ The 19th-century Baltimore Orioles who played in the National League are no longer in existence; two current American League franchises later used the Orioles name (New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles).
• ^j Previously known as Houston Colt .45s Does not include four American League pennants.
• ^k Previously known as Montreal Expos. In 1994, the Expos led the National League East and had the best win–loss record in the league when the season was cut short by a labor dispute.
• ^l The Brewers were members of the American League through the 1997 season after which they switched to the National League. This table records only the Brewers' National League accomplishments. They won the American League pennant in 1982.

See also

• American League Championship Series – the American League counterpart to the NLCS
  • List of American League pennant winners
• National League Division Series – has preceded this series since 1994

References

General

• "Playoff and World Series Stats and Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

External links

• Official League Championship Series Overview Archived 2010-01-19 at the Wayback Machine from Major League Baseball