Only 10 cities have won multiple titles in a year. Los Angeles is now tied for the most

The Dodgers World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays marks the first time since 1988 that they and the Lakers have won a championship in the same year. But since then, a city having multiple title winners in a year isn’t unusual. In fact, it’s more common in L.A. than in most other cities.

Cities with multiple titles in a year

Los Angeles

  • 1988
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2012
  • 2014
  • 2020

New York

  • 1927
  • 1928
  • 1933
  • 1938
  • 1956
  • 1986

Detroit

  • 1935
  • 1952
  • 2008

Boston

  • 2004
  • 2018

Baltimore

  • 1970

Pittsburgh

  • 1979

Bay Area

  • 1989

Chicago

  • 1998

Kansas City

  • 2015

Washington

  • 2019

Since 1903, 10 cities in the United States have had their clubs win multiple titles. This includes teams from seven major leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, WNBA, NWSL).

Many of the cities that won multiple championships in a year did so with a dynasty, such as Chicago in 1998 with the Michael Jordan-led Bulls and Pittsburgh in 1979 with the "Steel Curtain” Steelers.

Even though various teams are represented among the major leagues, one sport has emerged as the most represented: baseball.

Out of the 24 years in which a city has won multiple championships, 18 of them involve a Major League Baseball team. Los Angeles is an exception.

New York and Los Angeles are neck in neck

Cities with multiple championships in multiple years

Los Angeles

New York

Giants

(MLB)

Giants

(NFL)

Rangers

Yankees

Mets

Kings

Galaxy

Lakers

Dodgers

Sparks

1986

2020

2014

1956

2012

1938

2002

1933

2001

1928

1988

1927

Detroit

Boston

Red

Wings

Shock

Tigers

Lions

Red Sox

Patriots

2008

2018

1952

2004

1935

New York and Los Angeles are neck in neck

Cities with multiple championships in multiple years

Los Angeles

Kings

Galaxy

Lakers

Dodgers

Sparks

2020

2014

2012

2002

2001

1988

New York

Giants

(MLB)

Giants

(NFL)

Rangers

Yankees

Mets

1986

1956

1938

1933

1928

1927

Detroit

Boston

Red

Wings

Tigers

Shock

Lions

Red Sox

Patriots

2008

2018

1952

2004

1935

New York and Los Angeles are neck in neck

Cities with multiple

championships in multiple years

Los Angeles

‘20

‘14

‘12

‘02

‘01

‘88

Sparks

Galaxy

Dodgers

Kings

Lakers

New York

‘86

‘33

‘56

‘38

‘28

‘27

Mets

Yankees

Rangers

Giants

(NFL)

Giants

(MLB)

Detroit

‘08

‘52

‘35

Lions

Shock

Red Wings

Tigers

Boston

‘18

‘04

Red Sox

Patriots

A good deal of Los Angeles' multiple titles were won by basketball teams. The Lakers and the Sparks won titles in 2001 and 2002.

The Galaxy have contributed the most of any Los Angeles team, with titles in 2002, 2012 and 2014 in such years. The NHL’s Kings also won championships in 2012 and 2014.

Los Angeles is the only city to have three teams win a championships in a single year – with the Lakers, Sparks and Galaxy capturing crowns in 2002.

Much of New York’s success can be attributed to its baseball teams, with the Yankees contributing four titles to multiple-title years. Since championships in 1986 by the Mets and the NFL's Giants, New York has been dormant.

Other markets that have had years with multiple championships, such as Detroit and Boston, have been driven by their baseball teams. The latter has always been paired with the NFL’s New England Patriots.