Oct 31, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner waves to the crowd during the World Series victory parade on Market Street. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-211154 ORIG FILE ID: 20141031_jla_ax5_115.jpg
As time passes, it's easy to forget which teams won the World Series just a few years ago, let alone which players from those teams won World Series MVP.
It's even easier to forget how likely (or unlikely) it was for those players to win it.
As Freddie Freeman closes on the 2024 World Series MVP after entering the series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees with the seventh-best odds at +2500, you may be wondering how many other players overcame odds that long to win the award. The list isn't long.
Here's a look at every World Series MVP since 2002 and what their odds were to win the award, with data from SportsOddsHistory.com .
2023: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (+475) ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a home run in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game One of the World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776053358 ORIG FILE ID: 1760853810
2022: Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros (+1800) HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros lifts the commissioner's trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775891231 ORIG FILE ID: 1439362221
2021: Jorge Soler, Atlanta Braves (+3500) Nov 2, 2021; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler receives the World Series MVP trophy after defeating the Houston Astros in game six of the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-471842 ORIG FILE ID: 20211102_jla_at5_293.jpg
2020: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers (+800) Oct 17, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) reacts after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during game six of the 2020 NLCS at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-431073 ORIG FILE ID: 20201017_ads_sh2_055.JPG
2019: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (+1950) Oct 30, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg heads to the clubhouse after defeating the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park. The Washington Nationals won the World Series winning four games to three. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-419409 ORIG FILE ID: 20191030_jla_at5_316.jpg
2018: Steve Pearce, Boston Red Sox (+5500) Oct 27, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce (25) celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning in game four of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-391896 ORIG FILE ID: 20181027_jla_usa_126.jpg
2017: George Springer, Houston Astros (+2200) Nov 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Astros center fielder George Springer with the MVP award after game seven of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-369500 ORIG FILE ID: 20171101_jel_aj4_283.jpg
2016: Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs (+1500) Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist (18) holds the MVP trophy after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-348588 ORIG FILE ID: 20161102_jla_ar7_610.jpg
2015: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals (+2500) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the New York Mets to win Game Five of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field on November 1, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets with a score of 7 to 2 to win the World Series. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 588373995 ORIG FILE ID: 495319600
2014: Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants (+700) Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (left) watches as teammate Madison Bumgarner (middle) hoists the Commissioners Trophy after game seven of the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-190104 ORIG FILE ID: 20141029_jla_sa7_458.jpg
2013: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox (+900) Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz reacts after scoring in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-143298 ORIG FILE ID: 20131030_jla_usa_087.jpg
2012: Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants (+1200) Oct 28, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (left) is presented with the MVP trophy by commissioner Bud Selig after game four of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Slocum/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USPW-98384 ORIG FILE ID: 20121028_jla_so6_391.jpg
2011: David Freese, St. Louis Cardinals (+1000) ORG XMIT: USPW-46330 Oct 27, 2011; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese (23) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a walk off home run in the 11th inning in game six of the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 10-9. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE ORIG FILE ID: 20111027_jla_ac1_362.jpg
2010: Edgar Renteria, San Francisco Giants (+3300) ORG XMIT: USPW-11110642BL Nov 1, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria (center) celebrates on the field after defeating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in game five of the 2010 World Series at Rangers Ballpark. The Giants won the series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE ORIG FILE ID: 20101101_jel_sr6_141.jpg
2009: Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees (+800) 11/5/09 1:07:31 AM -- Bronx, NY, U.S.A -- World Series Game 6 - Philadelphia Phillies v New York Yankees - Yankee Stadium -- Series MVP New York Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui (55) . Photo by H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: HB 37327 World Series 11/4/2009 (Via OlyDrop)
2008: Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (+600) 10/27/08 9:31:21 PM -- Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A -- Game 5 of the 2008 World Series - Tampa Bay Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies -- Citizens Bank Park -- Philadelphia Phillies' Cole Hamels walks back to the dugout at the end of the fourth inning. Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RD 35364 10/25/2008 (Via OlyDrop)
2007: Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox (+1200) 10/28/07 10:54:25 PM -- Denver, CO, U.S.A -- 2007 World Series Game 4 -- Boston Red Sox at the Colorado Rockies -- Coors Field -- BASEBALL -- MVP Mike Lowell celebates on the field after the Red Sox beat the Rockies 4-3 to win the World Series. Photo by H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: HB 32853 WS GAME 3 10/27/2007 (Via OlyDrop)
2006: David Eckstein, St. Louis Cardinals (+1500) 10/26/06 -- St. Louis, MO, U.S.A -- World Series Game 4 - Detroit Tigers v St. Louis Cardinals -- Busch Stadium -- St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein hits an RBI double in the eighth inning to put the Cardinals up by a score of 5-4. Photo by H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY staff ORG XMIT: HB 30479 WS Game 4 10/26/2006 (Via OlyDrop)
2005: Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox (+1000) 10/26/2005 -- Houston, TX -- World Series Game 4 -- U.S. Minute Maid Park -- Houston Astros v Chicago White Sox -- Jermaine Dye, MVP, celebrates the White Sox World Series win. Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY -- (Via MerlinFTP Drop)
2004: Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox (+500) 10/26/2004 -- St. Louis, MO -- World Series Game 3 - Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals -- Manny Ramirez watches his home run in the first inning. Eileen Blass, USA TODAY staff (Via MerlinFTP Drop)
2003: Josh Beckett, Florida Marlins (+1200) 10/25/03 New York, NY -- World Series Game 6 -- New York Yankees v Florida Marlins -- Yankee Stadium -- Josh Beckett pitches during the second inning. By H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY ORG XMIT: WS6 625
2002: Troy Glaus, Anaheim Angels (+800) 10/26/02 -- Anaheim, CA -- 2002 World Series Game 6 -- San Francisco Giants at Anaheim Angels -- Troy Glaus hits a tw-run double in the eighth inning to make the score 6-5 Angels. Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA Today ORG XMIT: WS 6 GLAUS DBL998.JPG
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Every World Series MVP and their pre-series odds since 2002