Who Are the Youngest Players to Play in the World Series?

Published 10/29/2023, 6:58 AM EDT

As decades of baseball have proven, reaching the World Series is no easy task. Elite veterans go entire careers without a Fall Classic victory, or even an appearance. Yet sometimes, young players get the chance to showcase their boundless talent on the biggest stage of them all. In the ultimate MLB trial, some have marked their names with golden letters in the history of the game.

This year, while the Texas Rangers started the journey with a 1-0 lead, the Arizona Diamondbacks evened it 1-1 on the next day. As fans witness the displays of Evan Carter and Corbin Carroll in the 2023 World Series, let’s revisit the journeys of other youngsters over the decades.

Top 10 Youngest MLB Players in the World Series

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Generally, fans and analysts focus on experienced players to predict the performance of a team, but tables often turn in the blink of an eye. Rookies sometimes surpass experienced star players and over these decades, MLB has seen its fair share of youngsters in the Fall Classic. Here is a list of the top 10 players who participated in the World Series in their rookie years or at a young age:

Frederick Lindstrom (18 years old/ New York Giants)
Willie Crawford (19 years old/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Ken Brett (19 years old/ Boston Red Sox)
Andruw Jones (19 years old/ Atlanta Braves)
Francisco Rodriguez (20 years old/Los Angeles Angels)
Mickey Mantle (20 years old/New York Yankees)
Miguel Cabrera (20 years old/Miami Marlins)
Juan Soto (20 years old/ Washington Nationals)
Jim Palmer (21 years old/ Baltimore Orioles)
Evan Carter (21 years old/ Texas Rangers)

These talents are from different years and different teams. But they all have one thing in common: having represented their team on the highest stage of MLB. Some did it in their rookie years, while others did it a few years after their debut. But one thing these 10 names have in common is raw talent and a fierce desire to win.

However, the list has three unique names whose remarkable performances fans still remember.

Top 3 Youngest Players That Left The MLB World in Awe

No LA fan can forget Francisco Rodriguez. In 2002, he was only 20 when the Los Angeles Angels called him up for a Fall Classic game against the San Francisco Giants. The rookie pitched 8 2⁄3 innings with 13 strikeouts. He was the youngest pitcher ever to win a World Series game.

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Next up another player from the City of Angels. A year after his MLB debut, Willie Crawford went to October’s zenith with two bats, one single, and one strikeout for the Dodgers. He didn’t pitch for the win, but he contributed to the win. It’s his only World Series victory, and the then-rookie did it at 19 years old in 1965.

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Finally, Yankees legend Mickey Mantle cannot be forgotten with his several World Series appearances. Though he won the Fall Classic the very year of his MLB debut, the player was remembered for his blasting performance in the 1952 version. His 6th-inning homer and 8th-inning go-ahead blast were the deciding hits of the game that won the team the championship.

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Fast forward to 2023, Evan Carter is progressing heroically with the Rangers this year. Although the game can turn in any team’s favor, the young outfielder’s contribution cannot be denied.

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Written by:

Antara Bhattacharyya is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports. With a graduation degree in English literature from a reputed institution, she has been actively involved in content writing for quite some time. Her love for sports writing dates back to her college days, and today, she has cemented her place with astute coverage of Major League Baseball.

Edited by:

Arunima Bhanot

Who Are the Youngest Players to Play in the World Series?

Top 10 Youngest MLB Players in the World Series

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