World Series Champs: Same Teammate, Different Team

Babe Ruth And Co.: Red Sox, Yankees

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The selling of Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees is a huge part of baseball lore. But Ruth was just the centerpiece in a series of deals between them as Boston stripped down its championship teams of 1915, 1916 and 1918. In addition to Ruth, the Yankees imported pitchers Herb Pennock, Carl Mays, Sam Jones and Joe Bush, catcher Wally Schang, shortstop Everett Scott and infielder Mike McNally. With Ruth anchoring the operation, the Yankees won the World Series in 1923, 1927, 1928 and 1932. (Schang and Bush also won together with the 1913 Athletics.)

Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Ken Holtzman: Athletics, Yankees

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They won three consecutive World Series with the A's (1972, 1973, 1974), and then separately ended up in the Bronx. Hunter and Jackson scored big deals as George Steinbrenner was quick to capitalize on the new concept of free agency. Holtzman, whom the Yankees acquired in a multi-player trade with the Orioles, pitched during the regular season in 1977 when the Yankees won their first title in 15 years. But Holtzman did not appear in the playoffs because of friction with Steinbrenner and was traded midway through the 1978 season when the Yankees went on to repeat as champs.

Lonnie Smith, Dane Iorg: Cardinals, Royals

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Both players are also answers to other interesting trivia questions. In addition the 1982 Cardinals and the 1985 Royals, Smith won a World Series with the 1980 Phillies, which puts him on the short list of players with three titles on three teams. Iorg had the winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series, which is more memorable for umpire Don Denkinger's blown call to open the inning.

Dave Stewart, Bob Welch: Dodgers, Athletics

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Stewart and Welch were part of the Dodgers' championship in 1981 when they beat the Yankees in six games. Stewart had stints with the Rangers and Phillies before joining Oakland. Welch went to the A's in a trade before the 1988 season. The A's won the American League three consecutive years and beat the Giants in the 1989 World Series

Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart: Athletics, Blue Jays

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After being part of the Oakland powerhouse that won three consecutive American League titles and the 1989 World Series, Henderson and Stewart both moved to Toronto in 1993 but in separate transactions. Stewart signed as a free agent before the season. Henderson joined the Blue Jays in a deal at the trade deadline. They helped Toronto repeat as World Series champs. Both returned to Oakland with Henderson jumping back as a free agent shortly after the 1993 World Series while Stewart stayed in Toronto for one more season before wrapping up his career in a victory-lap season for the A's in 1995.

Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry: Mets, Yankees

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The twist here is that Gooden and Strawberry were supposed to be the faces of the franchise that delivered multiple titles for the Mets but they managed just one in 1986. Then as role players, they ended up with more rings from the Yankees. They were together on the 1996 team that beat the Braves in the World Series. Gooden didn't pitch in the playoffs but went 11-7 in the regular season, including the only no-hitter of his career. Strawberry was also on the title teams in 1998 (although he missed the playoffs because of cancer) and 1999, his final MLB season. Gooden, who pitched for Cleveland in 1998 and 1999, ended his career with the Yanks as well, returning for spot duty in 2000.

Mariano Duncan, Paul O'Neill: Reds, Yankees

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Both were on Cincinnati's 1990 championship team. O'Neill has become a Yankee icon after being a core player in the run of four World Series titles in five seasons (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) while continuing to serve the club as a broadcaster. (His cameo as himself on "Seinfeld" didn't hurt either.) Duncan lasted less than two seasons with the Yankees, playing on the 1996 title team. But he left his mark on the franchise as Yankees fans are still citing his quote before Game 6 of the World Series that year: "We play today, we win today ... Das it."

Chuck Knoblauch, Chili Davis: Twins, Yankees

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In addition to winning three rings together (1991 with the Twins, 1998 and 1999 with the Yanks), Knoblauch and Davis shared a struggle with defense. Knoblauch won a Gold Glove at second base in 1997 but two years later, he was having major issues just throwing the ball to first. He ended his career in the outfield. Davis was never much of an outfielder in the first place and transitioned to being a full-time DH midway through his career.

Devon White, Al Leiter: Blue Jays, Marlins

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The contrast between their experiences with Toronto and Florida was startling. The Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993, becoming the first team to repeat as champions in 15 years. The Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and promptly dumped most of their best players, including White and Leiter, and finished with the worst record in baseball, 54-108, in 1998.

David Cone, David Wells: Blue Jays, Yankees

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Cone and Wells both left Toronto as free agents after winning the 1992 World Series, but neither went directly to New York. Cone signed with his hometown Royals, and Wells went to Detroit. Wells earned his second ring with the Yankees in 1998 when he also pitched a perfect game in May against Minnesota. Cone threw a perfect game the next season, but Wells was no longer a teammate after the Yankees had packaged him to Blue Jays in a deal for Roger Clemens.

David Justice, Luis Polonia: Braves, Yankees

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Justice's home run gave the Braves a 1-0 win over the Indians in Game 6 to clinch the 1995 World Series. Polonia, a late addition from the Yankees, had 4 RBIs in the series after producing just two in 28 regular-season games with Atlanta. In 2000 both were late-season pickups for the Yankees. Polonia was along for the ride as a pinch-hitter, but Justice was MVP of the ALCS against Seattle with 8 RBI in six games.

Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell: Marlins, Red Sox

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It is just one entry, but this tandem provides a significant counterweight to the heavy Yankee presence on this list. Lowell and Beckett helped the Marlins beat the Yankees in the 2003 World Series. Beckett closed it out by blanking the Bombers in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees didn't get back to the Series until 2009. In the meantime, the Red Sox picked Lowell and Beckett in a trade for Hanley Ramirez and won the 2007 World Series. Lowell, who started his career with the Yanks, was the Series MVP.

Juan Uribe, Aaron Rowand: White Sox, Giants

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Call them the Drought Busters. Uribe and Rowland were part of the 2005 White Sox and the 2010 Giants championships. The White Sox hadn't won the World Series since 1917. The Giants' last title was in 1954 when the franchise was still in New York. What are the odds that two players could be involved in the same parlay? Uribe recorded the final out of the 2005 Series on a groundout and hit a three-run homer in Game 1 of the 2010 Series.

Jon Lester, John Lackey, David Ross: Red Sox, Cubs

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With former Boston GM Theo Epstein calling the shots for the Cubs, he didn't exactly put the whole band back together (apologies for the lame "Blues Brothers" reference, but the occasion justifies a nod to Chicago), but this is pretty strong representation. Lester, Lackey and Ross were all part of the 2013 championship for the Red Sox, and they were back on top with the Cubs in 2016. Lester, who won Game 5 against Cleveland, worked three innings in relief in Game 7. Ross hit a solo homer in the sixth inning of Game 7, which gave the Cubs a 6-3 lead at the time.