Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith He wasn’t the star of the 2024 World Series, but he was the most familiar name among baseball champions.

This is because for five consecutive years, a player named Will Smith won a championship.

More news: Dodgers’ Walker Buehler comments on pending free agency

The unusual streak began in 2020 when the Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to claim a title at the end of the COVID-shortened season. Smith was in his second year as the Dodgers’ starting catcher that year.

Los Angeles did not reach the World Series the following year, but the Atlanta Braves did. Their bullpen was anchored by a left-handed closer named (you guessed it) Will Smith.

More news: Dodgers veteran makes history by claiming MVP award

Smith, the pitcher, is six years older than Smith, the catcher, and debuted in 2012 with the Kansas City Royals. Although it was not a save situation, Smith was on the mound when Yuli Gurriel grounded out to end the 2021 World Series and the season. It was the first championship of his career.

Ironically, Smith would be traded to Houston midway through the 2022 season in a deadline deal for pitcher Jake Odorizzi. As fate would have it, the Astros won the World Series in October.

More news: The Dodgers defeat the Yankees and win the eighth championship

In March 2023, Smith signed a free agent contract with the Texas Rangers. He made 60 appearances in the regular season and five more in the postseason, as Texas claimed its first championship in franchise history.

Smith signed with the Royals in December 2023, raising hopes in Kansas City that Smith could extend his own streak of championship-winning seasons. Instead it was the other Will Smith left standing at the end of the 2024 season.

Smith caught Walker Buehler’s final pitch in the Dodgers’ 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday, capping Game 5 of the World Series with the second ring of his career.

More news: Legendary Dodgers pitcher dies

Although he went 0 for 4 in the game, Smith walked and scored a run as the Dodgers rallied from five runs down in the fifth inning to upset the Yankees, who led 5-0 at the time.

Smith was 8-for-56 (.143) with three home runs, eight RBIs, eight walks and nine strikeouts in 16 postseason games. He caught all but two innings during the Dodgers’ October run.

For more Major Leagues news, visit Sports Newsweek.