The San Francisco Giants clinched their first World Series title since 1954 on Monday night, and fans around the (other) bay rejoiced.
The Giants symbolize many integral parts of the sport we love, but there are a few in particular that made this team so fun to watch.
The Boys
This year marked the first time since 1986 that a team used a pitching rotation in the playoffs, completely comprised of organizational players.
This means they were drafted or signed by the Giants, they played in the Giants’ minor league system, then made their MLB debut with the Giants, and now just won a world series … with the Giants.
This consistency not only builds a sense of camaraderie in the club house, but it lets fans become more connected to the players.
It builds motivation for fans to come out to see “their” boys play. This connection leads to an emotional involvement in each and every game. This is the way baseball was before free agency. Giants fans truly live and die with their team.
The MVP
Timmy Lincecum is the engine that keeps this train chugging. He looks like he’s 17 and pitches like he’s 29.
Lincecum won consecutive Cy Young awards in ‘08 and ‘09, but he had a “down” season in 2010. It speaks to the type of pitcher you’ve become when at the age of 26, your down season consists of a 16-10 record and a 3.43 ERA.
Nicknamed “The Freak” and “The Franchise,” this righty’s slider is among the nastiest in the majors. Victories in his first two World Series appearances, including the clinching victory in Texas, help round out this All-Star’s impressive resume. His long hair and laid back attitude have him right at home in southern California.
The Closer
At first it was a gimmick. Then it was serious. And now it’s on bumper stickers. Brian Wilson’s beard is a big deal on the west coast.
Fans pay tribute by sporting fake facial hair (Fox’s cameras panned at least three times to kids wearing the beards during Game 5), and Wilson loves the attention. But he’s been getting saves and strikeouts a lot longer than he’s been boycotting Gillette.
Wilson has been the Giants’ full-time closer since 2008, and has blossomed into one of the game’s elite pitchers, closing out 127 regular season games successfully over the past three years. You might think the beard is funny from afar, but up on the mound, Wilson is a force to be reckoned with.
The Underdogs
The Phillies were going to out-pitch them. The Rangers were going to out-hit them. Since day one of the season, these Giants weren’t scaring anyone. When the free agency deadline was looming, Philadelphia got Roy Oswalt. Texas got Cliff Lee.
The Giants went ahead and grabbed Cody Ross. Even the most optimistic Giants fan couldn’t have predicted how this one would unfold. They beat the Phillies in six games, they battered the Rangers in five (including Cliff Lee … twice) , and Cody Ross hit the ball really hard. Ross had two game winning RBI in the NLDS against the Braves, and was named NLCS MVP for his work against the Phillies.
The point is, aside from Buster Posey, the Giants lineup is filled with throw-aways, nobodies and fade-outs (Pat Burrell, Edgar Rentaria, Aaron Rowand, etc.), but they still won games.
Plus, they praised the fans, and they played baseball like it’s supposed to be played. Now how can you root against that?
Miles Parks can be reached at mparks@spartans.ut.edu.