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2014 World Series
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110th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series
March 2026
November 2014
World 2014 2014 World Series.svg San Francisco Giants (4) Bruce Bochy 88–74, 88 74, GB: 6 Kansas City Royals (3) Ned Yost 89–73, 89 73, GB: 1 October 21–29http://m.mlb.com/news/article/93224878/mlb-postseason-schedule-set-fall-classic-opens-oct-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20140912165520/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/93224878/mlb-postseason-schedule-set-fall-classic-opens-oct-21 dead September 12, 2014 MLB Schedule Major League Baseball September 12, 2014 Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)AT&T Park (San Francisco) Madison Bumgarner (San Francisco) Fox (United States)MLB International (International) Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds, Tom Verducci, Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews (Fox)Gary Thorne and Rick Sutcliffe (MLB International) ESPNKNBR (SF)KCSP (KC) Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone (ESPN)Jon Miller, Dave Flemming, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow (KNBR)Denny Matthews, Ryan Lefebvre and Steve Physioc (KCSP) Jeff Kellogg (crew chief), Ted Barrett, Jeff Nelson (Games 3–7), Hunter Wendelstedt, Eric Cooper, Jim Reynolds, Jerry Meals (Games 1 & 2) Kansas City Royals over Baltimore Orioles (4–0) San Francisco Giants over St. Louis Cardinals (4–1)
The 2014 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2014 season. The 110th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion San Francisco Giants and the American League (AL) champion Kansas City Royals. The series was played from October 21 to 29. The Giants defeated the Royals four games to three to clinch their third World Series championship in a five-season span (2010–14), and their third overall since the club's move to San Francisco from New York.The Giants moved from New York City to San Francisco after the 1957 season. It was the Giants' eighth World Series championship in franchise history, and the Giants became the first team in MLB history to win the World Series as a number five seed. The series was also the sixth straight World Series to be won by a team that had missed the playoffs the year before.
The Giants won Game 1 behind a strong pitching performance by Madison Bumgarner while the Royals won Games2 and3 as their pitchers limited San Francisco to two runs per game. The Giants won Games4 and 5, thanks to 11 runs in Game4 and Bumgarner's complete game shutout in Game5. Kansas City tied the series in Game6, shutting out San Francisco and scoring 10 runs, which forced a Game7. The Giants won the final game, 3–2, thanks to timely hitting, including the game-winning RBI by Michael Morse to score Pablo Sandoval. Bumgarner pitched five shutout innings in relief on two days' rest to clinch the championship, claiming the series MVP award.
This was the first World Series to feature two teams with fewer than 90 wins since 1981, as that year's season was shortened due to a player's strike, and the first in a non-strike season.World Series set to begin, Examiner Enterprise, October 19, 2014 Additionally, this was the last World Series to feature two wild card teams until the 2023 World Series.
Background
2014 Major League Baseball postseason
Kansas City Royals
2014 Kansas City Royals season
The Royals made their third World Series appearance in franchise history, the others being in 1980, when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, and 1985, when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Furthermore, the Royals ended a stretch of 28 consecutive seasons in which they did not appear in the postseason, the second-longest such streak since the MLB postseason was expanded in 1995.
The 4th-seeded Royals entered the 2014 World Series after defeating the 5th-seeded Oakland Athletics 9–8 in the AL Wild Card game,Kaegel Dick http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_30_oakmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=wrap#gid=2014_09_30_oakmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=kc Fit for a King: Royals rally, win in 12 October 1, 2014 Major League Baseball October 1, 2014 March 4, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031455/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_30_oakmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=wrap#gid=2014_09_30_oakmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=kc live sweeping the top-seeded Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in three games in the ALDS,Royals claim ALCS berth with sweep of regular-season-best Angels http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341005107 https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070147/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341005107 dead October 6, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 6, 2014 and sweeping the 2nd-seeded Baltimore Orioles in four games in the ALCS.Royals hold off Orioles 2–1, finish ALCS sweep http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341015107 https://web.archive.org/web/20141016043850/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341015107 dead October 16, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 15, 2014 They were the first team to enter a World Series with an 8–0 record in that year's postseason and only the second to enter the World Series undefeated in the postseason since the creation of the Wild Card in 1994.The Colorado Rockies entered the 2007 World Series after going 7–0 in that year's postseason.
San Francisco Giants
2014 San Francisco Giants season
The Giants made their third World Series appearance in five years, having defeated the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series and the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/20/san-francisco-giants-kansas-city-royals-guide-2014-world-series San Francisco Giants v Kansas City Royals: 2014 World Series guide TheGuardian.com October 20, 2014 This was also their 20th appearance overall, and their sixth appearance since moving to San Francisco from New York City in 1958. The No. 5 seed Giants defeated the No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Pirates 8–0 in the NL Wild Card game,Crawford's slam sets tone as Giants top Pirates 8–0 http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Crawford-s-slam-sets-tone-as-Giants-top-Pirates-5795449.php October 2, 2014 Henry Schulman October 3, 2014 San Francisco Chronicle October 2, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141002221451/http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Crawford-s-slam-sets-tone-as-Giants-top-Pirates-5795449.php live the top-seeded Washington Nationals in four games in the NLDS 3 games to 1,Giants clip Nats using unconventional offense, will return to NLCS http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341007126 https://web.archive.org/web/20141008155054/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341007126 dead October 8, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 8, 2014 and the 3rd-seeded St. Louis Cardinals in five games in the NLCS four games to one via a walk-off home runTravis Ishikawa's 3-run walk-off HR sends Giants to World Series http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341016126 https://web.archive.org/web/20141017195028/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341016126 dead October 17, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 17, 2014 (in the process denying a rematch of the 1985 World Series). The World Series was the Giants' second trip to Kauffman Stadium in 2014, as the Royals had swept them in a three-game series on August 8–10. This was the fourth World Series in which the Giants faced a team from the Midwest (1917, 1954, 2012).
Summary
San Francisco 4–3 San Francisco Giants – 7, Kansas City Royals – 1 Kauffman Stadium October 21 3:32 40,459 Boxscore:San Francisco vs. Kansas City—October 21, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_21/gid_2014_10_21_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 21, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907124551/http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_21/gid_2014_10_21_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html live San Francisco Giants – 2, Kansas City Royals – 7 Kauffman Stadium October 22 3:25 40,446 Boxscore:San Francisco vs. Kansas City—October 22, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_22/gid_2014_10_22_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 22, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907123313/http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_22/gid_2014_10_22_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html live Kansas City Royals – 3, San Francisco Giants – 2 AT&T Park October 24 3:15 43,020 Boxscore:Kansas City vs. San Francisco—October 24, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_24/gid_2014_10_24_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 24, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907132042/https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_24/gid_2014_10_24_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html live Kansas City Royals – 4, San Francisco Giants – 11 AT&T Park October 25 4:00 43,066 Boxscore:Kansas City vs. San Francisco—October 25, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_25/gid_2014_10_25_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 25, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907134801/http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_25/gid_2014_10_25_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html live Kansas City Royals – 0, San Francisco Giants – 5 AT&T Park October 26 3:09 43,087 Boxscore:Kansas City vs. San Francisco – October 26, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_26/gid_2014_10_26_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 26, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907132115/https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_26/gid_2014_10_26_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html live San Francisco Giants – 0, Kansas City Royals – 10 Kauffman Stadium October 28 3:21 40,372 Boxscore:San Francisco vs. Kansas City—October 28, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_28/gid_2014_10_28_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 28, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907121835/http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_28/gid_2014_10_28_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html live San Francisco Giants – 3, Kansas City Royals – 2 Kauffman Stadium October 29 3:10 40,535 Boxscore:San Francisco vs. Kansas City—October 29, 2014 http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_29/gid_2014_10_29_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html Major League Baseball October 29, 2014 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907124804/http://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_29/gid_2014_10_29_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html live
Matchups
Game 1
October 21, 2014 7:07pm (CDT) Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, 66 F C, clearMadison Bumgarner-led Giants put Royals' streak on ice for 1–0 lead http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341021107 https://web.archive.org/web/20141025063155/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341021107 dead October 25, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 22, 2014 San Francisco SF 3 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 7 11 1 Kansas City KC 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 Madison Bumgarner (1–0) James Shields (0–1) Hunter Pence (1) Salvador Pérez (1) https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_21/gid_2014_10_21_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html 40,459
right|upright|thumb|Kauffman Stadium in preparation for Game1 of the World Series
thumb|upright=0.8|Hunter Pence hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 1st inning.
Both teams sent their respective aces to the mound for Game1: James Shields for the Royals and Madison Bumgarner for the Giants. The Giants scored the first run in the opening inning when a Pablo Sandoval double scored Gregor Blanco from second base, although Buster Posey was thrown out at home. The next batter, Hunter Pence, hit a home run to center field to give the Giants a three-run lead. The Royals did not threaten until the third inning. Omar Infante reached on an error by Giants' shortstop Brandon Crawford, and Mike Moustakas hit a double down the line to move Infante to third. Bumgarner struck out both Alcides Escobar and Norichika Aoki, but walked Lorenzo Cain to load the bases. Eric Hosmer grounded out to second base on the first pitch to end the threat.
The Giants threatened again in the top of the fourth when Pence doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Brandon Belt walked. Michael Morse then singled to score the fourth run of the game, which knocked Shields out of the game. Danny Duffy was brought in. After allowing a sacrifice bunt to Juan Pérez, Duffy walked Crawford and Blanco consecutively, bringing the fifth run in for the Giants. He retired the next two batters to end the inning. The score remained 5–0 until the top of the seventh, when Blanco drew another walk. Joe Panik hit a ball to right fielder Aoki, which he misplayed, allowing Blanco to score and Panik to reach third. Tim Collins was brought in and allowed a single to Sandoval after Posey lined out, driving in the seventh and final run for San Francisco.
The Royals scored their only run on a Salvador Pérez home run off Bumgarner in the bottom of the seventh inning, which proved to be the only run given up by Bumgarner in the series. That homer also ended Bumgarner's consecutive scoreless innings streak in the World Series at 21, second only to Giants Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson, who went 28.Fulks Matt Out of the Blue 2014 Triumph Books LLC Chicago 9 Collins and Jason Frasor each pitched scoreless innings for the Royals, while Javier López and Hunter Strickland closed out the game for the Giants with scoreless eighth and ninth innings. The loss was Kansas City's first of the 2014 postseason, following eight consecutive wins in the Wild Card Game, ALDS and ALCS. This also snapped the Royals' franchise postseason winning streak at 11 games dating back to the 1985 World Series.http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_10_21_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=wrap&partnerId=LR_wrap MLB.com Gameday—Major League Baseball: Gameday Major League Baseball October 29, 2014 October 31, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141031112531/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_10_21_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=wrap&partnerId=LR_wrap live
Game 2
October 22, 2014 7:08pm (CDT) Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, 67 F C, partly cloudyRoyals use 5-run 6th inning to roar past Giants, even World Series http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341022107 https://web.archive.org/web/20141026023455/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341022107 dead October 26, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 23, 2014 San Francisco SF 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 0 Kansas City KC 1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 X 7 10 0 Kelvin Herrera (1–0) Jake Peavy (0–1) Gregor Blanco (1) Omar Infante (1) https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_22/gid_2014_10_22_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html 40,446
right|upright|thumb|Kelvin Herrera was the winning pitcher for the Kansas City Royals in Game2.
Kansas City sent rookie Yordano Ventura to the mound in an attempt to even the series. San Francisco countered with Jake Peavy. The Giants scored first on a lead-off home run by Gregor Blanco. This would turn out to be the last home run the Giants would hit in the series. Alcides Escobar singled to lead off the Royals' half of the first but was thrown out trying to steal second base. The Royals, however, tied up the game on a Lorenzo Cain double, Eric Hosmer walk and a Billy Butler single, all with two outs.
The Royals gained the lead in the bottom of the second inning on doubles by Omar Infante and Escobar, but the Giants tied the game on doubles by Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt. Belt was tagged out attempting to advance to third but was out returning to second when Michael Morse flied out to right fielder Norichika Aoki, who threw to Ventura, who threw to Infante, thus ending the inning. In the top of the sixth inning, both Buster Posey and Hunter Pence singled, knocking Ventura out of the game. Kelvin Herrera was brought in and got the last two outs to end the inning.
Kansas City regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cain singled to center and Hosmer walked, prompting Bruce Bochy to take out Peavy and put in Jean Machi. Butler singled to left, which drove in Cain and gave the Royals the lead. He was replaced by pinch runner Terrance Gore. Javier López was brought in to face Alex Gordon, whom he retired. Hunter Strickland was then brought in. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Salvador Pérez hit a double to left center to drive in both runners. Infante then hit a two-run home run to left field, bringing the score to 7–2 Royals. Tensions began to rise as Strickland and Pérez got into a shouting match as Pérez was crossing home plate. Both dugouts cleared but the umpiring crew managed to calm the situation down. Jeremy Affeldt came in and allowed a single to Mike Moustakas but then induced a double play from Escobar to end the inning.
Herrera returned for the seventh inning. He struck out Travis Ishikawa but allowed consecutive walks to Brandon Crawford and Blanco. He then retired the last two batters to end the Giants's seventh. Tim Lincecum pitched 1 2 3 innings for the Giants, but left the game due to an injury and Santiago Casilla faced Lincecum's last batter in the eighth. Wade Davis pitched a perfect eighth, and Greg Holland struck out the side in the ninth to end the game and secure the victory for the Royals.
Game 3
right|upright|thumb|Eric Hosmer hit the game-winning RBI for Kansas City.
October 24, 2014 5:10pm (PDT) AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, 67 F C, partly cloudyEric Hosmer's sixth-inning RBI gives Royals 2–1 World Series lead http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341024126 https://web.archive.org/web/20141025140738/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341024126 dead October 25, 2014 ESPN October 25, 2014 Kansas City KC 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 6 0 San Francisco SF 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 Jeremy Guthrie (1–0) Tim Hudson (0–1) Greg Holland (1) https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_24/gid_2014_10_24_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html 43,020
The series shifted to San Francisco for Game 3. Tim Hudson started his first career World Series game, as did Royals' starter Jeremy Guthrie. The Royals scored first when Alcides Escobar doubled to lead off the game and came around to score on groundouts by Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain. Kansas City mounted a rally when Mike Moustakas singled and Omar Infante walked, but Hudson ended the threat by inducing a lineout and a double play. Both pitchers settled down until the sixth inning.
The Royals started another threat in the top of the sixth inning. Escobar singled with one out. Gordon then doubled to center field to score Escobar and increase the Royals' lead. Cain grounded to third for the second out, and Bruce Bochy brought in southpaw Javier Lopez to face the left-hand hitting Eric Hosmer. Hosmer battled an eleven pitch at-bat with Lopez until finally singling to center to score Gordon for what would end up being the game-winning RBI. Lopez retired Moustakas to end the inning.
The Giants responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Crawford singled and Michael Morse doubled, scoring Crawford, and causing the Royals to replace Guthrie with Kelvin Herrera. Herrera walked Gregor Blanco to put runners on first and second. After Joe Panik grounded out to advance the runners to second and third, Buster Posey then hit an RBI groundout scoring Morse and cutting the Giants' deficit to one. Pablo Sandoval then grounded out to Hosmer to end the inning.
Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless seventh for the Giants. Herrera walked Hunter Pence to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, but struck out Brandon Belt. Brandon Finnegan was then brought in for the Royals, which also made him the first rookie pitcher to pitch in the College World Series and the World Series in the same year. He retired the last two batters to end the seventh.
Romo struck out the first batter of the eighth inning. Jeremy Affeldt came in for the Giants and retired Gordon and Cain. Wade Davis retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth. Affeldt retired the first two batters of the ninth. Santiago Casilla came in and retired the last batter. Greg Holland was brought in to save the game for the Royals. He retired the middle of the Giants lineup in order and saved the game for the Royals, giving them a 2–1 series lead.
This was only the second World Series loss at home for the Giants since AT&T Park opened in 2000, and the first since Game3 of the 2002 Series. Holland saved his record-tying seventh game of the playoffs, tying John Wetteland, Robb Nen, Troy Percival, Brad Lidge, and Koji Uehara for most ever in a single postseason.All-time and Single-Season Postseason Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/Playoffs_pitching.shtml baseball-reference.com Baseball-Reference 5 January 2020 July 8, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190708004514/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/Playoffs_pitching.shtml live
Game 4
right|upright|thumb|Yusmeiro Petit pitched three scoreless innings for the Giants in Game4.
October 25, 2014 5:08pm (PDT) AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, 65 F C, cloudyGiants rally from 3-run deficit, surge past Royals to even World Series http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341025126 https://web.archive.org/web/20141026052144/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341025126 dead October 26, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 26, 2014 Kansas City KC 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 12 1 San Francisco SF 1 0 1 0 2 3 4 0 X 11 16 0 Yusmeiro Petit (1–0) Brandon Finnegan (0–1) https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_25/gid_2014_10_25_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html 43,066
The Giants sent Ryan Vogelsong to the mound, while the Royals sent Jason Vargas. The Giants scored in the bottom of the first inning when Gregor Blanco walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third base, and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Hunter Pence.
The Royals countered in the top of the third inning where they batted around. Alcides Escobar singled with one out, but was eliminated as a runner when Alex Gordon grounded into a forceout for the second out of the inning. Gordon then stole second base and consecutive infield singles by Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer brought Gordon home to tie the game. Mike Moustakas then walked to load up the bases. Omar Infante singled to center to score Cain and Hosmer to give the Royals a 3–1 lead. Salvador Pérez followed with another single to score Moustakas and knock Vogelsong out of the game. Jean Machi came in and walked Jarrod Dyson, but struck out the pitcher with the bases loaded to end the threat.
The Giants scored a run in the bottom of the inning when pinch hitter Matt Duffy singled, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on a single to left field by Buster Posey. Yusmeiro Petit pitched three scoreless innings starting with the fourth to keep the Royals off the board.
After the Royals failed to do anything with a lead-off double from Hosmer in the top of the 5th, the Giants tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Joe Panik started the inning with a double to right center, which knocked Vargas out of the game. Jason Frasor was brought in. A groundout moved Panik to third, and he scored on a single to center by Pence. Danny Duffy replaced Frasor in the game. Pablo Sandoval singled and Brandon Belt walked to load the bases. Juan Pérez hit a sinking liner to center, but it was caught by a diving Jarrod Dyson. Pence tagged up at third and scored the tying run. Duffy struck out Brandon Crawford to end the inning.
San Francisco gained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Finnegan replaced Duffy. Pinch hitter Joaquín Árias and Blanco both singled to lead off the inning. Panik bunted to move the runners over to second and third. Finnegan intentionally walked Posey to load the bases and set up a force play at any base. Hunter Pence hit the ball to shortstop Escobar, who threw home for the forceout. However, Sandoval singled to center to score Blanco and Posey, giving the Giants a two-run lead. Belt hit another single to center which scored Pence to score the third run of the inning. Pérez grounded out to end the inning.
Jeremy Affeldt pitched a scoreless seventh for the Giants. Finnegan started the Giants' seventh by allowing an infield single to Crawford and a walk to pinch-hitter Michael Morse. Tim Collins was then brought in. He fielded a bunt ground ball by Blanco, but threw the ball away, allowing Crawford to score. Panik then hit a double to center field to score both Morse and Blanco. After Posey grounded out, Pence doubled to left field, scoring Panik, and giving the Giants' their eleventh and final run of the game.
Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless eighth for the Giants, as did Collins for the Royals. Hunter Strickland allowed a double to Gordon in the ninth inning, but he did not score, as Hosmer grounded out to end the game.Verducci Tom Three Strikes: Giants' formula making for fun World Series https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/10/26/three-strikes-world-series-game-4-san-francisco-giants-kansas-city-royals Sports Illustrated October 31, 2014 March 3, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194512/http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/10/26/three-strikes-world-series-game-4-san-francisco-giants-kansas-city-royals live
Game 5
right|upright|thumb|Brandon Crawford had three runs batted in for the Giants in Game5.
October 26, 2014 5:09pm (PDT) AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, 67 F C, clearMadison Bumgarner tosses 4-hit shutout to put Giants up 3–2 http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341026126&team=kc https://web.archive.org/web/20141027063052/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341026126&team=kc dead October 27, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 27, 2014 Kansas City KC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 San Francisco SF 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 X 5 12 0 Madison Bumgarner (2–0) James Shields (0–2) https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_26/gid_2014_10_26_kcamlb_sfnmlb_1/boxscore_col.html 43,087
Madison Bumgarner became the first pitcher to record a complete game shutout in a World Series game since Josh Beckett did so for the Florida Marlins in Game6 of the 2003 World Series,Kilgore Adam World Series: Madison Bumgarner, Giants Shut Out Royals, 50 https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2014-world-series-madison-bumgarner-giants-shut-out-royals-5-0/2014/10/26/ff6d7ba4-5d5c-11e4-8b9e-2ccdac31a031_story.html Washington Post 6 January 2020 November 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201127181726/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2014-world-series-madison-bumgarner-giants-shut-out-royals-5-0/2014/10/26/ff6d7ba4-5d5c-11e4-8b9e-2ccdac31a031_story.html live and the first Giants pitcher to accomplish the feat since Jack Sanford in Game2 of the 1962 World Series.Bretón Marcos The Legend of Madison Bumgarner Grows https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/marcos-breton/article3398114.html sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee 6 January 2020 September 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200902190041/https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/marcos-breton/article3398114.html live Bumgarner only allowed four hits, recorded eight strikeouts and no walks. When Bumgarner did allow a hit, he shut down the Royals after that by coming up with six of his eight strikeouts immediately after allowing a hit.Fulks Matt Out of the Blue 2014 Triumph Books LLC Chicago, IL 20 The only time that the Giants' pitcher allowed the Royals to get into scoring position was Omar Infante's one-out double in the fifth inning, but Bumgarner then struck out the next two Kansas City batters.
This was the third straight game in which neither team hit a home run, the first such occurrence in a World Series since 1948.http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/madison-bumgarner-shuts-out-kansas-city-royals-to-give-san-francisco-giants-3-2-lead-in-world-series-102614 Madison Bumgarner shuts out Kansas City Royals to give San Francisco Giants 3–2 lead in World Series Fox Sports October 29, 2014 October 29, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141029165328/http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/madison-bumgarner-shuts-out-kansas-city-royals-to-give-san-francisco-giants-3-2-lead-in-world-series-102614 livehttps://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1948_WS.shtml 1948 World Series—Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves (4–2)—Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com October 29, 2014 January 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220102112134/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1948_WS.shtml live The Giants opened the scoring in the second, starting with Hunter Pence's single and Brandon Belt's bunt base hit. After Travis Ishikawa flied out to center to advance both runners, Brandon Crawford grounded out to second, with Pence scoring. Crawford then recorded an RBI single to right in the fourth, allowing Pablo Sandoval to score from second base to give San Francisco a 2–0 lead. Kansas City starter James Shields was relieved by Kelvin Herrera after pitching six innings. Herrera kept the score at 2–0 in the seventh. But in the eighth, Sandoval and Pence led off with back-to-back singles, and Herrera was then relieved by Wade Davis. Juan Pérez hit a one-out double, scoring Sandoval and Pence, with Pérez reaching third base on a throwing error by Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar. Pérez had learned of his friend Oscar Taveras having died in the middle of the game and broke down in tears. He dedicated the double to Oscar, posting a tweet. Crawford then recorded his third RBI of the game with a single to left to score Pérez to make it 5–0.
Game 6
right|upright|thumb|Yordano Ventura pitched seven shutout innings for the Royals in Game6.
October 28, 2014 7:08pm (CDT) Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, 58 F C, clearRoyals crush Giants to tie World Series, force Game 7 http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341028107 https://web.archive.org/web/20141029042254/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341028107 dead October 29, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 29, 2014 San Francisco SF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 Kansas City KC 0 7 1 0 1 0 1 0 X 10 15 0 Yordano Ventura (1–0) Jake Peavy (0–2) Mike Moustakas (1) https://gd2.mlb.com/content/game/mlb/year_2014/month_10/day_28/gid_2014_10_28_sfnmlb_kcamlb_1/boxscore_col.html 40,372
The Royals scored seven runs in the second inning en route to a 10–0 win and forcing a Game7. In memory of his recently deceased friend Oscar Taveras, Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura pitched seven innings, allowing only three Giants hits.https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/28/royals-rout-giants-to-force-a-decisive-game-7-of-world-series/18094285/ Royals shell Giants to force a decisive Game 7 October 28, 2014 USA Today October 29, 2014 October 29, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141029042837/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/28/royals-rout-giants-to-force-a-decisive-game-7-of-world-series/18094285/ live
Royals hitters knocked out starter Jake Peavy after 1 1 3 innings. After Alex Gordon and Salvador Pérez led off the second with back-to-back singles, Mike Moustakas hit an RBI double to score Gordon. After Omar Infante struck out for the first out with runners on second and third, Alcides Escobar reached base safely on an infield hit, where first baseman Brandon Belt hesitated to make sure Pérez didn't try to head home, which allowed Escobar to slide safely to first. Now with the bases loaded, Nori Aoki recorded an RBI single to score Pérez, which ended Peavy's night. Yusmeiro Petit replaced Peavy on the mound, and allowed a single by Lorenzo Cain, and doubles by Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler that scored five more Kansas City runs made the score 7–0. Cain then hit an RBI ground rule double in the third, Escobar an RBI double in the fifth, and Moustakas a home run in the seventh, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/29/sports/baseball/world-series-2014-kansas-city-royals-crush-sf-giants-and-force-game-7.html?ref=sports&_r=0 World Series 2014: Royals Crush Giants and Force Game 7 October 28, 2014 The New York Times October 29, 2014 his fifth homer of the postseason, which broke Willie Aikens' franchise record of 4 home runs in a single postseason.Fulks Matt Out of the Blue 2014 Triumph Books LLC Chicago, IL 24
Game 7
right 258px Game 7 Full replay on the MLB's official YouTube channel
October 29, 2014 7:11pm (CDT) Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, 55 F C, clearMadison Bumgarner, Giants hold off Royals to win World Series http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341029107 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030072442/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=341029107 dead October 30, 2014 ESPN Associated Press October 30, 2014 San Francisco SF 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 1 Kansas City KC 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 Jeremy Affeldt (1–0) Jeremy Guthrie (1–1) Madison Bumgarner (1) 40,535 https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-royals/2014/10/29/416387/final/box
thumb|upright|Madison Bumgarner pitched five scoreless innings in relief in game 7 and won World Series MVP
Although Giants starter Tim Hudson failed to make it past the bottom of the second inning after giving up two runs, reliever Jeremy Affeldt and series MVP Madison Bumgarner shut out the Kansas City offense the rest of the game, as the Giants held on for a tense 3–2 victory.
After a scoreless first inning, the Giants struck first in the top of the second inning. Pablo Sandoval reached on a hit by pitch and Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt each singled to load the bases with nobody out. Michael Morse hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Sandoval and moved Pence to third. Brandon Crawford followed with another sacrifice fly to center that scored Pence, giving the Giants a 2–0 lead.
The Royals struck back in the bottom of the second. Billy Butler produced a single followed by an Alex Gordon double, managing to score Butler from first. Salvador Pérez was hit by a pitch from Hudson on the knee, which put Pérez on first. Mike Moustakas advanced Gordon to third and then the Royals tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Omar Infante. After Alcides Escobar singled to put two men on with two outs, manager Bruce Bochy brought in Affeldt, who retired Nori Aoki to end the threat.
Affeldt pitched a scoreless third inning, with defensive help by Giants rookie second baseman Joe Panik on a key double play. With a runner on first and no outs, Panik made a diving stop on a ball hit up the middle by Eric Hosmer and then flipped the ball from his glove while still on the ground to Crawford at second base, who quickly threw over to Belt at first. Hosmer made a diving slide into first instead of running through the bag. Although first base umpire Eric Cooper initially ruled that Hosmer was safe, Giants manager Bochy challenged the umpire's call. After a nearly three-minute video review, the call was overturned. That play became the first successful challenge by a manager in a World Series.https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/first-world-series-replay-reversal-gives-giants-spectacular-double-play-015839756.html First World Series replay reversal gives Giants spectacular double play October 29, 2014 Yahoo! Sports October 29, 2014 October 30, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030105156/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/first-world-series-replay-reversal-gives-giants-spectacular-double-play-015839756.html live
In the top of the fourth inning, Sandoval reached on an infield single and moved to third after Pence singled and Belt flied out to left. Manager Ned Yost brought in Kelvin Herrera to face Morse, but Morse fought off an 0–2 pitch and looped a broken-bat single to right field to score Sandoval, giving the Giants a 3–2 lead. After Affeldt pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth, the Giants brought in Bumgarner on two days' rest to protect their one-run lead in the fifth. Bumgarner promptly gave up a single to Infante who then made it to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Escobar. Aoki then hit what appeared to be a game-tying double toward the left field corner. But left fielder Juan Pérez, who was playing closer to the left field line than usual, made a running catch only a few feet from foul territory. Bumgarner then struck out Lorenzo Cain to end the inning.https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/23/ap-bbo-big-shift-game-7 Perez shift toward left-field line in Game 7 affected Series March 23, 2015 Sports Illustrated Sports March 23, 2015 May 30, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150530222325/http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/23/ap-bbo-big-shift-game-7 live
After allowing the single to Infante in the fifth inning, Bumgarner retired 14 batters in a row. The game ended in dramatic fashion when, with two outs, Gordon of the Royals lined an 87 mph on on slider to left center field. Center fielder Gregor Blanco misplayed the ball, and it rolled to the wall. Left fielder Pérez had trouble grabbing the ball, which allowed Gordon to reach third base as the potential tying run, on a base hit and error combination. (After the game, there was much discussion among fans and statisticians about the decision by third base coach, Mike Jirschele, not to wave Gordon home in an attempt to tie the game.)Silver Nate Send Alex Gordon! https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/send-alex-gordon/ FiveThirtyEight October 30, 2014 October 31, 2014 October 24, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171024013004/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/send-alex-gordon/ deadKhatchaturian Andre Hey, Royals Fans: Alex Gordon Wouldn't Have Scored On Game 7 Error (Video) http://nesn.com/2014/10/hey-royals-fans-alex-gordon-wouldnt-have-scored-on-game-7-error-video/ New England Sports Network 3 November 2014 31 October 2014 November 2, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141102232022/http://nesn.com/2014/10/hey-royals-fans-alex-gordon-wouldnt-have-scored-on-game-7-error-video/ live With the tying run 90 ft away and the winning run at the plate, Bumgarner threw six pitches to Pérez, inducing a foul pop fly caught by Sandoval to end the game, series, and baseball season.http://usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/29/world-series-game-7-royals-giants-dynasty/18153359/ Dynasty: Giants win third World Series title in five years October 30, 2014 USA Today October 30, 2014 October 30, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030052340/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/29/world-series-game-7-royals-giants-dynasty/18153359/ live Bumgarner was initially credited with the win, which would have given him a 3–0 record in the series, the first since Randy Johnson in the 2001 World Series. However, following deliberation among the official scorers, it was decided that Affeldt by rule was entitled to the win.https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/11788539/world-series-scoring-change-gives-jeremy-affeldt-win-madison-bumgarner-save Score fix gives Jeremy Affeldt win October 30, 2014 ESPN October 30, 2014 August 5, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160805061352/http://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/11788539/world-series-scoring-change-gives-jeremy-affeldt-win-madison-bumgarner-save live
This win made the Giants the first visiting team since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates to win Game7 of the World Series,Waldstein David Bumgarner, a Three-Ring Master, Leads San Francisco to its Third Title in Five Seasons https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/sports/baseball/world-series-2014-giants-beat-royals-in-game-7-to-win-title.html The New York Times October 30, 2014 6 January 2020 October 12, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211012112732/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/sports/baseball/world-series-2014-giants-beat-royals-in-game-7-to-win-title.html live continuing their trend of clinching World Series titles while on the road, having done so at Globe Life Park in Arlington in 2010 and Comerica Park in 2012. To date, the Giants have not clinched a World Series at AT&T (now Oracle) Park, but they hosted Game7 at Candlestick Park in 1962, which the New York Yankees won, and the Oakland Athletics completed a four-game sweep by winning Games3 and4 at Candlestick in 1989. With the win, the Giants' postseason record against American League Central teams improved to 4–2, and they have officially beaten every AL Central team in the World Series except the Chicago White Sox, who they lost to in the 1917 World Series.
Composite line score
2014 World Series (4–3): San Francisco Giants (NL) beat Kansas City Royals (AL)
San Francisco Giants SF 5 3 1 5 2 5 6 3 0 30 66 2 Kansas City Royals KC 2 10 5 0 1 7 2 0 0 27 57 2 Hunter Pence (1), Gregor Blanco (1) Salvador Pérez (1), Omar Infante (1), Mike Moustakas (1) 290,985 41,569 $388,605.94 $230,699.73
In all but one of the seven games, the team that scored first went on to win; the exception was in Game2. As of the 2019 World Series, the team that scores first in the final game of a World Series has won 64% of the time, as the Giants did in 2014.All The World Series Game 7 Facts You Need to Know https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27962182/all-world-series-game-7-facts-need-know ESPN October 30, 2019 ESPN 6 January 2020 December 13, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191213001317/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27962182/all-world-series-game-7-facts-need-know live
Broadcasting
Television
Fox broadcast the series in the United States (simulcast in Canada on Sportsnet), with play-by-play announcer Joe Buck calling the action along with color analysts Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci and field reporters Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews. This was the first World Series telecast for Reynolds and Verducci, who replaced longtime Fox analyst Tim McCarver after the latter's retirement from the network following the 2013 World Series.https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/23/sports/baseball/anticipating-his-next-play-tim-mccarver-is-closing-out-an-era.html?_r=0 Anticipating His Next Play, McCarver Is Closing Out an Era Sandomir Richard October 22, 2013 The New York Times Kevin Burkhardt hosted the pre-game and post-game shows with analysts Gabe Kapler, Frank Thomas, and Nick Swisher; David Ortiz joined them for Games1 and 2.
Fox Deportes offered a Spanish-language telecast of the series, with Pablo Alsina, Duaner Sánchez, and José Tolentino commentating. MLB International televised the series outside the U.S. and Canada, with Gary Thorne and Rick Sutcliffe announcing.http://livesportsmedianews.blogspot.com/2014/10/2014-world-series-broadcast-primer_18.html 2014 World Series Broadcast Primer Live Sports Media News October 18, 2014 October 22, 2014 December 21, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141221085607/http://livesportsmedianews.blogspot.com/2014/10/2014-world-series-broadcast-primer_18.html live
The World Series started on a Tuesday for the first time since 1990, instead of a Wednesday as in previous years.http://m.mlb.com/news/article/93224878/mlb-postseason-schedule-set-fall-classic-opens-oct-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20140912165520/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/93224878/mlb-postseason-schedule-set-fall-classic-opens-oct-21 dead September 12, 2014 Postseason schedule set; Fall Classic opens Oct. 21 Major League Baseball October 27, 2014https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11510241/world-series-scheduled-open-tuesday-oct-21 World Series scheduled to open on Tuesday, Oct. 21 September 12, 2014 ESPN October 22, 2014 May 10, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180510185803/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11510241/world-series-scheduled-open-tuesday-oct-21 liveThe series started on a Tuesday to avoid a game on Thursday, generally a big day of television viewing, where Fox's telecast would face stiff competition from Thursday Night Football, ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime, and various popular primetime entertainment shows. The change also meant that the series only had to compete with the National Football League on one night (Sunday) instead of three (Thursday, Sunday and Monday).
Ratings
World Series television ratings
The 2014 World Series averaged a national Nielsen rating of 8.3/14, making it the second-worst rated World Series in Major League Baseball history (after the 2012 series).http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-30/world-series-ratings-fall-8-percent-from-last-year https://archive.today/20141031053030/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-30/world-series-ratings-fall-8-percent-from-last-year dead October 31, 2014 World Series Ratings Fall 8 Percent From Last Year Eben Novy-Williams and Christopher Palmeri Bloomberg BusinessWeek November 1, 2014 Through six games, the series was averaging 7.4, which would have made it the worst-rated World Series, but Game7 produced a respectable 13.7 to bolster the series average enough to avoid the notorious distinction.The 2012 World Series currently holds the record for lowest rating at 7.6, though this Series was only four games.
The 2014 World Series set records for lowest-rated Games 1, 4, 5, 6, and7 in World Series history. The previous Game7 in World Series history occurred in 2011, when the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers produced a 14.7 rating, a full 1.0 over 2014's Game7.
This was the fifth consecutive World Series (and the sixth in seven years) to earn a national rating under 10.0.Since 2007, the 2009 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies is the only series to produce a rating over 10.0 (it drew a 11.7). Prior to 2008, the World Series had never averaged below 10.0.
Game Ratings(households) Share(households) American audience(in millions) 1 7.3 12 12.2 2 7.9 14 12.9 3 7.2 13 12.1 4 6.3 12 10.7 5 7.3 12 12.6 6 8.1 13 13.4 7 13.7 23 23.52http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/10/30/wednesday-final-ratings-the-goldbergs-modern-family-the-100-nashville-adjusted-down/321842/ Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Goldbergs', 'Modern Family' & 'Stalker' Adjusted Up; 'The 100' & 'Nashville' Adjusted Down & Final World Series Numbers Sara Bibel October 30, 2014 TV by the Numbers October 31, 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20141101200054/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/10/30/wednesday-final-ratings-the-goldbergs-modern-family-the-100-nashville-adjusted-down/321842/ November 1, 2014
Radio
ESPN Radio aired the series, with Dan Shulman on play-by-play and Aaron Boone handling color commentary. Marc Kestecher anchored pre- and post-game coverage for the network along with Jon Sciambi, Chris Singleton and Peter Pascarelli. ESPN Deportes Radio offered a Spanish-language broadcast, with Eduardo Ortega announcing along with Renato Bermúdez, Armando Talavera and José Francisco Rivera.http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2014/10/dan-shulman-to-serve-as-voice-of-the-world-series-on-espn-radio/ Dan Shulman to Serve as Voice of the World Series on ESPN Radio Nagle Dave ESPN MediaZone October 17, 2014 October 22, 2014 October 22, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141022062230/http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2014/10/dan-shulman-to-serve-as-voice-of-the-world-series-on-espn-radio/ live
Locally, the series was broadcast on the teams' flagship radio stations with their respective announcing crews. In San Francisco, KNBR aired the games in English (with Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow and Dave Flemming announcing),https://www.sacbee.com/sports/mlb/article3200129.html Giants vs. Royals: Where to watch, listen to World Series Game 1 Blomster Brian The Sacramento Bee October 21, 2014 October 24, 2025 April 5, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250405154123/https://www.sacbee.com/sports/mlb/article3200129.html live while KTRB broadcast in Spanish (with Erwin Higueros and Tito Fuentes announcing). In Kansas City, KCSP broadcast the games (with Denny Matthews and Ryan Lefebvre announcing). Due to contractual obligations, the affiliate stations on the teams' radio networks had to carry the ESPN Radio feed of the games,http://www.kansas.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article3197176.html Wichita-area World Series listeners won't hear Royals announcers Suellentrop Paul The Wichita Eagle October 21, 2014 October 22, 2014 October 22, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141022213838/http://www.kansas.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article3197176.html live although the local broadcasts were also available on Sirius and XM satellite radio and to Gameday Audio subscribers at MLB.com. In Kansas City, WHB carried the ESPN Radio feed in direct competition with KCSP's broadcast.
Historical notes
This was the second World Series in history in which two wild card teams faced each other, the first being the 2002 World Series between the Giants and the Anaheim Angels.The 2002 World Series between the Giants and the Anaheim Angels was also between two wild card teams. It was the first World Series to involve a team (let alone two) that played in the additional wild card game instituted in 2012.These Wild Card teams made the World Series https://web.archive.org/web/20221111184105/https://www.mlb.com/news/wild-card-teams-to-make-the-world-series-c273264024 November 11, 2022 , Mlb.com, November 6, 2022 Consequently, by winning, the Giants set the record for most victories in a single postseason with 12. This was also only the second World Series since 2002 to go to seven games.The 2011 World Series also lasted seven games. Additionally, this was the first World Series in which both teams played in a play-in gameA play-in game includes the wild card game since 2012, and the tie breaker from 1994–2011. since the Division Series was added in 1994. It was also the first time in World Series history (after the advent of the 162-game schedule) that the opponents both had fewer than 90 wins in the regular season."Fewer than 90 wins" excludes seasons when the schedule was cut short. It was the first Series in history in which at least five games were decided by five or more runs.Kepner Tyler Oddities Abound in Even World Series https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/sports/baseball/World-series-2014-game-7-to-decide-an-oddly-lopsided-but-even-world-series-kansas-city-royals-san-francisco-giants.html?ref=baseball The New York Times October 29, 2014 October 30, 2014 January 2, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013336/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/sports/baseball/World-series-2014-game-7-to-decide-an-oddly-lopsided-but-even-world-series-kansas-city-royals-san-francisco-giants.html?ref=baseball live It was the third World Series to end in Game7 with the tying run on third base, after 1946 and 1962.https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/53135/bumgarners-legend-grows-giants-win-it-all Bumgarner's legend grows: Giants win it all David Schoenfield ESPN October 29, 2014 April 10, 2023 July 16, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20230410113208/https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/53135/bumgarners-legend-grows-giants-win-it-all live
The Giants became the first road team to win Game7 of the World Series since the 1979 Pirates, ending a string of nine straight home team victories in the deciding game.https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/sports/baseball/world-series-2014-giants-beat-royals-in-game-7-to-win-title.html?ref=sports&_r=0 Bumgarner, a Three-Ring Master, Leads San Francisco to Its Third Title in Five Seasons October 30, 2014 The New York Times October 30, 2014 January 2, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013038/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/sports/baseball/world-series-2014-giants-beat-royals-in-game-7-to-win-title.html?ref=sports&_r=0 live The Giants were also the first team to come back to win Game7 after losing Game6 since the 1997 Marlins as well as the first road team to do since the 1975 Reds.http://m.mlb.com/sf/video/topic/94796514/v36879523/ws2014-gm7-giants-add-2014-series-title-to-10-12/?c_id=sf https://web.archive.org/web/20141102080616/http://m.mlb.com/sf/video/topic/94796514/v36879523/ws2014-gm7-giants-add-2014-series-title-to-10-12/?c_id=sf dead November 2, 2014 WS2014 Gm7 Giants add 2014 series title to 10, 12 October 30, 2014 Major League Baseball October 30, 2014 It was the Giants' first ever Game7 victory in a best-of-seven World Series.The Giants won Game7 in 1921, but it was a best-of-nine series and they went on to defeat the New York Yankees five games to three The victory wrapped up the Giants' third championship in five seasons, a feat accomplished only once previously by a National League team since the St. Louis Cardinals in 1942, 1944, and 1946. The Giants became the fifth franchise to win at least three titles in five years (or fewer), joining the Athletics, Cardinals, Red Sox, and Yankees.http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2014-mlb-playoffs-san-francisco-giants-win-world-series-madison-bumgarner-kansas-city-royals/ Legends of the Fall: The Giants and Madison Bumgarner Beat the Royals in Game 7 to Make World Series History Ben Lindbergh October 30, 2014 Grantland February 13, 2015 February 7, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150213015824/http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2014-mlb-playoffs-san-francisco-giants-win-world-series-madison-bumgarner-kansas-city-royals/ live http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/YES-YES-YES-5857204.php Giants beat Royals in Game 7 for 3rd title in 5 years October 30, 2014 San Francisco Chronicle October 30, 2014 October 30, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030043819/http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/YES-YES-YES-5857204.php live https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/30/san-francisco-giants-beat-kansas-city-royals-2014-world-series-result San Francisco Giants beat Kansas City Royals: 2014 World Series result October 30, 2014 The Guardian October 30, 2014 Manager Bruce Bochy became the tenth manager in MLB history to win three championships, with the previous nine all inducted into the Hall of Fame.The previous nine are Joe McCarthy (7), Casey Stengel (7), Connie Mack (5), Walter Alston (4), Joe Torre (4), Sparky Anderson (3), Miller Huggins (3), Tony La Russa (3), and John McGraw (3).https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/ Managerial Register and Leaders Baseball-Reference.com March 27, 2018 October 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151022201320/http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/ live http://www.sfgate.com/giants/jenkins/article/Bruce-Bochy-stamps-ticket-to-Cooperstown-5862560.php Bruce Bochy stamps ticket to Cooperstown Bruce Jenkins November 1, 2014 San Francisco Chronicle November 4, 2014 November 4, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141104182249/http://www.sfgate.com/giants/jenkins/article/Bruce-Bochy-stamps-ticket-to-Cooperstown-5862560.php live
Earlier in the postseason, both teams extended their record streaks of victories in postseason elimination games to seven in their respective wild card games.The Royals won three elimination games in the 1985 ALCS, three more in the 1985 World Series, followed by a victory in the 2014 AL Wild Card Game. The Giants won three elimination games in the 2012 NLDS, three more in the 2012 NLCS, followed by a victory in the 2014 NL Wild Card Game. The Royals extended their streak to eight games with their victory in Game6.http://grantland.com/features/2014-mlb-playoffs-kansas-city-royals-remarkable-run/ Pain Demands to Be Felt Rany Jazayerli October 31, 2014 Grantland November 5, 2014 November 5, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141105055131/http://grantland.com/features/2014-mlb-playoffs-kansas-city-royals-remarkable-run/ live With their victory in Game7, the Giants also extended their streak to eight games and consequently ended the Royals streak. The Giants extended their streak of postseason series wins to ten, extending the National League record, a streak surpassed only by the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2001 (11 consecutive series wins).http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/99930520/mike-bauman-playoff-pedigree-among-10-reasons-giants-will-win-game-7 https://web.archive.org/web/20141031140024/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/99930520/mike-bauman-playoff-pedigree-among-10-reasons-giants-will-win-game-7 dead October 31, 2014 Playoff pedigree among 10 reasons Giants will win Game 7 Mike Bauman MLB.com October 28, 2014 November 4, 2014
Madison Bumgarner pitched 21 innings in the 2014 World Series and allowed just one run, giving him a series ERA of just 0.43,http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-world-series-20141030-story.html Giants beat Royals in Game 7 for third World Series title in five years October 29, 2014 Los Angeles Times October 30, 2014 October 30, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141030041350/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-world-series-20141030-story.html live the lowest since Sandy Koufax's 0.38 ERA in the 1965 World Series.http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Bumgarner-Mathewson-2-of-a-kind-a-century-apart-5862575.php Bumgarner, Mathewson: 2 of a kind, a century apart Al Saracevic November 1, 2014 San Francisco Chronicle November 4, 2014 November 4, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141104204117/http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Bumgarner-Mathewson-2-of-a-kind-a-century-apart-5862575.php live In the World Series, Bumgarner pitched more than one-third of the 61 innings thrown by the Giants.https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2014_WS.shtml 2014 World Series Baseball-Reference.com March 27, 2018 July 22, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180722105035/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2014_WS.shtml live Bumgarner set a new World Series record for lowest career ERA with 0.25 (minimum 25 innings pitched), besting Jack Billingham's 0.36 career ERA.https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/29/world-series-game-7-giants-royals-madison-bumgarner/18156531/ Nightengale: Giants win World Series with a 1-man rotation Bob Nightengale October 30, 2014 USA Today November 4, 2014 November 3, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141103122328/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/29/world-series-game-7-giants-royals-madison-bumgarner/18156531/ live Bumgarner's 52 2 3 innings pitched in the postseason set a new record, surpassing Curt Schilling's 48 1 3 innings pitched in 2001.https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/97899/top-stats-to-know-giants-win-it-all-again Top stats to know: Giants win it all, again ESPN Stats & Information ESPN.com October 29, 2014 November 4, 2014 October 10, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161010081702/http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/97899/top-stats-to-know-giants-win-it-all-again live
Additionally, Bumgarner is the last pitcher to throw a complete game shutout in a World Series, to date. The following year, Johnny Cueto would throw a complete game for the Royals in the World Series, but allowed a run in the process.
The final at-bat of the series represented a rare "golden pitch" situation — the 12th in baseball history, and the first since 2001 — by which either team could theoretically win the World Series on the next pitch.Golden Pitches: The Ultimate Last-at-Bat, Game Seven Scenario – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/golden-pitches-the-ultimate-last-at-bat-game-seven-scenario/ 2025-11-07 en-US After Alex Gordon's two-out triple in the bottom of the 9th, Salvador Perez represented both the championship-winning run and the championship-losing out. Perez faced six golden pitches before fouling out to end the series.
Aftermath
right|upright|thumb|President Barack Obama with the 2014 World Series champion San Francisco Giants at the White House
Despite rainy weather, hundreds of thousands of fans turned out for the Giants' victory parade in San Francisco on October 31, 2014.http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Throngs-of-fans-already-packing-Civic-Center-5860820.php Confetti, rain fall on revelers at Giants World Series parade Jill Tucker Sam Whiting Hamed Aleaziz Erin Allday October 31, 2014 San Francisco Chronicle November 4, 2014 November 3, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141103180437/http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Throngs-of-fans-already-packing-Civic-Center-5860820.php live
The Giants missed the playoffs in the 2015 season with an 84–78 record. They returned to the postseason in 2016 in hopes of adding a fourth championship in seven seasons, but they would lose in the NLDS to the eventual World Series champion Chicago Cubs, officially ending their dynasty. They returned to the postseason in 2021 after winning a franchise record 107 games, but were defeated in the NLDS by their archrival in the Los Angeles Dodgers. Outside of their surprise 2021 season, the Giants entered a period of dormancy from 2017–.
The Royals carried over their momentum from the previous fall, winning the American League Central the very next season. This was Kansas City's first division title since 1985, when they won the American League West. Their 95–67 record was the best in the American League, and the Royals' best since 1980.http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article37740321.html Royals secure postseason home-field advantage with 6–1 win over Twins to end regular season Andy McCullough October 4, 2015 The Kansas City Star November 14, 2015 November 1, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151101134545/http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article37740321.html live Kansas City would go on to return to the World Series, where they defeated the New York Mets four games to one, making them the first team since the 1989 Oakland Athletics to win the World Series after losing one the previous year.http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article42181098.html Royals are World Series champs Andy McCullough November 1, 2015 The Kansas City Star November 14, 2015 November 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151113074317/http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article42181098.html live
Years later, the two cities developed an inter conference rivalry in the National Football League. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, 31–20, in 2020.Randhawa Manny The last KC-SF championship battle was epic https://www.mlb.com/news/most-recent-kansas-city-san-francisco-championship-battle MLB.com 23 November 2023 en 20 January 2020 November 23, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231123011619/https://www.mlb.com/news/most-recent-kansas-city-san-francisco-championship-battle live Four years later, the Chiefs would again best the 49ers in an OT-thriller in Super Bowl LVIII.
With the Giants being the first visiting team to win Game 7 since 1979 (the home team having a 9–0 record in the interim), this began a streak of visiting teams winning Game 7 of the World Series, next with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, the Houston Astros in 2017, the Washington Nationals in 2019, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 all winning on the road.https://www.mlb.com/news/history-of-world-series-game-7-c39984458 A brief history: Here's every World Series Gm 7 October 31, 2019 MLB.com April 23, 2020 April 25, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200425073849/https://www.mlb.com/news/history-of-world-series-game-7-c39984458 live
This was the last World Series to feature two wild card teams until the 2023 World Series.
This would be the final World Series where Bud Selig was the commissioner of baseball. Selig would step down in January 2015 and was replaced by current commissioner Rob Manfred.
Notes
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See also
2014 Japan Series
2014 Korean Series
Golden pitch
References
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External links
KoCyhXxDoPA 2014 World Series Game 7 (Giants vs. Royals)
2014
Madison Bumgarner's Epic World Series Finish Deserves a Deep Rewind May 18, 2018 SB Nation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY6b0pH_4LQ&list=PLUXSZMIiUfFT6WwhB2Sk2gqz7agE9FlLg&index=3 YouTube
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