The San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers fans will undoubtedly remember the 2010 World Series. Even though the Rangers lost this series in five games, this was their first World Series appearance. This would be their first World Series championship for San Francisco since 1954. The Giants appeared in the WS in 1962, 1989, and 2002 but failed to reach the final hump. This is their first championship since relocating from New York to San Francisco.
The Giants were managed by Bruce Bochy, who won two more championships. Bochy became the Texas Rangers manager in 2023 and is currently in the World Series with his new squad. Ron Washington managed the Rangers, bringing them to back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011. These teams finished the regular season with the same record at 90-72, on top of their respective divisions. Furthermore, these two teams were eliminated from the 2009 Championship Series round and found a way to bounce back in 2010. San Francisco would have home-field advantage in the 2010 World Series after the NL defeated the AL in the All-Star Game 3-1.
SF Postseason Journey
San Francisco went on to face the Atlanta Braves in the 2010 NLDS. In the end, San Francisco would defeat the Braves in four games, each decided by one run. The Giants would advance to take on the Philadelphia Phillies, the team that eliminated them from the previous year’s postseason. San Francisco was a massive underdog against a team that made the WS just a year before. During game six of the 2010 NLCS, the Giants held a 3-2 series lead. Philadelphia led early on 2-0, but San Francisco’s offense was able to tie the game up. Juan Uribe crushed a ball that barely cleared the wall to give the Giants a 3-2 lead, eventually winning. NLCS MVP Cody Ross collected seven hits, three home runs, and five runs batted in.
TX Postseason Journey
Texas faced the best team in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays, who pulled off 96 wins during the regular season. The Rangers would take the first two games at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay went to take games three and four in Texas. The ballgame was tied at one apiece at the end of three innings during game five. However, the Rangers tacked on four runs, defeating a highly anticipated Rays team 5-1. This was the first playoff series the Texas Rangers have won in their franchise’s history. Texas was also the last team in the MLB to win a playoff series. During game one of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, the Rangers held a 5-0 lead. New York would save time showing off their firepower. The Yankees overcame the 5-0 deficit to win game one 6-5.
The Rangers won games two, three, and four with ease. They combined 25 runs in those three games compared to the Yankees’ five runs. New York would bounce back in game five, giving the Rangers a 3-2 series lead. Despite all the pressure surrounding this franchise, Texas would close it out in game six, overcoming the Yankees 6-1 to advance to the 2010 World Series, their first-ever appearance. Josh Hamilton was awarded ALCS MVP after seven hits, four of which were home runs, and seven runs batted in.
Giants Go Off in World Series
San Francisco looked dominant in the first two games of the 2010 World Series. This team would combine for 20 runs in two games, taking game one 11-7 and play two 9-0. Texas held a 4-0 lead for most of game three. The Giants would score a run in the eighth and ninth innings, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the big lead. Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner pitched eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits in a 4-0 game-four victory. Now down 3-1, the Rangers needed a win at home before the series shifted back to San Francisco, or the Giants would be named champions. Giants shortstop Édgar Rentería blasted a three-run home run during the top of the seventh inning of game six. Texas responded by only scoring one run.
World Series MVP & Future Hall of Fame Players
Rentería won the 2010 World Series MVP. In 17 at-bats, Édgar had seven hits, two home runs, and six batted in, even with the San Francisco Giants winning an additional two World Series championships in 2012 and 2014. This team does not feature any player currently in the Hall of Fame. Upon the conclusion of the World Series, only Vladimir Guerrero of the Rangers is a Hall of Famer.
Main Photo Credits: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
