1974 Topps Style 2014 World Series Champs

Once again this year I tried to capture this season's Championship Series using the format of vintage Topps cards. In 2013, I began with a 1960 Topps World Series style card for Game 1and continued on through 1966. This year I picked up where I left off with the 1967 Topps World Series style card for Game 1 and ending with this 1974 style card. The 1967 - 1970 cards originally used black and white photos. I chose aesthetics over authenticity.

This was an exciting series to watch. The Series went seven games with the Giant winning 4 games to 3. The Royals skipped the post season for 28 years then came within 90 feet of tying up game 7 in 2014.

In Game 1 Hunter Pence homered in the 1st, doubled in the 4th, scored twice and had 2 RBIs. In all the Giants had 11 hits by 8 different players as they took an early lead in the series. 

Giants 7

Royals 1

Giants lead series 1-0

The Royals stormed back in Game 2. Omar Infante capped a 5-run 6th inning with a 2-run homer off Hunter Strickland. The frustrated Strickland then stared down Salvador Perez and exchanged pleasantries causing the Royals bench to momentarily clear.  Cooler heads prevailed and the game continued without incident.

Giants 2

Royals 7

Series even 1-1

In game 3 it was the pitching that made news. Specifically relief pitching. The Royal bullpen was awesome, quieting the Giants prolific bats. I'd write more about the game but with the newspaper format of the 1969 Topps card, it hardly seems necessary.

Royals 3

Giants 2

Royals lead series 2-1

The Giants bats were back with a vengeance in Game 4. 11 different players shared 16 hits including relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit who also got the win. Joe Panik had 2 doubles and a sac-bunt. He also scored twice and had 2 RBIs. The Royals had 12 hits but were held scoreless after the 3rd inning.

Royals 4

Giants 11

Series even 2-2

Maddy Bum got his second World Series win in style, a complete-game shutout. He struck out 8 Royals giving up only 4 hits and no walks.

Royals 0

Giants 5

Giants lead the series 3-2

After giving their bullpen the night off in game 5, the Giants relievers were called into action in just the 2nd inning of Game 6. The Royals exploded for 10 runs after getting shut out in the last game. Mike Moustakas's 7th inning blast ended a 36 inning home run drought. The longest in World Series play since 1945. The victim once again was Hunter Strickland. Strickland had only 7 inning of regular season MLB experience. In the 2014 post season he gave up 6 homers in just 8 1/3 innings. 

Giants 0

Royals 10

Series even 3-3

With 2 days rest after his complete game shutout in Game 5, Madison Bumgarner took the mound for the final 5 inning of Game 7. Once again he held the Royals scoreless, earning the save and the World Series MVP. This game also had the first overturned call in World Series play.  Eric Hosmer was ruled out at 1st in a brilliant double play. Initially the umpire called him safe but manager Bruce Bochy successfully challenged the call. 

Giants 3

Royals 2

Giants win the series 4-3

1973 Topps Style 2014 World Series Game 7

The Giants beat the Royals 3-2 in Game 7 of the World Series last night.  It was an exciting finish to a great World Series. You might even say a great post-season. Both teams were wildcards and had to overcome a single-elimination Wildcard Game, the Divisional Series and the Championship Series just to get here. 

For this card, I could have gone so many different ways. The most obvious choice would be the MVP Madison Bumgarner who came in on relief after pitching a complete-game shutout in Game 5. He ended up pitching 5 more shutout innings and got the Save after earning the Win in both Game 1 and Game 5.

Another choice could have been the "Kung Fu Panda" Pablo Sandoval. In Game 7 he was on base in every plate appearance. He had 2 singles, a double and was hit by a pitch. He scored 2 of the Giants 3 runs and even caught the last out of the series. A foul pop-up with a the tying run on 3rd.

Instead I went with the first call ever to be overturned in the World Series. In the bottom of the 4th Eric Hosmer drove the ball up the middle which was stopped by a diving Joe Panik, who turned out to be "Joe Cool". Panik flipped the ball out of his glove to shortstop Brandon Crawford who turned the double play attempt to Brandon Belt. Hosmer dove into first and was called safe. The Giants challenged the call and it was overturned. After seeing the relay from several angles, it was the right call. But the closeness of this call was really indicative of how close this series was.

1972 Topps Style 2014 World Series Game 6

In Game 6 the Giants were shelled by the Royals 10-0 forcing a Game 7 in Kansas City. In the 2nd inning the Royals scored 7 runs on 5 singles and 2 doubles driving both the starter, Jake Peavy and relief pitcher, Yusmeiro Petit out of the game.

Mike Moustakas went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. His homer in the 7th ended the longest homerless streak in World Series play since 1945. He homered off Hunter Strickland who also gave up the last World Series homerun 36 innings earlier in the 6th inning of Game 2. This was Strickland's 6th post season homer in just 8 1/3 innings.

Yordano Ventura paid tribute to his AA teammate and friend Oscar Taveras who died in an auto accident . He sharpied RIP O.T. #18 on his cap, glove and shoes. He then went out and pitched 7 solid innings holding the Giants scoreless.

1971 Topps Style 2014 World Series Game 5

Madison Bumgarner dominated the Royals in Game 5. Kansas City was held to only 4 hits, 1 each in the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th. Not once were the hitters allowed to advance nor did he give up a single base on balls. The Giants offense continued to take what they were given. The had 12 hits by 8 different players. Only one of which was of the extra base variety. With the series returning to Kansas City down 3 games to 2, the Royals will have their hands full if the continue to hit on all cylinders.

1970 Topps Style 2014 World Series Game 4

San Francisco scored 11 runs to knot the series at 2 games each. 11 different Giants players had hits last night.  Joe Panik had a big game for the home team with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored and a sacrifice bunt.