San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner earned the World Series MVP after he threw nearly five perfect innings Wednesday, leading the Giants to a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals and their third title in five years.
The performance capped off a special October for the 25-year-old lefty.
"I wasn't thinking about innings or pitch count. I was just thinking about getting outs, getting outs, until I couldn't get them anymore and we needed someone else," Bumgarner said after the game.
Giants Fans Celebrate World Series Title With Couch Fires Madison Bumgarner Saves the Giants Giants Win World Series With Game 7 Victory Over RoyalsHere's five things to know about Bumgarner:
1. Bumgarner's Big Time October
Bumgarner went 4-1 with an incredible 1.03 ERA in the postseason. He threw two shutouts in October, tossed a record 52 2-3 innings and won the World Series and NL Championship Series MVPs.
His overall World Series stats are mind-boggling: 4-0, a save and a 0.25 ERA. Oh, and three championship rings.
2. Bumgarner Was Apparently Always This Awesome
Bumgarner, who graduated from South Caldwell High in Hudson, North Carolina, finished his prep school career by hitting a walk-off, two-run, inside-the-park home run to win a state title, according to the Giants. He was also named Gatorade's North Carolina Player of the Year.
3. His Nickname Is 'MadBum'
Madison Bumgarner. Get it?
4. He Married His High School Sweetheart
Bumgarner married Ali Saunders in 2010. He once gave her a cow as a gift and the two usually stay in North Carolina during the off-season, his mother told the Hickory Record last year.
5. He's Serious All the Time
Just look at the photos. Ben Walker with The Associated Press wrote that "He shows virtually no emotion on the mound, blowing his nose as if no one is watching, and seems to be the only person unimpressed by what he's done."
"What a warrior he is, and truly incredible what he did throughout the postseason," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his ace. "I just told him I just can't believe what he accomplished through all this. He's such a humble guy, and we rode him pretty good."