30 greatest World Series in MLB history

22. San Francisco Giants vs. Kansas City Royals, 2014

2014 marked the first time that the Kansas City Royals had made the playoffs in 19 years.

The Royals steamrolled through the postseason after winning the American League Wild Card Game, not losing a game on their way to the World Series. The San Francisco Giants reached the Fall Classic as a wild card team as well, losing just two games along the way.

The two teams began the series by exchanging blowouts in Games 1 and 2. Kansas City used five pitchers to hold on for a 3-2 victory in Game 3, but the Giants won the following two contests to send the Royals to the brink of elimination. Kansas City exploded for 10 runs and tossed a six-hit shutout in Game 6, setting up a decisive Game 7.

San Francisco jumped ahead in the top of the second with two runs scored off of sacrifice flies, but the Royals scored two runs of their own to even the game up in the bottom half of the inning. The Giants would take the lead for good on a Mike Morse RBI single in the fourth inning. Madison Bumgarner entered the game in relief in the bottom of the fifth, giving up no runs and two hits during the final five innings.

Bumbgarner was phenomenal for the Giants throughout the series, winning MVP honors after posting a 2-0 record, picking up a save and allowing just one run in 21 innings. He finished the postseason with a 4-1 record, 45 strikeouts and 1.04 ERA.

Next: 21. Washington Senators vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1925