12 Best Photos from the 2012 World Series

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The San Francisco Giants just put another season in the books.

With their four-game World Series sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the Giants completed one of the most improbable backwards runs in recent history.

After being down 0-2 against the Cincinnati Reds, they managed to come back for a three-game streak to win their way to the National League Championship Series.

The Giants then had to face a team that had seen its own October magic already, the St. Louis Cardinals. After being down 3-1 in the series, the Giants again won three straight to take the series and advance to their second World Series in three years.

From baseballs hit three times to Barry Zito flashing back to the early 1990s, everything the Giants did worked.

The improbable NLCS hero Marco Scutaro carried them there, and the pitching—both starting and relief—carried them to yet another World Series title.

1. Verlander's Collapse

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When Justin Verlander, arguably the best starting pitcher in the game, took the field for Game 1 of the World Series, he had no idea what was to come.

The unhittable pitcher was shelled over four innings. On only six hits, he surrendered five earned runs.

While the hit total looks good for Verlander, the fact that he threw 98 pitches in only four innings really explains his Game 1 World Series start better than anything.

The renewed debates about his inability to come through in big games will be the norm for the Tigers' offseason.

2. Sandoval Homers Again and Again and Again

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The Panda has punch.

Pablo Sandoval put on an amazing aerial show during Game 1 of the 2012 World Series.

His three-home-run game put him in elite company with the likes of Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols.

Prior to facing the Giants, Verlander had surrendered only two runs in three 2012 postseason starts.

It also worked to start his team's World Series run, giving them a 1-0 series lead that would eventually guide them to another title.

3. Fielder Goes Home

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The never-was run that had Tigers fans scratching their heads during Game 2 was the source of a bit of drama.

The overaggressive call by third base coach Gene Lamont to send Prince Fielder home on a Delmon Young double left many scratching their heads—including Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

Lamont told reporters following the game that he regretted the decision to send Fielder and that if he had it to do over he would have held him at third base.

The play presumably cost the Tigers a shot at what could have been their first "big" inning in the series.

4. The Bunt That Refused to Go Foul

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This was yet another play that showed the baseball gods were smiling on the Giants in 2012.

Miguel Cabrera and catcher Gerald Laird stare intently at this bunt off of the bat of Gregor Blanco waiting for it to roll foul.

It still hasn't.

It may not seem like a big play, but the photo definitely captures a key moment from the game.

5. Vogelsong Keeps Rolling

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This expression was pretty common during Game 3 as Ryan Vogelsong carried the Giants to a 3-0 series lead.

Vogelsong continued his amazing postseason run with a 5.2-inning performance in which he surrendered no runs on five hits.

After he bounced around the minor leagues and pitched in Japan, no one would have thought that the Giants couldn't have won without Ryan Vogelsong. He has worked hard to make sure that was exactly the case.

Whether against the Reds, Cardinals or Tigers, Vogelsong and Barry Zito played a much larger role in the 2012 postseason than anyone could have envisioned.

6. Tim Lincecum in Relief

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Tim Lincecum was as valuable in relief in the World Series as he was starting in 2010 for the Giants.

Lincecum was absolutely dominant as a reliever, giving up no hits and no runs in 4.2 innings. He did surrender a walk, but who's counting?

Lincecum, who struggled in 2012, was overdue to shine once again. He has the capability to be the shutdown pitcher that he was in 2010 and has shown it repeatedly in relief.

7. The Sergio Romo Scream-Dance

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Sergio Romo is as animated as any closer in baseball. When the Giants clinched the NLCS, his reaction on the mound was one for the ages.

Whether he's stomping around the mound or pumping his fists over and over, his emotion can clearly be intimidating to opposing hitters.

In nine postseason games in 2012, Romo  pitched 10.2 innings and gave up only one run on four hits. His success was a major key in the Giants' postseason roller coaster ride.

That scream, reminiscent of Chris Carpenter in the 2012 postseason, makes him the poster child for this Giants team. Well, next to Sandoval that is.

8. Sandoval-Cain Acrobatics

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Sandoval and Matt Cain's near-collision was quite the acrobatic show as they attempted to field a bunt by Quintin Berry that advanced Austin Jackson to second base.

This was also the point when the 2012 World Series finally became a baseball game instead of a beating.

In the third inning of Game 4, this was the last play before Miguel Cabrera jacked a ball into the right-field seats and gave the Tigers their first lead of the World Series.

Prior to this inning, the Giants had not trailed in 56 consecutive postseason innings.

9. Octavio Dotel Ks Buster Posey

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Octavio Dotel, who pitched for the Cardinals in the 2011 World Series, lets his emotions show as he strikes out Buster Posey in the eighth to keep the Tigers alive—even if only for a moment.

Dotel pushed through the middle of the Giants lineup, then Jeremy Affeldt mowed through the middle of the Tigers lineup.

With a tie going into the ninth inning, the game was poised to get interesting.

10. The Double That Sealed the Deal

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Ryan Theriot is pumped after Marco Scutaro drove him across the plate with a 10th-inning two-out double.

The double broke the tie and put the Giants within three outs of victory.

Given his role in getting the Giants to the title, it was only fitting that Scutaro be the one to drive in the game-winning run. An unlikely hero, Scutaro walked away with the NLCS MVP award.

His 10th-inning hit will be forever embedded in the memory of Giants fans.

11. The Ceremonial Dogpile

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This photo captures the true essence of baseball. Every year we see one just like it, but it captures the moment when a roster full of men playing a boy's game realize their lifelong dreams.

When Sergio Romo threw his last pitch of the season and it blew by Miguel Cabrera, Sandoval had already cleared the steps.

The obligatory championship dog pile was in full effect before Romo stopped bouncing.

The Giants punched out the Tigers in short order Sunday night, sweeping them in four games and closing out the 2012 World Series on the road.

12. Another Baseball Season in the Books

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Buster Posey, who will likely be the National League MVP for 2012, is embraced by Giants manager Bruce Bochy in celebration of an amazing season and an even more amazing October run. This picture says it all.

The 2012 Giants are a perfect example of why playoff baseball is so unpredictable.

Few predicted them to get to the World Series and even fewer gave them a hope to win it all against the Tigers.

They defied the odds and made the improbable look easy.

To sweep the Tigers with their lights out pitching and explosive offense is a perfect testament to why the San Francisco Giants are the 2012 World Series champions.