The 2012 World Series and the 5 Most One-Sided Fall Classics of All Time

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The Giants claimed their second World Series title in three years on Sunday night, completing a sweep of the Tigers in what was one of the most one-sided World Series of all time.

After battling through six elimination games in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Giants took care of business when it mattered most and sent the Tigers packing in four games.

Here is a look at the five most one-sided Fall Classics of all time, and where the 2012 Giants rank among them.

5. 1989

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Results

Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants (4-0)

 

Summary

The 1989 World Series will always be best remembered for the Loma Prieta earthquake that occurred just as Game 3 of the series was beginning. 

The A's dominated the first two games of the series, with Dave Stewart throwing a complete game shutout in Game 1 and Terry Steinbach's three-run home run paving the way for a 5-1 victory in Game 2.

The earthquake resulted in a 10-day layoff before play was resumed, and offense took control of the series from there as the A's won 13-7 and 9-6 in to complete the sweep and close things out. 

Dave Stewart took home MVP honors in winning his two starts, and the Giants were held to just a .209 average as a team.

4. 2007

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Results

Boston Red Sox over Colorado Rockies (4-0)

 

Summary

The 2007 Rockies appeared to be a team of destiny, as they closed out the season winning 14 of their last 15 games to earn the NL Wild Card, then swept the Phillies and Diamondbacks to advance to their first World Series in franchise history.

However, they ran into a buzz-saw in the fall classic, as the Red Sox annihilated them 13-1 in Game 1 and never looked back from there. 

In total, the Red Sox outscored the Rockies 29-10 in the series sweep, as they hit a ridiculous .333/.411/.525 as a team over the four-game stretch.

3. 1963

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Results

Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees (4-0)

 

Summary

Led by Sandy Koufax, the Dodgers allowed just four runs to the Yankees in the 1963 series, but a closer look at the game's shows just how dominant they were.

Koufax threw Game 1, and aside from a meaningless two-run home run to Tom Tresh in the bottom of the eighth, he allowed just five hits in a complete-game victory as the Dodgers won 5-2.

The Yankees again struck for a pointless run in Game 2, as Elston Howard tallied an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to avoid the shutout before the Dodgers finished out a 4-1 victory.

Don Drysdale threw a gem in Game 3, allowing just three hits and striking out nine in a shutout, and Koufax out-dueled Whitey Ford for a 2-1 win in Game 4. 

2. 2012

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Results

San Francisco Giants over Detroit Tigers (4-0)

 

Summary

The Giants managed to overcome six elimination games to reach the World Series. That made their dominance of the Tigers that much more shocking, as they handled a team that swept the Yankees in the ALCS.

They got to ace Justin Verlander in Game 1, striking for five runs and chasing arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball after just four innings. Pablo Sandoval homered three times (two off of Verlander), and the Giants came away with an 8-3 victory.

From there, starters Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong led the way for shutouts in Game 2 and 3 as the Tigers managed just seven hits in the middle games of the series.

It took extra innings for the Giants to win Game 4 and clinch the series, with Marco Scutaro delivering the eventual game-winning hit in the top of the 10th, but it remained a dominant performance from start to finish. 

1. 1966

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Result

Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-0)

 

Summary

Game 1 of the 1966 World Series got off to an odd start, as staff aces Dave McNally and Don Dyrsdale were both pulled in just their third inning of work after ineffective starts.

Moe Drabowsky relieved McNally for the Orioles and allowed just one hit while striking out 11 over the final 6.2 innings of the game as the Orioles came away with a 5-2 victory.

From there on, it was all Orioles as Jim Palmer, Wally Bunker and McNally each threw complete-game shutouts over the next three games to complete the series sweep in impressive fashion.

The Dodgers were limited to just a .142 batting average for the series, and while the Orioles weren't much better at .200, they got more than enough offense to support their staff.