Twelve Ways The ’12 Giants Made History

Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Marco Scutaro exulting in a cinematic downpour as the Giants clinched the pennant. A viral #RallyZito hashtag that united Giants fans worldwide. Buster Posey embracing his skipper, then handing him the game ball after the final out of the World Series.

There have been many unforgettable moments in the Giants’ postseason journey this year. While it would take much longer to describe each of them in depth, here are twelve ways the team made history, from the first at-bat of the NLDS to the last pitch of the World Series:

1. For the first time in postseason history, all teams played a full five games in the Division Series. (h/t Matt Eddy)
2. Buster Posey is just the second catcher in LDS history with a grand slam, following Eddie Perez in the 1998 NLDS. (h/t ESPN Stats & Info)
3. The Giants and Cardinals became the first back-to-back World Series winners to meet in a Championship Series the following year.
4. In Game 1 of the NLCS, Lance Lynn and Madison Bumgarner lasted just 3.2 innings. No two starters have recorded such brief outings in a single game of Championship Series history. (h/t Joe Stiglich)
5. Both Chris Carpenter and Ryan Vogelsong doubled in Game 2 of the NLCS, marking the first time two starters have recorded extra-base hits in the same postseason game. (h/t Jayson Stark)
6. Marco Scutaro had six multi-hit games in the NLCS, the most in LCS history. However, the record for the longest streak of multi-hit games in the LCS belongs to Kevin Youkilis, with six consecutive performances in the 2007 ALCS. (h/t Torture Cast)
7. Buster Posey arrived to the World Series as the only Giant armed with more than 12 home runs. Post-expansion, there have been only four teams boasting a single player (or less) with 12+ home runs—most recently, the 1987 St. Louis Cardinals. (h/t James Smyth)
8. Cy Young Award holders Barry Zito and Justin Verlander pitched the fourth such match-up in World Series history. (h/t ESPN Stats & Info)
9. Against the Giants’ staff, the Tigers managed to bat just .159, the lowest team average since the 1969 Mets held the Orioles to a .146 average. In five games, the Mets out-hit the Orioles 35-23 and out-scored them 15-9. By contrast, the Giants out-hit the Tigers 32-20 and out-scored them 16-6. (h/t MLB Stat of the Day)
10. Pablo Sandoval became the fifth player in MLB history with three home runs in a World Series game, joining the company of notable sluggers like Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Albert Pujols.
11. The 2012 World Series was the first between the NL West and AL Central. (h/t Hank Schulman)
12. The Giants are the only team to play six elimination games and come back to win not only the pennant, but the championship.

What moment or milestone encompasses the 2012 postseason for you?