There was something different about this year’s World Series game – the teams. When it came to the final game we didn’t see the New York Yankees or Philadelphia Phillies, teams who had dominated the series over the last few years. Instead we were watching teams not seen before in the end of the season classic. The San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers are not teams people would consider powerhouse’s and certainly not expected to see still playing baseball in October. But 2010 would be their year to make a name for themselves and show baseball fans what they are made of.
Both the Giants and the Rangers are new comers to the classic game. The Rangers making their first appearance since the team was formed some 50 years ago, and the Giants, while making it the World Series four times since 1958 (when they moved to San Francisco), and had not won the game since 1954 when they were still known as the New York Giants.
Together the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants eliminated the 2009 finalists, the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies (the Phillies had also won the World Series) the Rangers win over the Yankees gave the team its first World Series appearance. Their last post season appearance was in 1999, making the team well over due for an appearance and a claim to fame.
There is one thing that became apparent during this year’s World Series, new coverage. It was, for the most part, those who were fans of the teams that knew what was happening, the game did not take the urgency as games past when the “usual” teams played in the series. Fairness of the game comes into play here, a team that deserves the same coverage and air time, not only in their hometowns, but to baseball fans in general.
This year was proof of the old saying, “Any team can win, on any given day.” What will next year have in store for these teams? We can’t say, but with a taste of victory and glory they are sure to keep the fall classic in the forefront of their minds and work to play again.
