The San Francisco Giants brought deserved attention to past Orioles greats

Oct. 30, 2012

The San Francisco Giants are World Series champions for the second time in three years after sweeping the Detroit Tigers. On their way to hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy, the Giants brought attention to some of Baltimore's greatest teams through their pitchers' efforts both on the mound and at the plate.

Giants pitchers tossed consecutive shutouts in games two and three of the World Series, both 2-0 victories, becoming the first staff to do so in the Fall Classic since the 1966 Orioles. The '66 Orioles did the Giants one better by hurling three consecutive shutouts in a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jim Palmer got the shutout streak started in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series with a complete-game, four-hit effort against Sandy Koufax. The Orioles won 6-0. Wally Bunker and Dave McNally followed Palmer's lead with complete-game shutouts of their own, both 1-0 wins, in Game 3 and Game 4, respectively. In the clincher, McNally rediscovered the control he lacked in Game 1, when he walked five batters in two innings of work, and pinned Don Drysdale with his second loss of the series. Overall, the Birds compiled a 0.50 ERA.

Giants pitchers supported their own cause in the NLCS by getting work done at the plate. Three different Giants starters recorded hits against the Cardinals - Ryan Vogelsong doubled in Game 2; Matt Cain singled in Game 3 and had an RBI single in Game 7; and Barry Zito bunted for a single in Game 5. Prior to the Giants, the 1970 Orioles were the last team to have three starters get hits in a league championship series. Once again, the O's did the Giants one - or more - better.

Mike Cuellar got things started for the Orioles' hitting pitchers with a grand slam in Game 1 of the 1970 ALCS, a 10-6 O's victory. Dave McNally followed that up with two hits, an RBI single and a double, in Game 2, an 11-3 O's victory. Not to be outdone, Jim Palmer had an RBI double in Game 3, a 6-1 O's victory that earned the sweep. Pitcher Dick Hall complemented the slugging starters with a 1-for-2 effort at the plate in Game 1.

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