2002 World Series

The 2002 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th edition of the World Series and featured a best-of-seven playoff between the American League champion Anaheim Angels and the National League champion San Francisco Giants. The Angels won the series, four games to three, earning their first and only World Series championship up to that point. This victory marked the first professional sports championship ever won by a team based in Anaheim.

The series took place from October 19 to October 27, 2002, with games held at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco and Edison International Field of Anaheim in Anaheim. It was notable for being the first World Series since 1995 to feature two wild card teams. The Angels, who finished second in the AL West division, defeated the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins to reach the World Series. The Giants, also finishing second in the NL West division, beat the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals to advance.

The 2002 World Series was the fourth to feature two teams from California. It included many exciting moments, such as late-inning comebacks and impressive home runs. The Angels overcame a big deficit in Game six to keep their hopes alive, and ultimately won Game seven to claim the title. Troy Glaus was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for his important contributions during the series.

Background

See also: 2002 Major League Baseball postseason

This was the fourth World Series played between two teams from California. It was also the last World Series involving two teams from the same state until today. The managers of the two teams, Mike Scioscia of the Angels and Dusty Baker of the Giants, were teammates on the same team that won a World Series before.

San Francisco Giants

Main articles: 2002 San Francisco Giants season and Curse of Coogan's Bluff

The Giants had a long history of not winning since moving to San Francisco in 1958. They had been to the World Series twice but lost both times. In 2002, under manager Dusty Baker, the Giants finished the regular season with a record of 95–66 and won the National League wild card. They then went on to defeat the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach the World Series for the 17th time.

Anaheim Angels

Main article: 2002 Anaheim Angels season

The Angels had never been to the World Series before 2002. They had come close several times but always fell short. In 2002, under manager Mike Scioscia, the Angels finished the regular season with a record of 99–63 and won the American League wild card. They then defeated the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Summary

The 2002 World Series was the big championship game for baseball that year. The Anaheim Angels played against the San Francisco Giants. The Angels won the series by winning four games out of seven. This was the first time a team from Anaheim had ever won a big championship in professional sports.

Matchups

The 2002 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 2002 season. It was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League champion Anaheim Angels and the National League champion San Francisco Giants. The Angels won the series four games to three, securing their first and only World Series championship. This victory marked the first professional sports championship for any team based in Anaheim.

The series featured several exciting games. In Game 1, the Giants took an early lead but the Angels fought back. Game 2 was a high-scoring back-and-forth battle. Game 3 saw the Angels win in a home game, with Barry Bonds hitting a home run in his first three World Series appearances. Game 4 was close, with the Giants tying the series. Game 5 was a big win for the Giants. The series turned in Game 6, where the Angels made a big comeback. Finally, in Game 7, the Angels secured their historic win with a strong performance from their pitchers.

Composite box

2002 World Series (4–3): Anaheim Angels (A.L.) over San Francisco Giants (N.L__)

The Anaheim Angels and the San Francisco Giants played in the 2002 World Series. The Angels won the series, winning four games while the Giants won three. Together, both teams scored 85 runs, which was the most ever in a World Series. This victory was the first time a team from Anaheim had ever won a big championship in professional sports.

Series overview and aftermath

The 2002 World Series was a big baseball game between two teams: the Anaheim Angels and the San Francisco Giants. The Angels won, marking their first championship and the first time a team from Anaheim had ever won a big sports title.

This series had some rule changes after it. Because of an incident in one of the games, batboys and batgirls had to be at least 14 years old from then on. The Angels started a very successful time in their team history after this win. They made it to the playoffs many times in the next few years.

The Giants, however, felt they had bad luck after losing this series. Their manager, Dusty Baker, left the team after the series to manage another team. Some players also left the Giants that year. The Giants would eventually win championships in later years, but not in 2002.

Radio and television

Fox’s broadcast of the 2002 World Series was the first time the event was shown in high-definition.

Jon Miller, who announced the World Series for ESPN Radio, has been the main announcer for the San Francisco Giants since a certain season. Interestingly, KNBR, the Giants’ main radio station, was also an ESPN Radio station in San Francisco. This World Series would be the only one announced by Rory Markas, the Angels’ main announcer, before he passed away from a heart attack in January 2010.