By Michael Kaplan ’13, Staff Writer

If anyone had picked the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers to go head-to-head in the 2010 MLB World Series, people would have called them crazy.  Even after the two teams clinched playoff spots with division titles, a Rangers-Giants World Series still seemed like a long shot. Both teams were able to claim victory in their respective Divisional Series. When the National and American League Championship series began, the Rangers lined up against the defending champs, the New York Yankees, while the Giants faced off against the Philadelphia Phillies and their burgeoning National League dynasty. Picking both underdogs to face each other in the Fall Classic would have seemed like a folly.

And yet, there they were, facing each other wide-eyed last week on the Series’ opening night in San Fran. Both teams were put to the test in their respective Division Series—Tampa Bay took Texas to a fifth game while Atlanta gave San Francisco a tough four game fight. The Braves had no answer to San Francisco’s starters Jonathan Sanchez and Tim Lincecum. Cliff Lee was untouchable, winning two against the Rays’ ace David Price, propelling the Rangers to their first postseason series victory ever.

The Giants’ clinched an improbable run to the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, when they claimed victory of the NL West for the first time since 2003. After edging the Wild Card Braves and fighting past the Phillies, San Francisco is back in World Series for the first time since Barry Bonds and company came within six outs of the title in Game 6 of the 2002 series against Angels.  The Giants eventually lost a heartbreaking Game 7 in that series. Entering the World Series this year, they were winless since moving west, despite rosters previously laden with hall of famers like Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry. After youngster Buster Posey’s call up from the minors, Cody Ross’ pickup from Waivers and Brian Wilson’s emergence as a dominant closing pitcher, San Francisco proved gradually throughout the season that they weren’t to be shrugged off just because of their lack of conventional big names.

It is clear that the Giants’ have escaped the shadow of the Barry Bonds era, although he was back at the ballpark to throw the ceremonial first pitch of Game 3 in the National League Championship Series.  The crowd stood and cheered, reverting to the “Bar-ree” chant like an old habit, but there was a game to be played and won.  After all his appearances at AT&T Ballpark, this time Bonds was not the primary focus.  It has taken years, but the Giants have finally transformed from a team solely known for their slugger, Bonds, to team with a deep, powerful, and tenacious lineup, ready to finally take home a World series title.

The Texas Rangers defied history with their most recent postseason performance.  In their three previous playoff performances, the Rangers were cleaned out by the Yankees in three straight games in the Division series. Making the playoffs was not even the central focus of the franchise just a few months ago, when over the summer Texas battled bankruptcy issues.  While the Yankees boast a hefty $200 million payroll in their annual quest to be the best team money can buy, the Rangers’ payroll is in comparison a paltry $50 million. Going into the playoffs, Texas was the only current major league franchise yet to win a playoff series.  The team has never even won a home playoff game.  Defying expectations, Texas beat Tampa Bay, one of the best teams in baseball, in five games.  Moving on to play the Yankees, Texas blew a lead late at home in ALCS opener, but won Game 2 at the Rangers Ballpark to snap a 10-game postseason losing streak against New York. The Rangers clinched their first World Series berth with a Game 6 victory at home in front of a raucous crowd of 51,404. To make the win even sweeter, the last out came on a called strike that left their former $252-Million franchise player, Alex Rodriguez, frozen in the box.

Despite bumps along the way, the Rangers finally felt good.  Josh Hamilton, whose performance had proven vital throughout the postseason, almost lost his career due to a past addiction to cocaine and alcohol. The Texas manager, Ron Washington, nearly lost his job after testing positive for cocaine, but like Hamilton, was given a second chance.  Fittingly, to rejoice after their victory in the locker room, the Rangers celebrated under a sweet shower of soda pop and ginger ale to mark their first ALCS win in the history of the franchise.

So, yes, nobody really expected these two to be fighting for the chance to climb atop baseball’s Mount Olympus, but they were anyway. As you all know by now, San Francisco won the Series, ending a 56-year drought bettered (or “worsened”, if you will) only by the futile Indians and Cubs. The win was one of surprise and glee for the city and team, but in the end, who came out on top did not matter quite as much as usual this year. This World Series was one that was authentically baseball: two underdogs seemingly without a hope, climbing their way to the biggest stage of all.