Sports Illustrated has named San Fransisco Giants left hander Madison Bumgarner the 2014 Sportsman of the Year.
Bumgarner was simply spectacular in the 2014 baseball playoffs, leading the Giants to their 3rd World Series Championship since 2010.
The World Series Most Valuable Player, Bumgarner came on to pitch five scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 just two days after his Game 5 victory over the Kansas City Royals at A T & T Park in San Francisco.
In the 2014 playoffs Bumgarner pitched 52 2/3 innings, allowing just 6 earned runs, striking out 45 batters with a ERA of 1.03.
Madison Bumgarner was born on August 1, 1989, in Hudson, North Carolina.
Madison attended South Caldwell High School in Hudson and was drafted by the Giants with the 10th pick in the 1st round of the 2007 Amateur Player Draft.
Madison made his big league debut on September 8, 2008 at the age of 20.
In six years with the Giants the left handed pitcher is 67-48, with a 3.06 era in 14 starts.
In 2014 Bumgarner was the Giants starter on Opening Day and went on to compile a 18-10 record with a 2.98 era, 219 strikeouts and a career best 1.090 WHIP.
Madison is the first ever San Francisco Giants player to be honored as the SI Sportsman of the Year, and the 14th baseball player (2004 Boston Red Sox make 15 baseball winners) to be honored as the SI Sportsman of the Year, and the first since Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 2009.
The very first SI baseball Sportsman of the Year was Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Johnny Podres in 1955.
SI cover from @SInow on Twitter.
