Madison Bumgarner named 2014 World Series MVP

Madison Bumgarner was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 World Series after the Giants defeated the Royals, 3-2, in Game 7 on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old left-hander punctuated his Fall Classic with five scoreless innings in relief in Game 7 on just two days rest, including retiring 13 batters in a row at one point.

Bumgarner allowed only one run in 21 innings in his three games pitched in the series, including two starts; he won both starts and earned the save in Game 7. He pitched a shutout in his final start of 2014 in Game 5 in San Francisco. It was the first shutout in the World Series since Josh Beckett for the Marlins in Game 6 in 2003 against the Yankees.

This season, Bumgarner established himself as arguably one of the greatest World Series pitchers in baseball history. The 25-year-old left-hander has given up just one run in five career games in the Fall Classic. He struck out 31 batters and walked only five in 36 total innings in those games. Bumgarner's 0.25 ERA in the World Series is the lowest in history among pitchers with at least 20 innings.

The World Series MVP was first awarded in 1955. Of the 60 winners, Bumgarner is the 28th pitcher -- and first for the Giants -- to receive the award. Edgar Renteria won the award for San Francisco in 2010 and Pablo Sandoval was named the MVP of the 2012 series.