The previous three World Sequence champions are the 2021 Atlanta Braves, the 2022 Houston Astros and, now, the 2023 Texas Rangers. All of them have one participant in frequent.
Left-handed reliever Will Smith (to not be confused with the Los Angeles Dodgers catcher or the actor/rapper) completed the season sipping World Sequence champagne for the third straight year on Wednesday, making some wild historical past within the course of.
Smith is the primary participant in not simply MLB historical past but in addition throughout the entire large 4 males’s North American sports activities leagues to look in at the least one sport for 3 completely different championship-winning groups in three consecutive seasons, in accordance with MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.
The 34-year-old Smith performed for the Kansas Metropolis Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants for the primary eight years of his profession. He left the Royals two years earlier than they received the 2015 title and joined the Giants two years after their final title in 2014. He lastly hit paydirt with the Braves, with whom he signed a three-year, $39 million deal forward of the 2020 season.
Smith served as nearer for the 2021 Braves and was untouchable that postseason, not permitting a single run in 11 appearances.
He was much less good the subsequent season, and he was traded away after accruing a 4.38 ERA and three blown saves in eight tries. He was traded to, thankfully, the Astros, who used Smith down the stretch within the common season however left him on the bench for your entire postseason. Nonetheless, Smith acquired his ring.
This season, the Rangers signed Smith to a one-year, $1.5 million contract and acquired a efficiency just like final yr’s. He posted a 4.40 ERA as one of many most-used relievers in a below-average Texas bullpen however nonetheless made 5 appearances this postseason. He posted a ten.80 ERA in these appearances, however once more, the ring nonetheless counts.
Smith spent just a few years as the most effective left-handed relievers in baseball however has fallen off in recent times. The great thing about baseball made that not matter, and now he holds a novel place in sports activities historical past — and a considerably compelling argument for why a crew ought to take an opportunity on him this offseason.
Extra wild stats from the Rangers’ World Sequence win
The presence of Smith is not the one statistical oddity the Rangers produced this postseason.
The crew had a wild path to the title, getting into the playoffs with a thud after dropping the AL West title on the ultimate day of the common season, then catching hearth as quickly because the video games began actually counting.
Listed below are some new details, now that the Rangers have hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy:
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The Rangers received 11 consecutive street video games, the longest such streak in postseason historical past. Their +42 run differential on the street can be the very best in a single postseason.
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Beginning pitcher Nathan Eovaldi tied Stephen Strasburg for probably the most wins in a single postseason, with 5. The Rangers went 6-0 in his begins, making him the primary pitcher to have his crew win all six of his video games.
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Rookie outfielder Evan Carter hit 9 doubles this postseason, an MLB report.
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The Rangers homered in 16 straight playoffs video games, the longest streak in a single MLB postseason.
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Shortstop Corey Seager joined Reggie Jackson as the only position players to win two World Series MVPs. They’re additionally the one two gamers to win the award with completely different groups.
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The Rangers went 68-94 final yr, the worst previous-year report for a World Sequence champion in history.
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Supervisor Bruce Bochy is the primary supervisor to win a World Sequence for and against the same team, having defeated the Rangers in 2010 with the San Francisco Giants. He is the sixth supervisor in historical past to win 4 titles.
Essentially the most enjoyable stat of all, although, is that that is the Rangers’ first championship, which makes for a particular second for each franchise. The MLB groups left and not using a title are the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. The Rangers have been the oldest franchise in that group, an honor which is now a tie between the Padres and Brewers.
