St. John's University Athletics
WORLD SERIES CHAMPION: Panik Caps Rookie Season With Series Crown
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
QUEENS, N.Y. - Former St. John's standout and All-American Joe Panik capped his rookie season with a World Series title as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Kansas City Royals in a Fall Classic that went the distance. The 2011 First Round draft pick joined Frank Viola as the second former St. John's player to win a World Series crown.
"We are extremely proud of what Joe has accomplished as a rookie with the Giants," said Red Storm head coach Ed Blankmeyer. "He continues to play the game with class and has proven that a true ballplayer shines on the brightest stage. He's a World Series champion and we couldn't be more proud, but we are just as proud of him as a person."
Panik hit safely in 12-of-17 postseason games and ranked sixth among San Francisco starters with a .233 average (17-for-73). The second baseman also finished tied for second on the squad with eight RBI, while adding seven runs, two doubles, two triples, one home run, four walks and a .273 on-base percentage.
The rookie batted .222 (6-27) in the World Series and hit-safely in 5-of-7 games. Panik went 1-for-5 with an RBI triple and a run scored in an opening game victory before adding a 1-for-4 performance in the second game. The rookie helped break open a game four victory with a two-run double in the seventh and finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs. After finishing 1-for-3 with a walk in both games five and six, Panik made his impact in the field in game seven. With a runner on first in the third inning of the decisive game, Panik made a diving stop and started a double play with a glove flip from the ground.
Panik Postseason Highlights
- Tied for fifth all-time among MLB rookies with 17 hits in one postseason
- Tied Giants rookie-record with 17 hits in one postseason (Buster Posey, 2010)
- Set Giants rookie-record with five extra-base hits in one postseason
- First Giants rookie to collect three extra-base hits in one World Series
- Tied for third all-time among Giants rookies with six hits in one World Series
- First Giants rookie with a game-winning RBI in the postseason since Willie Mays (1951)
- First MLB rookie with two triples in one postseason since Willie McGee (Cardinals, 1982)
- Seventh Giants rookie to hit a postseason home run
- First Giants player with five total hits in first two postseason games
- Fourth Giants rookie with at least three hits in a single postseason game