Sports Illustrated Names Madison Bumgarner Sportsman of the Year

San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner won the accolade of Sports Illustrated’s Sportsmen of the Year on Monday.

“The legend of Madison Bumgarner fits neatly in the space where we keep our idea of the archetypal outdoorsy, countrified man, where also reside the embellished, fictionalized Boone [North Carolina] and Mayberry’s Sheriff Andy Taylor,” writes SI’s Tom Verducci. “It’s just that in Bumgarner’s case, the stories are true.”

Bumgarner had a record-breaking postseason, throwing 52 2/3 innings and achieving a 1.03 ERA. Bumgarner’s performance in Game 7 of the World Series led the Giants to the championship.

Read more at Sports Illustrated