SI has named MLB Giants P Madison Bumgarner as its '14 Sportsman of the Year, recognizing a historic postseason in which he won two World Series games and then saved Game 7 on two days rest. Bumgarner will be feted tomorrow night at a ceremony in N.Y. He is the first MLBer to receive the award since Derek Jeter in '09. "Madison put up an October that we will never forget," said Time Inc. Sports Group Editor Paul Fichtenbaum. "What he's done when it counts the most has been off the charts, and when he put the capper on Game 7, it sort of made our choice easy this year." SI initially considered several other candidates for the honor, including Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw and golfer Rory McIlroy, among others. Joining Bumgarner at the ceremony tomorrow will be Magic Johnson, to be recognized with the Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award, and Mo'Ne Davis, SI's SportsKid of the Year. MLB Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will each be part of the formal program, helping recognize Bumgarner and Johnson, respectively. As part of the recognition, SI this morning released a 90-second video announcing the Bumgarner selection that features seven former Sportsmen of the Year, including Broncos QB Peyton Manning ('13), Jack Nicklaus ('78), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('85).
