Past perfect: passing the torch for the Summer Game--no, not the Summer Games in Rio.

• Author: Barrett, Wayne M.
• Position: NATIONAL PASTIME - Baseball World Series

Its an even-numbered year, and you know what that means, sports fans--no, it has nothing to do with the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro; after all, baseball was discontinued as an Olympic sport in 2012--the San Francisco Giants apparently are on track to win their fourth World Series in the last seven years: having won it all in 2010,2012, and 2014. The 2010 crown not only snapped the franchise's 56-year WS championship drought, it was the Giants' first title since they relocated from Manhattan to the City by the Bay in 1958. Trouble is--at least for the hometown faithful--all three championships were won on the road.

The Giants have won the most pennants in National League history, and are the only Senior Circuit club to collect four straight flags. The franchise also has won more games than any other team in major league annals. As of this writing, they have shaken off the shackles of their annual "June Swoon" to take command in the N.L. West Division, with the archrival Los Angeles Dodgers in the second-place rearview mirror.

Adding to the pleasure, Giants fans stranded in New York have been gifted with an extra visit this season. Besides the annual trek to Queens to play the Mets--this year's matchup showcased a pair of historical footnotes; it featured the previous two N.L. pennant-winners (the first time the clubs have pulled off that feat back-to-back) and the series finale took place on the Giants' 133rd anniversary (the former Gotham Nine having played their first game on May 1,1883)--San Francisco later this month (shortly after the All-Star break) will come into the Bronx to face the Yankees.

As my friends--and foes--will tell you, whenever I start slinging baseball trivia questions, more often than not the Giants somehow figure in the answer. In gearing up for the Giants-Yanks clash, test yourself on these two: Name the only time the same teams have faced each other in three straight World Series? When was...