Winning the World Series certainly helps put a team on the map. For the Kansas City Royals, this victory was especially sweet, given how close they came last year. Just like their regular season success, the Royals won their second title through a true team effort. As Jonny Gomes stated, the other teams may have the individual awards, but the Royals brought home the one prize that truly counts.
Naturally, given how the Royals won as a team, they were nominated as such for the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. While they were facing a rather distinguished collection of athletes, what the Royals were able to accomplish as a unit made it appear likely that they would win this title as well.