SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

The Official History of the San Francisco Giants | Baseball Almanac

On May 1, 1883, the New York Gothams welcomed the Boston Beaneaters to the old Polo Grounds and defeated them 7-5 to begin an unbroken string of National League baseball that spans 120-plus years and both coasts of the United States.

Within two years the team became known as the Giants. They would win two pennants in the 1880's, but by the turn of the new century they were floundering. In a seminal decision for the franchise, owner Andrew Freeman hired John McGraw, one of the game's most prominent and pugnacious personalities to manage the team. McGraw ruled with an iron fist for the next 30 years, his bare knuckle brand of baseball delivering 10 pennants and World Series titles in 1905, 1921 and 1922.

After a second place finish in 1903, McGraw won his first pennant a year later relying heavily on what would become a legendary pitching rotation led by Christy Mathewson (30 and 33 victories in 1903-04) and Iron Man Joe McGinnity (31 and 35 wins). Mathewson was the best pitcher of his era, finishing with 373 career wins (third most in history) and a career 2.13 ERA across 17 seasons. He would be one of the five original inductees into the Hall of Fame.

McGraw refused to recognize the American League as co-equal with the National and he would not play their pennant winner (Boston) in the 1904 World Series. But when his pitching staff sparked the Giants to another pennant in 1905, new baseball rules compelled McGraw to participate in the postseason championship series. He came fully armed with Mathewson (32-8, league leading 1.27 ERA), McGinnity (22-16, 2.87), Red Ames (22 wins), Dummy Taylor (15) and Hooks Wiltsie (14) and his "Jints" whipped Connie Mack's Athletics in five games.

After some uneven seasons, the Giants inaugurated the new Polo Grounds with three consecutive pennants (1911-13). But the American League got a measure of revenge against McGraw for his 1904 slight by winning all three World Series.

McGraw had his Giants roaring into the 1920's with four pennants in a row (1921-24). His roster was packed with future Hall of Famers including George Kelly, Ross Youngs, Dave Bancroft and a young Frankie Frisch, all of whom hit over .300 in each of the four seasons. In the postseason the Giants won the 1921 and 1922 Series before the Yanks turned the tables in 1923. The Washington Senators spoiled McGraw's last World Series with a seven game victory in 1924.

McGraw finally called it quits 40 games into the 1932 season and was replaced by star first baseman Bill Terry. Terry had been the toast of the town in 1930 when he hit .401 (the last National Leaguer to do so), and his lifetime .341 mark earned him a ticket to Cooperstown.

Terry's team won the pennant and the World Series against Washington in 1933 and they won back-to-back pennants in 1936-37, although both of those teams were buzz sawed in the World Series by the Yankees. The mainstay of Terry's pitching staff was Carl Hubbell, a crafty southpaw with a disappearing screwball. He won 20 games for the first time in 1933 and then did it five consecutive years.

The Giants also brought up a fresh-faced 19-year-old outfielder in 1928, and although he was not physically imposing, Mel Ott would power his way through 20 seasons and finish with 511 career home runs, the most hit by a National Leaguer to that time. Ott would follow Terry into the manager's chair in 1942.

Although the Giants were not winning, they continued to have a searing, white-hot rivalry with the Brooklyn Dodgers, which was why New York City was shocked when the Dodgers long-time manager Leo Durocher agreed to replace Ott in the middle of the 1948 season.

Durocher took the helm and piloted the Giants to two of their greatest seasons. In 1951 the Giants made up a 13½ game deficit on the front running Dodgers by winning 39 of their last 47 games, forcing the now-immortal three game playoff with Brooklyn, which the Giants won on Bobby Thomson's three-run bottom of the ninth homer in the deciding game. The Giants were no match for the Yankees in the World Series. But three years later they were back to sweep a Cleveland team that had set an American League record with 111 wins.

During this time the Giants brought up the "Say Hey Kid" — Willie Mays, and 1954 was his breakout year with 41 home runs, 110 runs batted in and a .345 average. By the time he retired in 1973, Mays had 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, a slew of franchise and National League offensive records and he could lay claim to being the greatest center fielder in National League history. Despite Mays as a drawing card, attendance at the crumbling Polo Grounds dwindled, and owner Horace Stoneham did what only a few years earlier seemed unthinkable — he moved the team from New York City to San Francisco in 1957.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS HISTORY

Even with a surprising 2010 world championship the Giants have not enjoyed the success in California they had in New York, winning only four pennants (1962, 1989, 2002 and 2010). They did flex considerable muscle during their first decade out west. Sluggers such as Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Felipe Alou, Jim Ray Hart, Bobby Bonds and Harvey Kuenn joined Mays in slamming baseballs all over windswept Candlestick Park. High-kicking mound ace Juan Marichal kept the Giants in contention almost every season.

The 1962 team featured Mays (49 home runs, 141 runs batted in, .304) and Cepeda (35 home runs, 114 runs batted in, .306) in their prime, although they lost a seven-game squeaker of a Series to the Yankees. The 1989 team, managed by Roger Craig and led by Kevin Mitchell's big bat (47 home runs, 125 runs batted in, .281), were swept by Oakland in a Series remembered more for an earthquake than for the games themselves.

The Giants brought in free agent Barry Bonds in 1993, and his big 2002 season (46 home runs, 110 runs batted in and a league leading .370 average) propelled the Giants to the wild card slot and the pennant. The Giants again found disappointment in the World Series, however. They led the California Angles three games to two, only to blow a late 5-0 lead in Game Six and lose Game Seven 4-1.

Bonds produced one record-setting season after another as the Giants moved into Pacific Bell Park (since renamed AT&T Park in 2006), averaging nearly 45 homers in 15 seasons in San Francisco before his career ended after the 2007 campaign. He set the major league single season mark of 73 in 2001, and in 2004 became only the third player to reach 700 for a career. He eventually passed Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) to finish atop the all-time homer list with 762. He also won an unprecedented seven Most Valuable Player Awards, including four in a row (2000-04).

The Giants built their teams around Bonds, but didn't make the playoffs again after 2003 during his career. They broke through with an unexpected world championship in 2010, defeating the Texas Rangers in five games with shutdown pitching and timely postseason hitting. Stalwarts on the mound included Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and closer Brian Wilson.

Veterans Aubrey Huff (26 homers, 86 RBIs, .290 average), Juan Uribe (24 homers, 85 RBIs), Pat Burrell (18 homers) and Freddy Sanchez (.292 average) led the offense. Major contributions also came from rookie catcher Buster Posey (18 homers, 67 RBIs, .305 average), who handled the young pitching staff like a veteran, and shortstop Edgar Rentaria, who overcame an injury riddled season to win the World Series MVP award hitting .412 with two homers and six RBIs.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"The years have sped by since Horace Stoneham announced the death of the New York Giants, ordered all old stationery thrown away, and changed the letters on the team's shirt fronts to 'San Francisco.'" - Bob Stevens in The Giants of San Francisco (Coward-McCann Publishers, 1963)

San Francisco Giants History

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San Francisco Giants Franchise Facts

New York Gothams Rosters | 1883 - 1884
1883 1884    
New York Giants Rosters | 1885 - 1957
          1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957    
San Francisco Giants Rosters | 1958 - Current
1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023            
Bold Seasons : Uniform Numbers Worn
New York Gothams Schedules | 1883 - 1884
      1883 1884          
New York Giants Schedules | 1885 - 1957
          1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957    
San Francisco Giants Schedules | 1958 - Current
                1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023            
Bold Seasons : Box Scores Online
New York Giants 100-Win Seasons
Year Record Manager
1904 106-47 John McGraw
1905 105-48 John McGraw
1912 103-48 John McGraw
1913 101-51 John McGraw
San Francisco Giants 100-Win Seasons
Year Record Manager
1962 103-62 Alvin Dark
1993 103-59 Dusty Baker
2003 100-61 Felipe Alou
2021 107-55 Gabe Kapler
San Francisco Giants 100 Loss Seasons
Year Record Manager
1985 62-100 Jim Davenport
" " Danny Ozark
New York Giants No-Hitters
Name IP Date
Amos Rusie 9.0 07-31-1891
Christy Mathewson 9.0 07-15-1901
Christy Mathewson 9.0 06-13-1905
Hooks Wiltse 9.0 07-04-1908
Jeff Tesreau 9.0 09-06-1912
Rube Marquard 9.0 04-15-1915
Jesse Barnes 9.0 05-07-1922
Carl Hubbell 9.0 05-08-1929
San Francisco Giants No-Hitters
Name IP Date
Juan Marichal 9.0 06-15-1963
Gaylord Perry 9.0 09-17-1968
Ed Halicki 9.0 08-24-1975
John Montefusco 9.0 09-29-1976
Jonathan Sanchez 9.0 07-10-2009
Matt Cain 9.0 06-13-2012
Tim Lincecum 9.0 07-13-2013
Tim Lincecum 9.0 06-25-2014
Chris Heston 9.0 06-09-2015
Bold = Perfect Game
New York Giants Cycle Hitters
Name Inn. Date
Mike Tiernan 9.0 08-25-1888
Mike Tiernan 9.0 06-28-1890
Sam Mertes 9.0 10-04-1904
Chief Meyers 9.0 06-10-1912
George Burns 10.0 09-17-1920
Dave Bancroft 9.0 06-01-1921
Ross Youngs 9.0 04-29-1922
Bill Terry 9.0 05-29-1928
Mel Ott 9.0 05-16-1929
Freddie Lindstrom 9.0 05-08-1930
Sam Leslie 9.0 05-24-1936
Harry Danning 9.0 06-15-1940
Don Mueller 9.0 07-11-1954
San Francisco Giants Cycle Hitters
Name Inn. Date
Jim Ray Hart 9.0 07-08-1970
Dave Kingman 9.0 04-16-1972
Jeffrey Leonard 9.0 06-27-1985
Candy Maldonado 9.0 05-04-1987
Chris Speier 9.0 07-09-1988
Robby Thompson 9.0 04-22-1991
Jeff Kent 9.0 05-03-1999
Randy Winn 9.0 08-15-2005
Fred Lewis 9.0 05-13-2007
Pablo Sandoval 9.0 09-15-2011
Bold = Natural Cycle
San Francisco Giants Cy Young Winners
Year Name Position
1967 Mike McCormick LHP
2008 Tim Lincecum RHP
2009 Tim Lincecum RHP
New York Giants MVP Winners
Year Name Position
1933 Carl Hubbell P
1936 Carl Hubbell P
1954 Willie Mays OF
San Francisco Giants MVP Winners
Year Name Position
1965 Willie Mays OF
1969 Willie McCovey 1B
1989 Kevin Mitchell OF
1993 Barry Bonds OF
2000 Jeff Kent 2B
2001 Barry Bonds OF
2002 Barry Bonds OF
2003 Barry Bonds OF
2004 Barry Bonds OF
2012 Buster Posey C
New York Giants Rookies of the Year
Year Name Position
1951 Willie Mays OF
San Francisco Giants Rookies of the Year
Year Name Position
1958 Orlando Cepeda 1B
1959 Willie McCovey 1B
1973 Gary Matthews OF
1975 John Montefusco P
2010 Buster Posey C
Giants Franchise Retired Numbers
# Name Position
3 Bill Terry 1B
4 Mel Ott OF
11 Carl Hubbell P
20 Monte Irvin OF
22 Will Clark 1B
24 Willie Mays OF
25 Barry Bonds OF
27 Juan Marichal P
30 Orlando Cepeda 1B
36 Gaylord Perry P
42 Jackie Robinson 2B
44 Willie McCovey 1B
New York Giants Batting Champions
Year Name #
1885 Roger Connor .371
1890 Jack Glasscock .336
1915 Larry Doyle .320
1930 Bill Terry .401
1954 Willie Mays .345
San Francisco Giants Batting Champions
Year Name #
2002 Barry Bonds .370
2004 Barry Bonds .362
2012 Buster Posey .336
New York Giants ERA Champions
Year Name #
1904 Joe McGinnity 1.61
1905 Christy Mathewson 1.28
1908 Christy Mathewson 1.43
1909 Christy Mathewson 1.14
1911 Christy Mathewson 1.99
1912 Jeff Tesreau 1.96
1913 Christy Mathewson 2.06
1917 Fred Anderson 1.44
1922 Phil Douglas 2.63
1929 Bill Walker 3.09
1931 Bill Walker 2.26
1933 Carl Hubbell 1.66
1934 Carl Hubbell 2.30
1936 Carl Hubbell 2.31
1949 Dave Koslo 2.50
1950 Sal Maglie 2.71
1952 Hoyt Wilhelm 2.43
1954 Johnny Antonelli 2.30
San Francisco Giants ERA Champions
Year Name #
1958 Stu Miller 2.47
1959 Sam Jones 2.83
1960 Mike McCormick 2.70
1969 Juan Marichal 2.10
1983 Atlee Hammaker 2.25
1989 Scott Garrelts 2.28
1992 Bill Swift 2.08
2003 Jason Schmidt 2.34
New York Giants Home Run Champions
Year Name #
1883 Buck Ewing 10
1890 Mike Tiernan 13
1891 Mike Tiernan 16
1909 Red Murray 12
1916 Dave Robertson 12
1917 Dave Robertson 12
1921 George Kelly 23
1932 Mel Ott 38
1934 Mel Ott 35
1936 Mel Ott 33
1937 Mel Ott 31
1938 Mel Ott 36
1942 Mel Ott 30
1947 Johnny Mize 51
1948 Johnny Mize 40
1955 Willie Mays 51
San Francisco Giants Home Run Champions
Year Name #
1961 Orlando Cepeda 46
1962 Willie Mays 49
1963 Willie McCovey 44
1964 Willie Mays 47
1965 Willie Mays 52
1968 Willie McCovey 36
1969 Willie McCovey 45
1989 Kevin Mitchell 47
1993 Barry Bonds 46
1994 Matt Williams 43
2001 Barry Bonds 73
New York Giants Strikeout Champions
Year Name #
1888 Tim Keefe 335
1890 Amos Rusie 341
1891 Amos Rusie 337
1893 Amos Rusie 208
1894 Amos Rusie 195
1895 Amos Rusie 201
1898 Cy Seymour 239
1903 Christy Mathewson 267
1904 Christy Mathewson 212
1905 Christy Mathewson 206
1907 Christy Mathewson 178
1908 Christy Mathewson 259
1911 Rube Marquard 237
1937 Carl Hubbell 159
1944 Bill Voiselle 161
San Francisco Giants Strikeout Champions
Year Name #
2008 Tim Lincecum 265
2009 Tim Lincecum 261
2010 Tim Lincecum 231
San Francisco Giants Wild Cards
Year Record Manager
2002 95-66 Dusty Baker
2014 88-74 Bruce Bochy
2016 87-75 Bruce Bochy
San Francisco Giants West Division Titles
Year Record Manager
1971 90-72 Charlie Fox
1987 90-72 Roger Craig
1989 92-70 Roger Craig
1997 90-72 Dusty Baker
2000 97-65 Dusty Baker
2003 100-61 Felipe Alou
2010 92-70 Bruce Bochy
2012 94-68 Bruce Bochy
2021 107-55 Gabe Kapler
New York Giants N.L. Pennants
Year Record Manager
1888 84-47 Jim Murtrie
1889 83-43 Jim Murtrie
1904 106-47 John McGraw
1905 105-48 John McGraw
1911 99-54 John McGraw
1912 103-48 John McGraw
1913 101-51 John McGraw
1917 98-56 John McGraw
1921 94-59 John McGraw
1922 93-61 John McGraw
1923 95-58 John McGraw
1924 93-60 John McGraw
1933 91-61 Bill Terry
1936 92-62 Bill Terry
1937 95-57 Bill Terry
1951 98-58 Leo Durocher
1954 97-57 Leo Durocher
San Francisco Giants N.L. Pennants
Year Record Manager
1962 103-62 Alvin Dark
1989 92-70 Roger Craig
2002 95-66 Dusty Baker
2010 92-70 Bruce Bochy
2012 94-68 Bruce Bochy
New York Giants World Championships
Year Opponent M.V.P.
1888 St. Louis n/a
1889 Brooklyn n/a
1894 Baltimore n/a
1905 Philadelphia n/a
1921 New York n/a
1922 New York n/a
1933 Washington n/a
1954 Cleveland n/a
San Francisco Giants World Championships
Year Opponent M.V.P.
2010 Texas Edgar Renteria
2012 Detroit Pablo Sandoval
2014 Kansas City Madison Bumgarner
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baseball almanac fast facts

The New York Gothams played their first Major League game on May 1, 1883. Their opponent was Boston and they defeated the Red Stockings 7-5 at the Polo Grounds.

New York Giants World Series
1905WorldSeries 1923 World Series
1911 World Series 1924 World Series
1912 World Series 1933 World Series
1913 World Series 1936 World Series
1917 World Series 1937 World Series
1921 World Series 1951 World Series
1922 World Series 1954 World Series
San Francisco Giants World Series
1962 World Series 2010 World Series
1989 World Series 2012 World Series
2002 World Series 2014 World Series

How did they become known as the Giants? The "real" truth might not ever be known, but many sources credit Jim Mutrie, the franchise's first manager, who would often shout, "My big fellows! My giants!"

Did you know that when the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-0 on April 15, 1958, at Seals Stadium it was the first regular season Major League game played on the west coast of the United States?