| San Francisco Giants are one of the main and | | | | Giants finally were the champions of the National |
| most popular League Baseball team based in San | | | | League. After defeating the Cubs, they |
| Francisco, California. Giants play in the West | | | | confronted the Oakland Athletics in "Bay Bridge |
| Division of the National League. Giants were in | | | | Series". That series was perhaps the best |
| early days originally known as Gothams, they | | | | cherished due to the Loma Prieta earthquake on |
| started as a second baseball club by John B. Day | | | | October 17, 1989 interrupted the intended Game |
| and Jim Mutrie. Giants were Day and Mutrie's real | | | | 3 of the series at Candlestick Park. Oakland |
| entry to the National League, although their other | | | | completed up its sweep of San Francisco, after a |
| clubs, the Metropolitans (known as original Mets) | | | | ten-day delay in the series. |
| were playing in the American Association. Initially | | | | Later on the Barry Bonds started a new dawn |
| Metropolitans were more successful club but then | | | | with a blast. Bonds created numbers for the third |
| Day and Mutrie moved top players to the | | | | MVP of his career: 46 homers, 129 runs, 123 RBI, |
| Gothams, which lead the team to win its first | | | | .336/. 458/. 677/1.135. Giants get a smashing |
| National League pennant in 1888. After this | | | | record of 103-59 in Dusty Baker's first year as |
| splendid fulfilling victory, Mutrie (who was also the | | | | manager. Which also benefited Baker as he got |
| team's manager) came in the dressing room and | | | | the "Manager of the Year award". Once again the |
| out of his pleasure and excitement shouted, "My | | | | period form 1994 to 1996 was not a rewarding |
| big fellows! My giants!" And from there onwards, | | | | time. |
| the club was called as the Giants. They saw high | | | | Due to these dreadful times, Giants were led to |
| time as a team in the beginning and also bring out | | | | name Brian Sabean as new general manager, |
| some remarkable top class players but on the | | | | replacing Bob Quinn. Prior to being named GM, |
| whole they didn't come off with flying colors, they | | | | Brian Sabean was already whispered to have |
| struggled a lot, but couldn't prove their best. | | | | masterminded the agreement to dig up Kirk |
| San Francisco Giants history. | | | | Rueter from the Montreal Expos. His first trade as |
| In Contrary to the times in New York, Giants in | | | | GM, stunned Giants fans throughout the world |
| San Francisco have diverse fortune. However | | | | when he traded Matt Williams for apparently a |
| lately Giants has enjoyed comparatively persistent | | | | handful of spare parts, and the criticism was |
| triumph, there have been stretched times of | | | | grand enough for him to have to openly explain: "I |
| unevenness, especially they were threatened | | | | didn't get to this point by being an idiot... I'm sitting |
| when the club's ownership periled to move the | | | | here telling you there is a plan." |
| club out of San Francisco. The most unfortunate | | | | And for sure Sabean's plan worked out, because |
| part of the story is that Giants managed to have | | | | the players he got in the Williams trade - Jeff |
| a huge fan base since they arrive in the city, but | | | | Kent, Jose Vizcaino, Julian Tavarez, and Joe Roa |
| Giants couldn't so far thrive for a World Series | | | | (also the 1 million dollar cash enabled them to sign |
| title for San Francisco. | | | | Darryl Hamilton) - in addition his trade for J.T. |
| When there was a break in Seals Stadium, Giants | | | | Snow made the Giants to win their first NL West |
| shifted to Candlestick Park, which was also known | | | | division title of the 1990s in 1997. Unluckily, the |
| as "The Stick" but unfortunately that very | | | | Florida Marlins ended the Giants' season by |
| stadium proved to be one of the most hostile | | | | defeating them by a 3-0. And Marlins moved on |
| stadiums in the sports history. It was sealed in | | | | their way to first World Series championship. |
| 1961. Giants stopped playing in that stadium which | | | | 40 years later in 2000 at Candlestick, Giants |
| was later on named as 3Com Park and then | | | | opened their own privately financed ballpark, |
| Monster Park. Giants never won a World Series | | | | naming Pacific Bell Park. The team shocked |
| after moving to San Francisco, but they were | | | | everyone by having the best record in the |
| always close, playing in three of them. | | | | National League. It was actually 2002 when the |
| Giants couldn't make any other World Series until | | | | Giants again became the center of attention. |
| 1989, but still Giants of the '60s sustained to be | | | | Giants beaten Atlanta Braves in the NLDS three |
| pennant contenders and the gratitude goes to | | | | games to two and later on defeated the St. Louis |
| several future hall-of-famers, like Gaylord Perry, | | | | Cardinals four games to one. Giant's performance |
| who pitched in 1968 a no-hitter for the Giants; | | | | was out class in the World Series and they were |
| Juan Marichal, another pitcher with a unforgettable | | | | about to win when The Angels made a come |
| high-kicking delivery; McCovey, the National | | | | back and win the championship, which really |
| League MVP award winner in 1969, and Mays, | | | | dishearten the Giant's fans. After this agonizing |
| who have the all-time franchise record for most | | | | failure they once more recorded 100 victories for |
| home runs, he also hit his 600th career home run | | | | the seventh time in franchise history and for the |
| in 1969. | | | | third time in San Francisco. Year 2004 as well |
| The post-season appearance of the Giants was in | | | | dramatically changed the whole scene, when the |
| 1971. Giants were effortlessly defeated in the | | | | Dodgers rise above the Giants in a late season |
| League Championship Series by the Pittsburgh | | | | game, winning on a Steve Finley. Next year, 2005 |
| Pirates and Roberto Clemente after winning their | | | | was the most depressing season of 2000s for |
| division. 1970s also proved to be a despairing | | | | the Giants. |
| decade for Giants. Bob Lurie bought the team, to | | | | Giants celebrated in honor of Baseball Hall of |
| save it from being moved to Toronto in 1976. | | | | Famer Juan Marichal On May 25, 2005. On July 14, |
| The decade of 1980's also couldn't bring any | | | | 2005, Giants won their 10,000th contest beating |
| success for the giants. Giants hired a black | | | | their competitors, the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, |
| manager Frank Robinson 1981, though Robinson's | | | | becoming the first professional sports franchise to |
| tenure only lasted for 4 years. 1985 was the | | | | have five digits in their winning total. Unfortunately |
| worst year in the history of San Francisco Giants. | | | | Giants were formally eliminated from the NL |
| They lost 100 games (the most number of | | | | West race when they lose to the 2005 champion |
| failures since moving to San Francisco). The | | | | San Diego Padres. San Francisco Giants finished |
| owner then hired Al Rosen as general manager. In | | | | the season in third place, with a record of 75-87, |
| his management Giants gifted rookies like Will | | | | which was their worst season - and first losing |
| Clark, Robby Thompson, and gained players as | | | | record - since 1996. |
| Kevin Mitchell, Dave Dravecky, Candy Maldonado, | | | | In 2006 Slugger Barry Bonds' return alone should |
| and Rick Reuschel. | | | | mean a better offense. Fans anticipate the Giants |
| Roger Craig remained Giants' new manager from | | | | to do better then their 75-87 records in 2005. |
| 1985 to 1992. Giants never faced a losing record | | | | Finley is an appealing surprise. Finley hit 36 home |
| in Craig's first five full seasons. That was a | | | | runs, which were a career high in 2004. The |
| splendid change for team's future. Having an | | | | Giants have great expectations from Finley, it is |
| exceptional motto, "Humm Baby" during Roger | | | | expected that he can have a bounce back year |
| Craig's leadership, Giants stood victorious in 83 | | | | and possibly can hit 30 or more home runs hitting |
| games in 1986 and also win the National League | | | | along side Bonds and Alou. Sweeney is allowed to |
| Western Division title in 1987. Giants also won the | | | | hit regularly so that he may astonish the fans. |
| National League pennant in 1989. 1989 proved | | | | Niekro also should bloom with better hitters |
| even a better year for the Giants. After a long | | | | around him. There is a much-polished lineup with a |
| awaited period of 27 years, the San Francisco | | | | vigorous Bonds returning. |