2008 San Francisco Giants

Though Barry Bonds broke the record for all-time career home runs in the 2007 MLB season, it wasn’t enough to save the San Francisco Giants from a last place finish in the NL West Division. The good news is that the team is full of up and coming young players, like pitchers Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Noah Lowry, and though not everyone agreed with the acquisition, manager Bruce Bochy is betting that center fielder Aaron Rowand will provide the stability that the team was lacking in center field. The critics are saying the team won’t be real contenders in the 2008 season – so get your tickets to AT&T Park and help the San Francisco Giants prove them wrong!

Early Days

Founded as the New York Giants in 1883, the Giants franchise is one of the oldest and most successful in baseball history. The Giants dominated the game during the century’s first quarter, winning 10 of the first 25 National League pennants. The team also saw 47 hall of Famers suit up for them, a major league record. Some of these players have become household names including Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Mel Ott, and Christy Mathewson. The Giants have also had their share of legendary managers including Leo Durocher and John McGraw, who led the team for 30 years. McGraw would lead the team to 10 NL Pennants and 3 World Series Titles.

From New York to San Francisco

In 1958, after 75 years in New York, Giants owner Harry Stoneham followed the Dodgers west and settled in San Francisco. They quickly resumed their winning ways and reached the World Series once again in 1962. Though the team routinely had 3-4 Hall of Famers playing at any one time, they struggled to get back to the postseason, not reaching the World Series again until 1989. That team was led by All Stars Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell, who also won the MVP award. Unfortunately for Giants’ fans the team ran into their across the bay neighbors in Oakland, who were in the midst of reaching the World Series three years in a row. After a 10 day delay caused by a decimating earthquake, the series resumed and the A’s won in 4 straight games.

Baker and Bonds Era

In 1993 the Giants were reinvigorated by the arrival of new manager Dusty Baker and superstar Barry Bonds. The 1993 team won 103 games but narrowly missed the playoffs to the Atlanta Braves. The Bonds-led Giants were always contenders and they proceeded to make the playoffs 4 more times, including the World Series once in 2002.