San Francisco Giants

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

One of baseball’s most historical clubs, the San Francisco Giants actually began their ball-playing days on the other side of America, in New York as the Gothams.  During the 1880’s the club was quite successful, displaying their winning ways that would continue throughout the team’s history.  The nickname, The Giants, soon took hold in the mid 1880’s and would remain to this day, even after the move to San Francisco. 

Towards the end of the century the Giants were struggling badly, but a shrewd move for player/manager John McGraw would soon change their fortunes! In 1902, McGraw took over the team and would manage them for 30 years, bringing greatness to the team with his smart and bold decisions. 

In 1905, the New York Giants won their first modern World Series behind the tremendous arm of Christy Mathewson, one of the game’s greatest ever pitchers.  Mathewson threw 3 complete game shutouts in the series, and held a 1.28 ERA throughout the season. 

While still competitive, the Giants wouldn’t win another title until the 1921 World Series, which they repeated the following season in 1922.  Fabulous hitting from players like Frank Snyder, Frankie Frisch, and High Pockets Kelly helped earn runs while solid pitching from the arms of Art Nehl and Jesse Barns ensured the Giants would stay on top.  In both seasons, the Giants defeated the upstart New York Yankees, who would eventually earn a title by defeating the Giants in 1923 behind Babe Ruth.

The shifting balance of power in the city would eventually pave the way for a move out west to San Francisco in 1958, though the Giants did earn further World Series titles in 1933 and 1954.  Guys like Carl Hubbell, Monte Irvin, and Willie Mays would forever go down in team history as ultimate heroes.

But after several down years, the Giants decided to pack up and move west to San Francisco, as part of a double move that also sent the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles.  As pioneers in the west for baseball, the Giants would become a favorite club in the region, though they would fail to match their regular success until recently. 

Players like Orlando Cepeda and Jack Stanford would get the team to the World Series in 1962, but they would lose.  The San Francisco Giants would experience heartache again in 1989 and 2002, winning the National League Pennant, though failing to produce on the grandest stage in baseball. 

But in 2010 it would all change.  Guys like Aubrey Huff, Pablo Sandoval, Matt Cain, and Tim Lincecum have created a tremendous revival in the club.  Additionally, entertaining closer Brian Wilson has helped the Giants finish off their opponents.  San Francisco won the World Series twice, in 2010 and 2012.  With the victories, the team has gotten back to their winning ways and finally brought the ultimate baseball glory to their new home in California, over 50 years after the move.  But despite the long wait, Giants fans have now embraced this club that seems destined for great fortune in the years ahead.  Off to a great start in 2014, the San Francisco Giants are a team built to win on a consistent basis!

As the season continued through 2014, the San Francisco Giants made it all the way to the NLCS series against the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Giants were able to move on to the World Series after only five games against the Cardinals.  Once at the World Series, the San Francisco Giants took on the Kansas City Royals who had not been to the World Series in 29 years.  The Royals had swept every team in the playoffs and were bound to win their next World Series.  Wtih the enormous play of Madison Bumgarner, the Giants were able to outlast the Royals in Game 7 to win their third World Series in five year.