This Week in Giants Baseball History

[Giants666]

May 22
Dad Was Pretty Good, Too: Bobby Bonds had himself quite a day during a 7-3 San Francisco Giants victory over the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta Stadium on this date in 1973. Batting leadoff, Bonds stole second base and scored in the first inning, doubled and scored in the third inning, singled and stole two bases (including home) in the fourth, and homered in the ninth.
May 23
Two First Names, Two Walks Per Inning: The Giants somehow defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-3 in the second game of a doubleheader at Candlestick Park on this date in 1982, despite eight base on balls issued in 4+ innings by their starting pitcher, Mike Chris. Amazingly, only two of the walked baserunners scored, and no-walk performances by relievers Dan Schatzeder and Jim Barr shut down the Cubs the rest of the way for a relatively easy victory and a doubleheader sweep.

May 24
Let’s Play 17: In an amazing game at Busch Stadium, the Giants finally defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 9-6 in 17 innings on this date in 1998. Trailing 4-2 in the ninth, Barry Bonds hit a two-out, two-run home run to tie the game. Three innings later in the twelfth, Jeff Kent hit a two-run home run of his own to put the Giants ahead 6-4, but Mark McGwire tied the game with a two-out, two-run home run of his own! The Giants finally pulled ahead to stay with a three-run rally in the seventeenth, thanks in large part to a throwing error by Cardinals reliever Kent Mercker.

May 25
Slugfest in Pittsburgh: The Giants needed all five of their home runs in a 9-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium on this date in 1990. Kevin Mitchell hit three of those roundtrippers and drove in five runs. The Pirates hit three home runs of their own, including one by a skinny guy named Barry Bonds.

May 26
Way Before Bonds, There Was Heinie: In the second game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds on this date in 1922, third baseman Heinie Groh walked five times in a 10-2 New York Giants victory over the Boston Braves. The man that followed Groh in the lineup, future Hall of Famer Ross Youngs, made the Braves pay with a four-hit performance, driving in three runs.

May 27
15Ks Not Enough: On this date in 2000 at Pac Bell Park, the Giants jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning and Giants pitchers struck out a total of 15 batters, but it wasn’t enough in a 3-2 extra innings defeat to the Cubs. Starter Russ Ortiz one-hit the Cubs for six innings and struck out eleven (and also walked seven), but the Cubs tied it in the eighth with a two-run home run from Henry Rodriguez, and went ahead in the eleventh after a leadoff double by Rodriguez led to the third Cubs run.

May 28
3 Hits, 1 Run Enough: On this date in 2002 at Pac Bell Park, the Giants managed only one hit in nine innings off of opposing starter Miguel Batista, but still managed to defeat the Arizona Diamondback 1-0 in ten innings. Giants starter Jason Schmidt matched zeros with Batista for nine innings, allowing only three hits. Barry Bonds scored the winning run in the tenth by leading off with a walk and scoring on Benito Santiago’s single. Robb Nen won it in relief

[SF Kid]

Thanks for that info, Gaints666. Very interesting.

[Giants666]

This Week in Giants Baseball History

May 29
Ripping the Pirates: Powered by six RBIs from Jack Clark, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-5 on this date in 1982 at Three Rivers Stadium. The Ripper hit a grand slam off of future Giant Don Robinson in the fifth inning, and again victimized the Caveman with a two-run shot in the seventh.

May 30
Pasting the Phillies: Inspired by six RBIs from Irish Meusel, the New York Giant banged out 25 hits in defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 16-7 on this date in 1922 at the old Baker Bowl. Eight of those 25 hits were doubles, a franchise record.

May 31
Metropolitan Thievery: With five stolen bases in the game, the Giants literally stole their way to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets on this date in 1986 at Shea Stadium. The kleptomaniacs were catcher Bob Melvin, young second baseman Robby Thompson, and surprising thief Chili Davis, who managed to swipe three bags. All the steals came off of future Giant and Hall of Famer Gary Carter.

June 1
More Thievery in Hollywood: The Giants also stole five bases in a 6-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on this date in 1976 at Dodger Stadium. No, Mike Piazza was not behind the plate on this one; Steve Yeager and Ellie Rodriguez were the ones victimized by the Giants’ speed. Ed Halicki went the distance for the shutout, defeating Hall of Famer Don Sutton who also went the distance.

June 2
A 32nd Rounder: The 1987 amateur draft began on this date with Ken Griffey Jr. as the first overall pick. The Giants selected pitcher Mike Remlinger with their first round selection (sixteenth overall), but a future Giants All-Star did not get selected until 31 rounds later – Robb Nen, by the Texas Rangers. Proof that the draft isn’t an exact science.

June 3
20 Hits in San Diego: Every Giants starter had at least one hit in an 11-3 drubbing of the San Diego Padres on this date in 2002, including starting pitcher Russ Ortiz who banged out two hits. Marvin Benard, Jeff Kent, and Benito Santiago had three RBIs apiece.

June 4
Cha Cha Bludgeons the Braves: The Giants defeated the Milwaukee Braves 11-5 on this date in 1959, and they couldn’t have done it without Orlando Cepeda. Two of Cha Cha’s four hits left the yard, and he finished the day with seven RBIs.

[SF Kid]

Heh...good stuff!

[Giants666]

This Week in Giants Baseball History

June 5
The Most Painful of Wins: In a 12-2 San Francisco Giants pasting of the San Diego Padres on this date in 2002 at Qualcomm Stadium, Barry Bonds hit his 587th career home run, but another landmark was also reached – a record four Giants were hit by Padres pitching. Losing pitcher Dennis Tankersley hit three batters in 3+ innings, but the Giants didn’t hit any Padres – they let the score do the talking.

June 6
Have Mullet, Will Drive in Runs: A serviceable player during his nine-year career, Cory Snyder had one of his most productive days as a Giant on this date in 1992. Batting cleanup, the mulleted one drove in seven runs as the Giants doubled up the Houston Astros 12-6 at Candlestick Park. Three of Snyder’s four hits were extra-base hits – an RBI double in the fourth, a 2-run home run in the sixth, and a bases-clearing double in the seventh.

June 7
The Grinning One Turns 40: A fan favorite during his seven years in orange and black, Trevor Wilson was born on this date in 1966, in Torrance CA. Cheers!

June 8
Scorching Up Hot-Lanta: Atlanta in June can be quite humid, but the Giants made it all the more unpleasant for the home team on this date in 1990, as the Giants walloped the Atlanta Braves 23-8 at Fulton County Stadium. Leadoff hitter Rick Parker and Will Clark drove in six runs each, and Parker and Jose Uribe had four hits apiece. Amazingly, the Giants starting pitcher didn’t get the win – Bob Knepper only lasted 3 innings, so Trevor Wilson got the win in relief.

June 9
Our Sparkplug: Giants outfielder and Santa Clara grad Randy Winn was born on this date in 1974, in Los Angeles. Keep on keeping on!

June 10
A Leg Away From Perfection: Sure, we all hate Kevin Brown, but give him props – especially on this date in 1997, when he threw the season’s first no-hitter against the Giants in a 9-0 Florida Marlins victory at Candlestick Park. If it weren’t for hitting Marvin Benard’s leg in the bottom of the eighth inning, Brown might have had a perfect game. Giants starter William Van Landingham matched zeroes – and no hits – with Brown until the seventh inning, then all hell broke loose.

June 11
Doubling up the Phillies: The New York Giants welcomed the Philadelphia Phillies into town for a doubleheader on this date in 1944, and swept the series by identical 6-5 scores. The second game took twelve innings, but same result.

[Bear]

Giants666...Very good! Where do you find this stuff?

[SF Kid]

Yeah I wonder? Where DO you find this stuff? Sweet. Rep!

[Bear]

Hey 666... Inquiring minds want to know!

[SF Kid]

It's called "google".

[Bear]

No, Its more than that! 666... Tell me it is not so.

[Giants666]

Giants666...Very good! Where do you find this stuff?

I have my sources.

[Giants666]

It's called "google".

NO IT's not ****ing Google..............

[SF Kid]

Probably Scout.com...

'Ya can't fool the fooler!

[SF Kid]

Well? Heh.

I think the Kid is on to you 666.

[Bear]

It also might be: http://sfgiants.scout.com/! 666... is into web research. Do not make light of this unless you want to pick up the slack!