The Giants

1951 - The Giants' revitalization under Durocher comes to fruition in a storybook finish. After trailing the Dodgers by 13 1/2 games on Aug. 11, the Giants end up forcing a three-game playoff, culminated by the most famous home run in history. more

1954 - After a season without Monte Irvin (who broke his leg in a 1952 preseason games) and two campaigns without Willie Mays (who entered the Army), the Giants are back at full strength and capture the world championship. more

1957 - Following two disappointing seasons and increasing dissatisfaction with his tenure in New York, owner Horace Stoneham considers moving his club to Minnesota before being convinced to join the rival Dodgers in a historic move to the West Coast. more

1958 - San Francisco greets its new baseball team with a huge parade and a raucous opener at cozy Seals Stadium. more

1959 - Future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey goes 4-for-4 in his Major League debut en route to Rookie of the Year honors. Sam Jones and Mike McCormick both toss rain-shortened no-hitters.

Sept. 15, 1963: Jesus, Matty and Felipe Alou comprise the first all-brother outfield in Major League history.

1960 - Another move -- the last one for 40 years -- takes place, as the Giants relocate to what is known at the time as their new gem of a stadium, Candlestick Park. more

1961 - Willie Mays smacks four home runs in one game at Milwaukee's County Stadium. He is also chosen to start in the outfield for the All-Star Game, held at San Francisco's new ballpark. more

1962 - Skipper Alvin Dark leads perhaps the greatest team in San Francisco Giants history to its first World Series by the Bay. The team again downs the Dodgers in a three-game playoff and nearly pulls out the championship against the Yankees. more

1963 - Juan Marichal establishes himself as one of the premier pitchers of all time with a 25-win season, including two of the greatest games ever pitched at Candlestick Park. more

1965 - The Giants continue to string together stellar seasons (their second of four in a row with at least 90 wins) only to fall short by two games. Willie Mays wins his second MVP Award.

1967 - Lefty Mike McCormick wins the franchise's only Cy Young Award as well as Comeback Player of the Year. Despite Willie McCovey's 31 homers (including three grand slams) and 91 wins, the Giants finish 10 1/2 games behind the remarkable St. Louis Cardinals led by former Giant and NL MVP Orlando Cepeda.

1968 - While the team again settles for a runner-up finish, several Giants enjoy dramatic personal achievement, including Gaylord Perry's no-hitter, Juan Marichal's 26 wins and Bobby Bonds' brilliant debut.

1969 - Willie McCovey wins the MVP Award, leading the league in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage, but the Giants finish second for the fifth year in a row.

1971 - The "Year of the Fox" produces the Giants' first division title despite having neither a .300 hitter nor a 20-game winner. more

1973 - Although the team finishes 11 games out of first place, three players win major honors. Bobby Bonds, who misses becoming baseball's first 40-40 man by one home run, is named The Sporting News' Player of the Year, while southpaw Ron "Bear" Bryant is named Pitcher of the Year after winning 24 games, the most ever by a San Francisco lefty. Outfielder Gary Matthews wins Rookie of the Year honors as one of three Giants to hit .300 or better.

1975 - After bidding farewell to stars Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal and mired in a string of sub-.500 seasons, the Giants enjoy two refreshing pitching performances, John Montefusco's colorful Rookie of the Year performance and Ed Halicki's no-hitter. more

1976 - Bob Lurie saves the Giants from a possible move to Toronto by heading a group that buys the team and keeps it in San Francisco.

1977 - Willie McCovey returns to the Giants and wins the Comeback Player of the Year Award with a team-best 28 home runs at the age of 39.

1981 - Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in the National League when he is named to head the Giants.

1984 - A 96-loss season is brightened somewhat by the 1984 All-Star Game at Candlestick Park, which includes Chili Davis and Bob Brenly as Giants representatives. Crazy Crab makes his one-year appearance as the Giants' "anti-mascot." more

1985 - Bad goes to worst as the Giants falter to the only 100-loss season in their history. Reliever Scott Garrelts leads the staff with a measly nine wins, and the team bats a league-worst .233.

1986 - Manager Roger Craig and GM Al Rosen begin a remarkable turnaround with their crew of "You Gotta Like These Kids" players. Rookies Will Clark and Robby Thompson jump over the Triple-A level to earn starting jobs, and Clark cracks a home run off Nolan Ryan in his first big league at-bat. Pitcher Mike Krukow wins 20 games and earns an All-Star bid.

1987 - Just two years after a wretched 100-loss season, the Giants win the division thanks to late-season pitching acquistions by Al Rosen. more

1989 - "Twenty-seven years of waiting come to an end" when San Francisco heads for its first World Series in nearly three decades. But forces of nature put a damper on the Bay Bridge Series, and San Francisco is swept away. more   To top
 

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