San Francisco Giants
Established: 1883
Other Names:
New York Gothams (1883-1885)
New York Giants (1886-1957)
2016 results: 87-75,
2nd in NL West
Defeated NY Mets in NL Wild Card
Lost to Cubs (3-1) in NLDS
2017 Prediction: 1st
World Series Titles: 8
Most Recent: 2014
Last World Series
Appearance: 2014
Last Division Title: 2012
Ballpark: AT
& T Park
Est: 2000
Best Season: 2012
While the Giants had some great
teams while playing at the Polo Grounds in New York, the 2012 season could be
argued as the best in franchise history due to their performance in the
postseason. The team finished with a 94-68 record, eight games better than the
second place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. They took on the Cincinnati
Reds in the best-of-five NLDS and quickly fell behind two games to none, losing
both games at home. But then they pulled off an incredible comeback and won
three straight games in Cincinnati to advance to the NLCS against the St. Louis
Cardinals. Another comeback followed as the Giants won three straight games
after falling behind three games to one. The NL Pennant was followed by a
four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, giving the Giants
the second of three titles they would win over a five-year span. The Giants
were led offensively by Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence. On the
mound, starters Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong led the way
while the bullpen was anchored by Santiago Castilla and Sergio Romo.
Best All-time Player:
Willie Mays
With all due respect to Barry
Bonds, there is no better all-time Giant than Willie Mays. The “Say Hey” Kid
played for 22 years in the Big Leagues, 20 with the New York/San Francisco
Giants and the final year and a half with the New York Mets. While with the
Giants, he played in 2857 games, batted .304, smashed 646 of his 660 career
home runs, had 1859 RBIs and stole 336 bases. He was 19-time All-Star with the
Giants, was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1951, won the NL MVP Award in 1954 and
1965, and was fantastic in the field as well winning 12 consecutive Gold Glove
Awards from 1957 until 1968. His famous over-the-shoulder basket catch in the
1954 World Series is still considered the greatest catch in baseball history.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
Best Player on the
Current Roster: Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner has been
nothing short of sensational in the post season for the Giants over the past
handful of years. The Giants have made the playoffs four times since 2010,
winning three World Series championships, and Bumgarner has been in the middle
of it all. In 16 appearances, 14 starts, he has a record of 8-3, a 2.11 ERA,
one save and 87 strike outs. He has pitched in five World Series games, winning
all four of his starts and saving the one game he came on in relief. He won the
MVP Award in both the NLCS and World Series in 2014. His regular season numbers
have been spectacular as well. In seven MLB seasons, he was won 100 games, has
posted a 2.99 ERA, and struck out 1381 batters in 1397 innings. A four-time
All-Star, he was also won two Silver Slugger Awards.
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