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1883-1901
1883 John B. Day and Jim Mutrie, owners of the American Association's
New York Metropolitans, form a National League team called the New
York Gothams. On May 1, they play their first game at a field once
used for polo matches at 110th Street and Sixth Avenue.
1885 Jim Mutrie becomes the manager of the Gothams, and he and John
Day move some of the star players from the pennant-winning Metropolitans
over to the National League franchise.
1888 After two seasons of .550-plus records that nevertheless result
in finishing more than 10 games back, the Giants capture their first
National League pennant and then defeat the American Association's
St. Louis Browns to claim the world championship.
1889 Despite three changes of address, the Giants successfully defend
both their N.L. title and the world championship before the upstart
Players League (started in 1890) and the ownership of Andrew Freedman
decimates the squad for the next decade.
1893 George Davis' 33-game hitting streak establishes the franchise
record as he leads the team with a .355 average and 119 RBI. His
27 triples also remain a team record. Two years later, at the age
of 24, the third baseman becomes the youngest manager in Major League
history when he is named skipper for 33 games.
1894 With the demise of the American Association two years earlier,
the National League pits the first-place Baltimore Orioles against
the runner-up Giants. The New Yorkers surprise everyone by sweeping
the best-of-seven series to win the championship. Pitchers George
Meekin and Amos Rusie, who combined for 69 victories in the regular
season, each win two games in the championship series.
1895 Pitcher Cy Seymour pitches both games of a doubleheader (the
nightcap called after seven innings because of darkness) — and wins
both. He allows seven hits total. The achievement is especially
remarkable because of Seymour's reputation for wildness; he would
issue 13 walks in a game two years later and led the league in free
passes for three straight years.
1901-1910
1902 Suffering the most miserable finish in the team's 20-year history
(48-88, 53 1/2 games back), New York still makes a move that would
prove to be one of the most significant ever: signing John McGraw
as player-manager.
1904 After crushing the rest of the league with a franchise-best
106 victories to capture the National League title, the Giants decline
to participate in the newly created World Series because manager
John McGraw and owner John Brush consider the American League a
minor league.
1905 Satisfied with the adoption of certain postseason rules, the
Giants agree to play in the World Series after successfully defending
their N.L. championship. Christy Mathewson authors one of the greatest
pitching performances in history, tallying three shutout victories
in New York's four-games-to-one triumph over the Philadelphia Athletics
for the Giants' first World Series title.
1908 A monumental error ends up costing the Giants the pennant,
as the "Merkle Boner" is the lowlight of a late-season faltering
that forces a one-game playoff with the Chicago Cubs.
1911-1920
1911 Adversity strikes early in the season, as a fire destroys the
Polo Grounds, forcing the Giants to play home games at Hilltop Park
until June. But New York still captures the pennant and, in a rematch
of the 1905 World Series, faces Philadelphia for the championship.
1912 Following the dedication of the fully renovated Polo Grounds,
the Giants roll to the second of three straight National League
pennants. Even with a host of individual achievements, New York
again falls to the American League in the World Series.
1913 Three 20-game winners lead the Giants to another N.L. title,
but the New Yorkers again come up short in the Fall Classic. Christy
Mathewson pitches a phenomenal 68 straight innings without walking
a batter before issuing a free pass to the Cardinals' Ed Konetchy.
1917 After three disappointing seasons with one of the few highlights
being a major-league-record 26-game winning streak in 1916, New
York returned to the top of the National League. However, the postseason
jinx continued, with the Giants losing their fourth-straight World
Series.
1921-1930
1921 After several turbulent years, which included the dismissal
of two players for throwing games and the death of Eddie Grant (the
first major leaguer killed in World War I), the Giants capture the
pennant and break their World Series losing streak in the first
Subway Series.
1922 The Giants stay hot, again winning both the National League
title and the World Series, their second-straight postseason triumph
over the cross-town Yankees. Seven of the eight Giants starters
bat better than .320 during the regular season.
1923 Following the enclosure of the Polo Grounds, the Giants' dynasty
rolls on with their third consecutive trip to the World Series.
This time, the Yankees overcome their National League rivals to
win their first world championship.
1924 For the Giants, the year is like the past three, culminating
in a trip to the World Series. While the opponent is different (with
Washington supplanting the Yankees), the result from the previous
season is the same: a loss to the A.L. champs.
1930 With baseball experiencing an offensive explosion (the National
League batted .303 for the season), the Giants' .319 team average
sets a baseball record. Bill Terry establishes a franchise record
with a .401 average, making him the last National Leaguer to hit
.400 or better. He also sets a franchise record and ties for the
league lead with 254 hits. The team, however, finishes five games
back in third place.
1931-1940
1932 John McGraw's reign as the Giants' skipper comes to an end,
as the frustrated and ailing manager steps down in June. He turns
the team over to first baseman Bill Terry, who would manage the
team for the next 10 years.
1933 The dead ball is introduced, and pitching propels the Giants
to another world championship. "King Carl" Hubbell wins the N.L.
MVP as the anchor of a staff that includes four pitchers with at
least 13 wins.
1936 Carl Hubbell again wins the MVP Award and leads the league
in wins and ERA as the Giants advance to the World Series. Mel Ott
bashes a league-best 33 home runs, but the American League New Yorkers
top the Giants for the championship.
1937 Bill Terry drops the player part of his player-manager title
and leads the Giants against the Yankees in the fifth all-New York
World Series. Carl Hubbell, who won his last 16 decisions the previous
year, strings together eight more wins for a record 24 straight
victories.
1941-1950
1942 Mel Ott, who would spend his entire 22-year playing career
with the Giants, takes over the managerial reins during the difficult
war years.
1943 After holding Spring Training in New Jersey to help conserve
resources for the war effort, the Giants finish a miserable 49 1/2
games out. Carl Hubbell wraps up his Hall of Fame career with 253
wins.
1946 The first post-war season should be bright for the Giants,
but the rogue Mexican League lures away many of the top New York
players. The exodus hits the Giants harder than most N.L. squads,
and they lose 93 games. Mel Ott hits his 511th and final home run.
1948 In a stunning July development, hated Dodgers manager Leo Durocher
replaces Mel Ott as manager of the Giants and starts the rebuilding
process.
1951-1960
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.
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.
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.
1958 San Francisco greets its new baseball team with a huge parade
and a raucous opener at cozy Seals Stadium.
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.
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.
1961-1970
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.
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.
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.
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 N.L. 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, RBI and slugging percentage, but the Giants finish second
for the fifth year in a row.
1971-1980
1971 The "Year of the Fox" produces the Giants' first division title
despite having neither a .300 hitter or a 20-game winner.
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.
1976 Bob Lurie saves the Giants from a possible move to Toronto
by heading a group that buys the team and keeps them 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.
1981-1990
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."
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.
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.
1991-Present
1992 Owner Bob Lurie, after failing in numerous attempts to get
a downtown ballpark built, agrees to sell the team to a group that
would relocate the franchise to the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. But
a local investment group, led by Peter Magowan, saves the franchise
by buying the team instead. Before the deal is even officially done,
Magowan's group attracts superstar Barry Bonds to the squad.
1993 Barry Bonds wins his third MVP Award, Dusty Baker is named
Manager of the Year in his rookie season and two pitchers win more
than 20 games, but the red-hot play of the Atlanta Braves forces
the Giants to settle for a runner-up finish.
1994 Matt Williams is on pace to break Roger Maris' record of 61
home runs, and the Giants are challenging for first place when the
players' strike wipes out the rest of the season. Rod Beck, who
had saved a franchise-record 48 games the previous year, is halted
at 28 for 28 in save chances.
1996 Barry Bonds joins two exclusive clubs in an otherwise miserable
94-loss season.
1997 After two straight last-place finishes, GM Brian Sabean faces
vilification by trading fan favorite Matt Williams, forcing him
to declare "I am not an idiot" to the press. The "Team of Dustiny"
proves him right by winning the division nine days after Brian Johnson's
now-legendary 12th-inning homer to beat the Dodgers.
1998 Although they trail West winners San Diego by nine games at
season's end, the Wild Card gives the Giants hope for postseason
play. They make up a five-game deficit in the final 10 games of
the season to force a one-game playoff with the Cubs.
1999 Injuries to Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and Ellis Burks slow the
Giants, who finish 14 games back despite a 22-6 run starting in
mid-August. But five players bash 20-plus homers and drive in at
least 80 RBI. With the team out of contention, however, the focus
is on the end of the Giants' stay at Candlestick Park, now known
as 3Com Park.
2000 The Giants christen the spectacular Pacific Bell Park in inauspicious
fashion, losing the first six games in the new yard and 11 of their
first 15 games overall. But with the support of 3.3 million fans
who sell out every game at the rookie park, San Francisco wins its
second division title in four years. Jeff Kent wins the N.L. MVP
while Dusty Baker captures his third Manager of the Year Award.
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