Thanks Captain Canuck

The good captain (Waxaholic) sent me quite a few Giants cards from the want list. A lot of them are from the time when I took my break from collecting new stuff, so it was nice to see 'em for the first time! :)

A return package is on the way!

1985 Topps Giants Part 3

Chili Davis (#245) batted .270 with 13 home runs, 56 RBI, and 15 stolen bases as the starting right fielder.

Joel Youngblood (#567) batted .270 in 230 at bats as a backup outfielder.

Dan Gladden (#386) stole 32 bases and batted .245 in 142 games as the Giants' starting center fielder.

Jeffrey "One Flap Down" Leonard (#619) batted .241 with 17 homers and 62 RBI as the starting left fielder.

Jack Clark (#740) didn't play for the Giants in 1985. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals before the season and ended up with the NL Silver Slugger award at first base.

Gene Richards (#434) didn't play for the Giants in 1985. He was granted free agency after the 1984 season and wasn't signed by anyone.

Dusty Baker (#165) was traded to the Oakland A's for two minor leaguers during spring training in 1985 and did not play for the Giants.

Other players who played outfield for the Giants but didn't get a 1985 Topps card are:

Ron Roenicke batted .256 in 65 games in 1985.

1985 Topps Giants Part 2

Brad Wellman (#409) batted .236 in 174 at bats as a utilityman.

David Green was acquired as part of the Jack Clark trade before the season. David only played for the Giants in 1985. He batted .248 with 5 home runs in 294 at bats.

Manny Trillo batted .224 in 451 at bats as the starting second baseman. He used to drive my dad nuts with his constant smiling. He would say things like, "You're having a bad year and so is your team--why the %#$@ are you smiling?"

Jose Uribe was another guy acquired by the Giants in the Jack Clark trade. Jose batted .237 in 476 at bats as the starting shortstop. I can hear it now-------OOOO---Ribe! OOOO---Ribe!

Chris Brown was the starting third baseman and batted .271 with 16 home runs in 432 at bats. He was 4th in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Fran Mullins did not play for the Giants in 1985. He spent the season in AAA Phoenix and was sold to the Cleveland Indians after the season.

Duane Kuiper played in nine games (either pinch hitting or pinch running appearances) and was 3 for 5 with a walk and two sacrifices. He was released on June 28.

Scot Thompson batted .217 with 0 home runs in 111 at bats and was traded with Bill Laskey to the Montreal Expos for Dan Driessen on August 1.

Johnnie LeMaster was 0 for 16 and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 7.

Other infielders who did not get Topps Giants cards in 1985:

Dan Driessen 1B (.232 with 3 home runs in 54 games)

Rob Deer UT (.185 with 8 home runs in 162 at bats)

Ricky Adams IF (.190 in 121 at bats)

Gary Rajsich 1B (.165 with 0 home runs in 91 at bats)

Mike Woodard 2B (.244 in 82 AB)

Crazy Crab

Do you remember this thing? It was introduced as an "anti-mascot" in 1984. Crazy Crab lasted only one season. It was the subject of much derision and abuse from players and fans alike. Here is a little article about it on the Giants website.

Here's one of the commercials from 1984:

I guess the Giants gave away some bobbleheads (or bobblecarapaces in this case) last year:

Here is Crazy Crab making its "triumphant" return in 2008:

1985 Topps Giants Part 1

The 1985 Giants were the most wretched club in team history. They were 62-100 and last in the NL West. I remember watching them when they were on Cubs and Braves broadcasts. There weren't a whole lot of people in the stands, they were usually bundled up, and about all that could be heard was the sound of fans playing "charge" on their kazoos.

Record: 62-100 .383 (6th in NL West -33 games behind)
Team Batting: .233 (12th out of 12 teams)
Team Pitching: 3.62 ERA (6th out of 12 teams)
Team Fielding: .976 (9th out of 12 teams)
NL All Stars: Scott Garrelts
Attendance: 818,697 (11th out of 12 teams)


Danny Ozark (#365) didn't manage the 1985 team. He was the interim manager after Frank Robinson was fired on August 5, 1984.

Jim Davenport (#27T) finally got his shot to manage in 1985 after many years as a player and coach for the Giants. The Giants had a 56-88 record when Jim was dismissed and replaced by Roger Craig with 18 games left in the season.

Bob Brenly (#215) was the starting catcher. He batted .220 in 440 at bats but led the team in home runs (!) with 19.

Steve Nicosia (#103) didn't play for the Giants in 1985. He became a free agent after the 1984 season and signed with the Montreal Expos.

Alex Trevino (#123T) was the backup catcher in 1985. He batted .217 in 157 at bats. Alex was traded to the Dodgers after the season for Candy Maldonado.

John Rabb (#696) didn't play for the Giants in 1985. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Alex Trevino on April 17.

Matt Nokes also caught a few September games for the Giants. He batted .208 with 2 home runs in 19 games. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers after the season.

A Surprise Find in a Box of Giants Cards

• We had a rainy afternoon here in the White Mountains of Arizona. It looks like monsoon season is upon us!

• I had some time on my hands, so I figured I'd see what I had on a bookshelf in the spare room.I came across an 800-count box on the top shelf. I had no idea what was in it. I opened the box and noticed that it was a box of Giants cards. Several years ago I won the box on eBay for about $4.00 or so. When the box arrived I just stuck it on the shelf and forgot about it.

• I decided to see exactly what was in the box. It was mostly late 80s and early 90s cards. My "break" from collecting was about 1992-2008 (at least in terms of buying new stuff), so I wasn't able to tell at first which set was which. The "full photograph" sets aren't as distinctive as the earlier Topps sets were.

• As I continued to sort through the box, one card leaped out at me. It was a 1960 Fleer Ernie Lombardi. Now why didn't Fleer feature Ernie as a Red, since he had his best years with them?

• It was a nice surprise. Whoever boxed up those cards about 10 years ago or so, thank you!

1981 Topps Giants Part 4

Gary Lavelle was 2-6 with an ERA of 3.84 and 4 saves.





Randy Moffitt was 0-0 with a 7.94 ERA in 10 games. He was released on August 4.

Tom Griffin was 8-8 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts. He was the only SF pitcher to hit a home run in 1981.

Bob Knepper did not pitch for the Giants in 1981. He was traded to the Houston Astros before the season.

Allen Ripley was 4-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 19 games (14 starts).

Vida Blue was 8-6 with a 2.45 ERA. He was the only All Star for the Giants in 1981.

John Montefusco did not pitch for the Giants in 1981. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves before the season for Doyle Alexander.

Greg Minton was 4-5 with a 2.88 ERA and had 21 saves in 1981.

Ed Whitson was 6-9 with a 4.02 ERA in 22 starts.

Al Holland was 7-5 with a 2.41 ERA and had 7 saves.

Other pitchers for the Giants who didn't get 1981 Topps Giants cards:

Doyle Alexander (11-7, 2.89, 24 starts, led the Giants in wins)

Fred Breining (5-2, 2.55, 45 games)

Bob Tufts (0-0, 3.52, 11 games)

1960 Giants 8mm film

From the description on YouTube: "Great old baseball film. In 1960 VicDavis was called up to pitch for the SF Giants. He was reunited with his pals from the minors, Juan Marichal, Matty and Felipe Alou. This 8mm film clip includes shots in spring training in Tuscon, pregame scenes at Candlestick Park and around SF. Vic and the Alous also ham it up for the camera at the beach. Also seen are Harvey Kuenn, Willie Mays, Minnie Minoso and Jim Perry (from the Cleveland Indians). "

1981 Topps Giants Part 3

• Bill North .221 in 46 games in 1981. He stole 26 bases. North played his last major league game on June 11, 1981 and was released on August 4, 1981.

• Jim Wohlford batted .162 in 50 games (68 AB).

• Jack Clark batted .268 in 99 games in 1981. He led the Giants in runs scored (60), home runs (17), and RBI (53)
  
  
  

• Larry Herndon batted .288 in 98 games
  
  

• Terry Whitfield didn't play for the Giants in 1981. He was purchased by the Seibu Lions of the Japanese Pacific League in March of 1981.
  
  
  
  

• Max Venable batted 36 times and had a .188 average. He spent most of the season in AAA Phoenix, where he batted .285 with 33 stolen bases.

• Others who played OF for the Giants but didn't get a regular issue Topps SF Giants card:

• Jeffrey Leonard (.307 in 127 AB)
• Chili Davis (.133 in 15 AB)

• Jerry Martin (.241 in 72 games)
  
  
  
  
  

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1981 Topps Giants Part 2

• Rich Murray spent the season in AAA Phoenix, where he batted .326.

• Mike Ivie batted .294 in 7 games for the Giants. He was traded to Houston on April 20 for Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard.
  
  

• Johnnie LeMaster was the starting shortstop and batted .253 in 104 games in 1981.
  
  
  

• Rennie Stennett batted .230 in 87 at bats in 1981. It was his last major league season.
  
  
  

• Darrell Evans started at 3B and batted .258 with 12 homers in 102 games.
  
  
  

• Joe Strain did not play for the Giants in 1981. He was traded to the Cubs before the season.
  
  
  
  

• Joe Pettini batted .069 in 35 games (34 at bats).

• Other infielders who didn't have SF Giants Topps cards:

• Enos Cabell was acquired from Houston to play 1B. He batted .255 in 96 games and had a .274 on base percentage.

• Joe Morgan signed as a free agent and played 2B. He batted .240 in 90 games. Joe walked 66 times and had 14 stolen bases (second on the team).

• Dave Bergman played 1B and OF in 1981. Dave batted .267 in 145 at bats.

• Billy Smith was a utility man in 1981, batting .180 in 61 at bats.

• Guy Sularz batted .200 in 20 at bats as a September call-up.
  
  
  
  
  

1981 Topps Giants - Part 1

• Dave Bristol didn't manage this team. He was replaced by Frank Robinson before the season.

• Overall record: 56-55 (4th in NL West); 1st half: 27-32 (5th); 2nd half: 29-23 (3rd)

• Team batting average: .250 (8th of 12 teams)

• Team HR: 63 (6th of 12 teams)

• Team ERA: 3.28 (3rd of 12 teams)

• Team fielding: .977 (8th of 12 teams)

• Chris Bourjos didn't play for the Giants in 1981. He played his last major league game on October 5, 1980. After the 1980 season he was traded to Houston with Bob Knepper for Enos Cabell. Chris played in the minors through the 1983 season.

• Al Hargesheimer was 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA in six games (3 starts) in 1981. He spent most of the season as a starter for AAA Phoenix.

• Mike Rowland was 0-1 with a 3.45 ERA in nine games (1 start) in 1981. He went 15-7 in 25 starts for AAA Phoenix. 1981 was his last big league season.
  
  

• Milt May was the starting catcher. He played in 97 games and batted .310 with a .376 on base percentage. He didn't have much power (2 homers in 316 at bats).
  
  

• Dennis Littlejohn played his last major league game in 1980. He spent the 1981 season with the AAA Phoenix Giants, where be batted .270.
  
  
  
  

• Mike Sadek was at the end of the line as a backup catcher. He was 35 in 1981 and played in only 19 games (.167 in 36 at bats). He played his last game before the strike and was released before play resumed.

• Bob Brenly caught in 14 games for the Giants after the strike. He batted .333 in 45 at bats.

• Jeff Ransom played in 5 games in 1981 (.267 in 16 at bats). He was the second youngest (20 years old) player in the NL in 1981.