Sunday, November 29, 2009

1976 Topps Giants - Part 1



  • These were grim times for the Giants. A manager isn't pictured on this team card (#443) because the Giants hadn't hired one when this set was printed. The Giants weren't drawing well and they were about to be sold and moved to Toronto before Bob Lurie bought the team and kept it in San Francisco.



  • Bill Rigney was eventually brought in to manage the team in 1976. He had a previous stint managing the Giants from 1956-1960. He was let go after 58 games despite having a .569 winning percentage (the Giants were in 5th place at the time). Bill also managed the Los Angeles/California Angels from their inception in 1961 until early 1969. Rigney managed the Minnesota Twins to the 1970 AL West title and ran them in '71 and for 39 games in '72. After the 1976 season Rigney was replaced by Joe Altobelli.



  • Team record: 74-88 (4th in NL West, 28 games behind Cincinnati)

  • Attendance: 626,868 (12th in NL)

  • Team Batting: .246 (9th in NL)

  • Team Home Runs: 85 (8th in NL)

  • Team ERA: 3.53 (6th in NL)

  • Team Fielding: .971 (12th in NL)

  • NL All Stars: John Montefusco (P)

  • League Leaders: Willie Montanez (games played - 163 for Giants and Braves); John Montefusco (shutouts - 6)
  • Team Batting Leader: Larry Herndon (.288)
  • Team HR Leader: Bobby Murcer (23)
  • Team RBI Leader: Bobby Murcer (90)
  • Team Wins Leader: John Montefusco (16)
  • Team Losses Leader: Ed Halicki (14)
  • Team Saves Leader: Randy Moffitt (14)









Mike Sadek (#234) batted .204 in 93 at bats as the Giants' third catcher.








  • Dave Rader (#54) was the "regular" catcher -- he played in 88 games and batted .263 with 1 HR and 23 RBI.






  • Marc Hill (#577) batted .183 in 54 games (131 AB) with 3 HR and 15 RBI.


Others who caught for the Giants but didn't get a 1976 Topps Giants card:




  • Gary Alexander (.178 in 73 AB)




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