1987 Topps Giants - Part 1

• In 1987 (#231), the Giants became a fun team to watch again. They brought up several good young players and the pitching was much improved. Bob Brenly and Jeffrey Leonard were the only starting positon players over the age of 30. The Giants won the NL West and lost in seven games in the National League Championship Series.

• Team Record: 90-72 (1st in NL West, 6 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds)
• Team Attendance: 1,917,168 (7th of 12 teams)
• Team Batting: .260 (7th in NL)
• Team Home Runs: 205 (2nd in NL)
• Team ERA: 3.70 (1st in NL)
• Team Fielding: .980 (3rd in NL)
• NL All Stars: Jeffrey Leonard (OF)
• NL Gold Gloves: Rick Reuschel (P for 2nd half of season)
• NL Championship MVP: Jeffrey Leonard
• League Leaders: Rick Reuschel (shutouts - 4)

• Roger Craig (#193) managed the Giants into the playoffs for the first time since 1971. The Giants became a fun team to watch again. Roger managed the Giants from the end of the 1985 season through the 1992 season. He stepped down after the '92 season.
  
  

• Bob Brenly (#125) was the starting catcher in 1987. He batted .267 with 18 home runs in 375 at bats. It was his last season as a regular. He batted .235 (4 for 17) in the National League Championship Series. Bob spent 1981-1988 with the Giants and then was released and went to Toronto to start the 1989 season. After being released from the Blue Jays in mid-July Bob went back to the Giants. He played for AAA Phoenix and then finished his career with the Giants in September. He retired after the '89 season.
  
  

• Bob Melvin (#549) batted .199 with 11 home runs in 246 at bats as the Giants' backup catcher. He had a .998 fielding percentage behind the plate. Bob went 3 for 7 (.429) in the NLCS. Melvin spent 3 seasons (1986-1988) with the Giants and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Terry Kennedy before the 1989 season.
• Others who caught for the Giants in 1987 but who didn't receive '87 Topps cards:
• Mackey Sasser (0 for 4 in 2 games)
• Kirk Manwaring (1 for 7 in 6 games)