Card Tribute: Jack Clark

Jack Clark was a star for the Giants for several years in the 1970s and 1980s. Jack first came up to the Giants in late 1975 at the age of 19. He had another short stint with the Giants in 1976 before coming up to stay in 1977.

1977 Topps #488

136 games, .252, 13 HR, 51 RBI

1978 Topps #384

156 games, .306, 25 HR, 98 RBI, NL All Star, 5th in MVP voting

1979 Topps #512

143 games, .273, 26 HR, 86 RBI, NL All Star

1980 Topps #167

127 games, .284, 22 HR, 82 RBI

1981 Topps #30

99 games, .268, 17 HR, 53 RBI

1982 Topps #460

157 games, .274, 27 HR, 103 RBI

1983 Topps

135 games, .268, 20 HR, 66 RBI

1984 Topps #690

57 games, .320, 11 HR, 44 RBI

1985 Topps #740
Did not play for the Giants in 1985. Clark was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals before the season for David Green, Dave LaPoint, Gary Rajsich, and Jose Uribe.

Vote on which Jack Clark card you like the best (poll on the right-hand side).

1971 Topps Giants - Part 5 (more pitchers)

#19 Skip Pitlock

• Skip Pitlock didn't pitch for the Giants in 1971. He spent the 1971 season in AAA Phoenix.
• Skip pitched for the Giants during the 1970 season.
• Pitlock was with Phoenix again in 1972 before being traded to the Chicago White Sox before the 1973 season.

#276 Mike Davison

• Mike Davison didn't pitch for the Giants in 1971. He split the 1971 season between AAA Phoenix and Cincinnati's AAA Indianapolis clubs.
• Davison pitched for the Giants in parts of the 1969 and 1970 seasons but he retired after the 1971 season.

#354 Don McMahon

• Don McMahon was 10-6 with four saves and a 4.06 ERA in 61 games in 1971.
• Don pitched in two games in the NLCS and didn't allow any runs in three innings.
• McMahon was the Giants' pitching coach in 1973 and in 1974 and was activated for a while in both seasons when the Giants needed some bullpen help. He was the Giants' pitching coach from 1973-1975 and again from 1980-1982.

#412 Jerry Johnson

• Jerry Johnson was 12-9 with 18 saves and a 2.97 ERA in 67 games in 1971.
• Jerry finished 6th in NL Cy Young Award voting in 1971.
• Johnson pitched in game 4 of the NLCS and allowed a 3-run homer to Roberto Clemente in the 6th inning that eventually was the decisive blow in the game.

#443 Rich Robertson

• Rich Robertson was 2-2 with one save and an ERA of 4.57 in 23 games (6 starts).
• Robertson pitched in his final major league game on July 20, 1971. He allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks in 1 1/3 innings.
• Robertson was sold to the Chicago White Sox before the 1972 season but the White Sox sent him back during spring training. The Giants released Rich on March 27, 1972. Robertson played in AAA for Atlanta's Richmond club but he retired after the season.

Others who pitched for the Giants in 1971 but who didn't receive a 1971 Topps Giants card:

• Steve Stone (5-9, 4.15 ERA in 24 games - 19 starts)
• Don Carrithers (5-3, 1 save, 4.03 ERA in 22 games - 12 starts)
• Jim Barr (1-1, 3.57 ERA in 17 games)
• Jim Willoughby (0-1, 9.00 ERA in 4 innings)
• Steve Hamilton (2-2, 4 saves, 3.02 ERA in 39 games)

1971 Topps Giants - Part 4 (pitchers)

#140 Gaylord Perry

• Gaylord Perry was 16-12 with a 2.76 ERA in 37 starts in 1971.
• Perry started and lost game 1 of the NLCS. He allowed five runs in  nine innings (the Giants lost 5-4).
• Perry and Frank Duffy were traded to the Cleveland Indians for Sam McDowell after the 1971 season.

#325 Juan Marichal

• Juan Marichal was 18-11 with a 2.94 ERA in 37 starts in 1971.
• Marichal started and won the final game of the 1971 season on September 30. The win clinched the NL West title for the Giants.
• Juan was the winning pitcher in game 3 of the NLCS. He started the game and allowed one run in a complete-game 2-1 victory. It was the only game the Giants won in the series.

#108 John Cumberland

• John Cumberland started the 1971 season as a relief pitcher. After pitching in 22 games as a reliever John was placed in the staring rotation in late June. 
• Cumberland was 9-6 with two saves and a 2.92 ERA in 45 games (21 starts) in 1971.
• John started and lost game 2 of the NLCS. He allowed three runs in three innings pitched.
• The 1971 season was the peak of John's career. He was traded from the Giants after starting the 1972 season 0-4 with an 8.64 ERA. Cumberland pitched for several major and minor league teams from 1972-1974.

#621 Ron Bryant

• Ron Bryant was 7-10 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 starts for the Giants in 1971. 
• He allowed one run in two innings pitched in game 2 of the NLCS.

#251 Frank Reberger

• Frank Reberger was 3-0 with a 3.92 ERA in 13 games (7 starts). He wasn't used in the NLCS. 
• Frank was with the Giants as a swingman for the 1970 season and pitched a little for the Giants in 1972. He spent most of his time from 1971-1974 pitching for the Giants' AAA Phoenix club.

1971 Topps Giants - Part 3 (outfielders)

#295 Bobby Bonds

• Bobby Bonds was the star of the Giants in 1971. He batted .288 with 33 HR and 102 RBI and led the Giants in most offensive categories. Bobby batted .250 (2 for 8) in the NLCS.

#128 Frank Johnson

• Frank Johnson batted .082 in 49 at bats in 1971. He played in his final major league game on June 12, 1971. Johnson was in the minors for all or parts of 13 seasons (1961-1975), mostly with the Giants' organization.

#155 Ken Henderson

• Ken Henderson was the starting LF for the Giants and batted .264 with 15 HR and 61 RBI. Ken batted .313 (6 for 15) in the NLCS.

#276 George Foster

• George looks like he really didn't want his picture to be taken.
• Foster batted .267 with 3 HR in 105 AB for the Giants before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds on May 29 for Frank Duffy and Vern Geishert.

#600 Willie Mays

• Willie led the Giants with 112 walks and had a .425 on base percentage. Mays batted .271 with 18 HR and 61 RBI during the regular season.
• Mays batted .267 (4 for 15) with one HR during the 1971 NLCS.

#728 Bernie Williams

• Bernie Williams was with AAA Phoenix for most of the season (.308 in 73 games). He batted .178 in 73 at bats for the Giants. Bernie spent most of his career (1966-1974) in the minors. He had short stints with the Giants in 1970, 1971, and 1972. Williams was traded to the San Diego Padres with Willie McCovey for Mike Caldwell after the 1973 season. He batted .133 (1 for 15) with the Padres in 1974 before being sent down in mid-May. Bernie spent the rest of the 1974 season in the minors. Williams then went to Japan and had success from 1975-1980.

Others who played OF for the Giants in 1971 who didn't get a 1971 Topps card:

• Jimmy Rosario (.224 in 192 AB)
• Floyd Wicker (.143 in 21 AB)
• Jim Howarth (.231 in 13 AB)

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1971 Topps Giants - Part 2 (infielders)

#50 Willie McCovey

• Willie McCovey missed part of the year with an injury, but he was a dangerous hitter when he was in there. Willie batted .277 with 18 HR and 70 RBI in 105 games during the regular season.
• McCovey was 6 for 14 (.429) with 2 HR during the 1971 National League Championship Series
• On May 2 against the Cincinnati Reds McCovey went 2 for 6 with two HR and 3 RBI. His solo home run in the top of the 13th inning was the eventual game-winner.
• Willie played in his last All Star Game in 1971 and was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

#181 Hal Lanier

• Another Phoenix Municipal Stadium picture
• Hal Lanier batted .233 in 109 games in 1971.
• Lanier started 41 games at 3B and was a defensive replacement in most of his other games.
• Hal went 0 for 1 in the 1971 NLCS.

#378 Tito Fuentes

• Tito Fuentes batted .273 in 152 games in 1971. 
• Fuentes was 5 for 16 (.313) in the NLCS.

#486 Steve Huntz

• Steve Huntz didn't play for the Giants in 1971.
• Huntz was traded to the Chicago White Sox on March 23, 1971 for Steve Hamilton

#691 Bob Heise

• Bob Heise was hitless in 11 at bats for the Giants in 1971.
• On June 1 Heise was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Floyd Wicker

#224 Alan Gallagher

• Alan Gallagher batted .277 with 5 HR and 57 RBI in 136 games. 
• Gallagher was 1 for 10 (.100) in the NLCS.

#461 Jim Hart

• Jim Ray Hart batted .256 in 39 AB. 
• He didn't play until June 18 and was used mostly as a pinch hitter during the season.
• Hart went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts in the NLCS.

Others who played infield for the Giants in 1971 but didn't get a 1971 Topps Giants card:

• Dave Kingman (UT) (.278, 6 HR, 24 RBI in 41 games)
• Frank  Johnson (UT) (.082 in 49 AB)
• Ed Goodson (1B) (.190 in 42 AB)
• Frank Duffy (UT) (.179 in 28 AB)
• Chris Arnold (2B) (.231 in 13 AB)

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1971 Topps Giants - Part 1

#563 Team Card

• After several years of disappointment and second-place finishes the Giants finally won a NL West title in 1971. They were in first place for much of the season but didn't clinch the division until the final day of the season. The Giants lost in the National League Championship series to the Pittsburgh Pirates three games to one.
• Team Record: 92-70 (1st in NL West, 1 game ahead of Los Angeles)
• Attendance: 1,106,043 (10th in National League)
• Team Batting: .247 (8th in NL)
• Team Home Runs: 140 (3rd in NL)
• Team Stolen Bases: 101 (2nd in NL)
• Team ERA: 3.32 (6th in NL)
• Team Fielding: .972 (12th in NL)
• League Leaders: Willie Mays (On Base Percentage - .425; Walks - 112)
• NL All Stars: Willie McCovey (starting 1B); Willie Mays (starting CF); Bobby Bonds (OF); Juan Marichal (P)
• Gold Gloves: Bobby Bonds (OF)
• Batting Leader: Bobby Bonds (.288)
• Home Run Leader: Bobby Bonds (33)
• RBI Leader: Bobby Bonds (102)
• Stolen Base Leader: Bobby Bonds (26)
• Victories Leader: Juan Marichal (18)
• Losses Leader: Gaylord Perry (12)
• Strikeouts Leader Juan Marichal (159)
• ERA Leader (starters): Gaylord Perry (2.76)
• ERA Leader (relievers): John Cumberland (2.92)
• Saves Leader: Jerry Johnson (18)

#517 Charlie Fox

• Charlie Fox was in his first full season as the manager of the Giants. Fox took over the managerial duties in May 1970 and remained as the Giants' manager until the middle of the 1974 season.
• Charlie's record as Giants' manager was 348-327 (.516)
• As a player Fox made his major league debut on September 24, 1942 at the age of 20 and played in his last game on September 26, 1942. Charlie's major league career consisted of three games with the New York Giants. He went 3 for 7 (.429) in those three games. Charlie left after the 1942 season to serve in World War II. He came back to baseball after the war and was a player/manager in the minors from 1946-1956.

#545 Dick Dietz

• Dick Dietz didn't give the backups much of a chance to play. Dietz played in 142 games and batted .252 with 19 HR and 72 RBI. Dick went 1 for 15 (.067) in the NLCS.
• Dick went 4 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored on July 8 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

#738 Russ Gibson

• I think this picture was taken at Phoenix Municipal Stadium (I would know for sure if the background were a bit more toward right field -- there was a big scoreboard there). I remember a big green wall behind the center field fence. Sometime in the late 70s (I forget which year) I saw Willie McCovey hit a ball over that wall.
• Russ Gibson batted .193 in 25 games. He wasn't used in the postseason.

Other players who caught for the Giants who didn't receive 1971 Topps Giants cards:

• Fran Healy (.280 in 93 AB)
• Dave Rader (.000 in 4 AB)

1972 Topps Giants - Part 6 (in action)

#712 Bobby Bonds

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#36 Jerry Johnson

#50 Willie Mays

#166 Chris Speier

#186 Ron Bryant

• When was this picture taken?
• Bryant pitched at home twice against the Cardinals (April 19 and July1)
• On April 19 Ron came in as a reliever in the top of the first inning. Bryant led off the bottom of the 3rd and struck out. He led off the bottom of the 5th with a single. It is doubtful that it was a bunt single. In the bottom of the 6th Bryant came up with two out and nobody on base and grounded out to second base. The Giants won the game 4-2 and didn't bat in the bottom of the 9th. It is doubtful that this picture was taken on April 19.
• On July 1 Bryant started the game and lasted 4 2/3 innings. In the bottom of the third inning Bryant came up with a runner on first base and nobody out and hit into a force play. This may have been a foul bunt attempt by Bryant during this at bat. Ron was removed from the game before his spot came up in the batting order again, so the bottom of the third in this game may be when this picture was taken.

Dick Dietz

#444 Ken Henderson

#568 Juan Marichal

#694 Alan Gallagher

Do y'all have any speculation on when these other plays occurred?

Vote in the poll on which of these cards is your favorite. There are several great action shots here!

1972 Topps Giants - Part 5 (more pitchers)

#35 Jerry Johnson

• Jerry Johnson had a rough season as the Giants' closer in 1972 after finishing 6th in NL Cy Young Award voting in 1971. He was 8-6 with eight saves and a 4.42 ERA in 48 games. He hurt his shoulder while participating in unscheduled workouts while the players were on strike. Johnson was placed  on waivers during spring training in 1973 and selected by the Cleveland Indians.

#403 John Cumberland

• John Cumberland was 0-4 with an 8.64 ERA in nine games (six starts). He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer on June 16.

#548 Frank Reberger

• Frank Reberger was 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA in 20 games (11 starts). He was brought up from AAA Phoenix in mid June. Reberger pitched for Phoenix in 1973 and 1974 but never appeared in the majors after the 1972 season.

Others who pitched for the Giants in 1972 but didn't get a 1972 Topps Giants card:

• Don Carrithers (4-8, 1 save, 5.80 ERA in 25 games - 14 starts)
• Randy Moffitt (1-5, 4 saves, 3.69 ERA in 40 games)
• Don McMahon (3-3, 5 saves, 3.71 ERA in 44 games)
• Elias Sosa (0-1, 3 saves, 2.30 ERA in 8 games)
• Jim Willoughby (6-4, 2.36 ERA in 11 starts)
• Charlie Williams (0-2, 8.68 ERA in 3 games - 2 starts)
• John Morris (0-0, 4.26 ERA in 7 games)

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1972 Topps Giants - Part 4 (pitchers)

#567 Juan Marichal

• Juan Marichal had a huge crash in 1972. He went 6-16 with a 3.71 ERA in 24 starts. Marichal had surgery to repair a lumbar disc after the 1972 season. Juan would pitch one more season with the Giants before being sold to the Boston Red Sox after the 1973 season.

#185 Ron Bryant

• Ron Bryant was the ace of the Giants' staff in 1972. He went 14-7 with a 2.90 ERA in 35 games (28 starts).

#682 Mike McCormick

• Mike McCormick didn't pitch for the Giants in 1972. He had been signed as a free agent before the 1972 season and pitched for a while for AAA Phoenix. McCormick announced his retirement from the Giants on June 16 but later pitched for several minor league clubs in an attempt to come back. He never made it back to the major leagues and retired for good after the 1973 season.

#327 Steve Stone

• Steve Stone was 6-8 with a 2.98 ERA in 27 games (16 starts) in 1972. 

#720 Sam McDowell

• "Sudden" Sam McDowell was acquired by the Giants for Gaylord Perry after the 1971 season. McDowell went 10-8 with a 4.33 ERA in 28 games (25 starts) in 1972. He missed about six weeks from mid-July to late-August with a sore arm. McDowell started the 1973 season with the Giants but was sold to the New York Yankees because the Giants couldn't afford to pay him (Ex-Giant Lauds Giants - June 16, 1973 St. Petersburg Times).

#232 Jim Barr

• Jim Barr was a reliever for the first part of the 1972 season and was placed in the starting rotation in late June. Barr was 8-10 with two saves and a 2.87 ERA in 44 games (18 starts) in his first full season.