1976 SSPC Giants - Part 3

1977 Topps Giants Part 2 (infielders)

Willie McCovey (#547) had a great comeback season in 1977 and was named comeback player of the year. It looked like he was finished after a poor 1976 for San Diego and Oakland. Willie became a free agent after the 1976 season and signed with the Giants. He played in 141 games and batted .280 with 28 home runs and 86 RBI. If it weren't for the 1977 season, McCovey may not have accumulated enough lifetime stats to make it to the Hall of Fame. He was a HOF consideration after the 1976 season but became a sure HOFer after his '77 season and the stats he accumulated from 1978-1980.

With the Giants picking up McCovey to play first base and Bill Madlock to play third base, Darrell Evans (#571) was moved to left field for the 1977 season. He played in 81 games at LF, 41 games (11 starts) at 1B, and 35 games at 3B. Darrell wasn't much of a defender in LF -- he had a fielding percentage of .936 vs. a league average of .973. This would be the last year that he would play in the outfield. Evans batted .254 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI.

Chris Speier (#515) played in only six games (.176 in 17 AB) for the Giants in 1977 before being traded to the Montreal Expos for Tim Foli on April 27.

Marty Perez (#438) didn't play for the Giants in 1977. During spring training in 1977 he was traded to the New York Yankees for Terry Whitfield.

Ken Reitz (#297) didn't play for the Giants in 1977. He was traded back to the St. Louis Cardinals (for whom he played from 1972-1975) for Lynn McGlothen.

Derrell Thomas (#266) played six positions for the Giants in 1977, spending most of his time in center field. He batted .267 with 10 triples, 8 HR, and 44 RBI in 148 games. After the 1977 season he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Mike Ivie.

Johnnie LeMaster (#151) was a backup shortstop for the Giants in 1977. He batted .149 in 134 at bats. He batted .314 in 22 games for AAA Phoenix.

Others who played infield for the Giants but who didn't get 1977 Topps Giants cards:

• Bill Madlock (3B - batted .302 with 12 HR and 46 RBI in 140 games)
• Rob Andrews (2B - batted .264 in 436 AB)
• Tim Foli (SS - batted .228 in 368 AB)
• Vic Harris (.261 in 165 AB)
• Skip James (.267 in 15 AB)
  
  
  
  
  

1976 Topps Giants - Part 2 (infielders)

Steve Ontiveros (#284) didn't get much playing time for the Giants in 1976. He batted .176 in 74 at bats and went to the Cubs as part of the Bill Madlock trade after the season.

Willie Montanez (#181) spent part of the season with the Giants before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in a multi-player deal that netted Darrell Evans for the Giants. Willie played in 60 games for the Giants and batted .309 before the June 15 trade. He ended up playing in 163 games in the 1976 season. Willie continued his major league career until 1982.

Chris Speier (#630) slumped to a .226 average in 145 games in 1976. Speier originally came up with the Giants in 1971 and was traded to the Montreal Expos early in the 1977 season for Tim Foli. Chris spent some time with several other teams before coming back to the Giants in 1987 and finishing up with them in 1989.

Derrel Thomas (#493) batted .232 in 85 games for the Giants in a utility role. He was the starting second baseman until Marty Perez came over as part of the Montanez/Evans trade on June 15. Thomas came to the Giants in 1975 and was traded to the San Diego Padres for Mike Ivie after the 1977 season. He ended up playing 15 seasons for seven teams.

Bruce Miller (#367) batted .160 in 25 at bats. He played in 87 games at AAA Phoenix and batted .262. Bruce retired after the 1976 season.

Ken Reitz (#158T) was the starting third baseman for the Giants in 1976. In 155 games he batted .267 with 5 HR and 66 RBI. The Giants had acquired Reitz in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for Pete Falcone before the 1976 season. After the '76 season Ken was traded back to the Cardinals for Lynn McGlothen.

Johnnie LeMaster (#596) hit a home run in his first major league at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 2, 1975. Johnnie hit only 22 homers in his career. In 1976 LeMaster played for AAA Phoenix for most of the season. For the Giants Johnnie played in 33 games and batted .210 in 100 at bats. He played for the Giants from 1975-1985 and then had short stints in Pittsburgh (1985) and Oakland (1987).

1978 Topps Giants - Part 2

• Willie McCovey (#34) hit 12 homers, had 64 RBI , and batted .228 in 351 at bats in 1978.

• Johnnie LeMaster (#538) played shortstop and batted .235 in 272 at bats.
  
  

• Rob Andrews (#461) batted .220 in 177 at bats in 1978.
  
  
  

• Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock (#410) continued to hit well as he batted .309 in 122 games as the starting second baseman.
  
  
  

• Darrell Evans (#215) played 159 games at third base in 1978 and batted .243 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI. He also had 105 walks.
  
  
  

• Derrel Thomas (#194) didn't play for the Giants in 1978. He was traded to the San Diego Padres for Mike Ivie before the season.
  
  
  

• Tim Foli (#167) didn't play for the Giants in 1978. He was purchased by the New York Mets in December 1977.

Others who played infield for the Giants but didn't have 1978 Topps Giants cards:

• Mike Ivie was mostly a first baseman (.308, 11 HR, 55 RBI in 318 AB)
• Roger Metzger - SS (.260 in 235 AB)
• Tom Heintzelman - utility (.229 in 35 AB)
• Skip James - 1B (.095 in 21 AB)