1992 Topps Giants - Part 1

The 1992 Giants weren't all that great. They didn't get on base very often, they didn't score many runs, and they didn't have much power. Here is a card of Roger Craig (#109) in a throwback uniform. Apparently they weren't able to make throwback helmets. Craig stepped down as the San Francisco manager after the 1992 season.

Team Record: 72-90 (5th in NL West, 26 games behind Atlanta)
Team Attendance: 1,560,998 (11th in NL)
Team Batting: .254 (11th in NL)
Team Home Runs: 105 (6th in NL)
Team ERA: 3.61 (9th in NL)
Team Fielding: .982 (4th in NL)
NL All Stars: Will Clark (1B)
League Leaders: Bill Swift (ERA - 2.08) Bud Black (home runs allowed - 28)

Team Leaders:

• Batting Average - Will Clark (.300)
• Home Runs - Matt Williams (20)
• RBI - Will Clark (73)
• Runs - Will Clark (69)
• Stolen Bases - Darren Lewis (28)
• Wins - John Burkett (13)
• Losses - Trevor Wilson (14)
• Saves - Rod Beck (17)
• ERA (starters) - Bill Swift (2.08)
• ERA (relievers) - Rod Beck (1.76)

Terry Kennedy (#253) didn't play for the Giants in 1992. He retired after the 1991 season.

Steve Decker (#593) played in 15 games and batted .163 in 43 at bats. He batted .282 in 125 games for the AAA Phoenix Firebirds in 1992.

Kirt Manwaring (#726) took over as the regular catcher for the Giants in 1993. He played in 109 games and batted .244 with 4 HR.

Others who played catcher for the Giants in 1992 without getting a 1992 Topps Giants card:

Craig Colbert (.230 in 126 AB)
Jim McNamara (.216 in 74 AB)
Mark Bailey (.154 in 26 AB)

Bleech. This is one of the things that turned me off to card collecting in the 1990s (besides the fact that I had just started my teaching career and couldn't afford cards at the time). Nothing against Steve Whitaker (#369), but I think a guy needs to pay his dues before getting a regular issue card. It would have been better to make an insert set of draft picks and give regular major leaguers the regular issue cards.

1989 Topps Giants - Part 1

The 1989 Giants won the NLWest, beat the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS, then were swept by the Oakland A's in the "earthquake series." It was a fun year to be a Giants fan. This is probably my least favorite 80s Topps sets.

Team Record: 92-70, 1st in NL West, 3 games ahead of San Diego

Attendance: 2,059,791 (5th in NL)

Team Batting: .250 (4th in NL)

Team Home Runs: 141 (2nd in NL)

Team ERA: 3.30 (3rd in NL)

Team Fielding: .982 (2nd in NL)

League Leaders: Kevin Mitchell (slugging .635, home runs 47, RBI 125); Robbie Thompson (triples 11); Scott Garrelts (ERA 2.28)

All Stars: Rick Reuschel (starting pitcher); Will Clark (starting 1B); Kevin Mitchell (starting LF)

Awards: Kevin Mitchell (MVP, Silver Slugger); Will Clark (NLCS MVP, Silver Slugger); Don Robinson (Silver Slugger)

Roger Craig (#744) was in his fourth full season of managing the Giants. The 1989 season would be the second and final time that the Giants would win the NL West during his 6+ years of managing the club.

Bob Brenly (#52) batted .182 in 12 games in 1989. He had been released by the Giants after the 1988 season. Brenly signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 1989 season but was released on July 18. Bob signed with the Giants to help out during the September stretch run and then retired after the season.

Bob Melvin (#329) didn't play for the Giants in 1989. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles before the season for Terry Kennedy.

Kirt Manwaring (#506) backed up Terry Kennedy and batted .210 in 85 games in 1989.

Terry Kennedy (#59T) was the starting catcher. He batted .239 with 5 HR in 125 games in 1989.

1988 Topps Giants - Part 1

The "team leaders" cards in the late 80s didn't do much for me. I liked the information on the backs, but the fronts just weren't all that great.

Team Record: 83-79, 4th NL West, 11.5 games behind the Dodgers
Attendance: 1,785,297 (9th of 12)
Team Batting: .248 (5th in NL)
Team Home Runs: 113 (3rd in NL)
Team ERA: 3.40 (6th in NL)
Team Fielding: .980 (2nd in NL)
Gold Glove Winners: none
NL All Stars: Will Clark (starting 1B), Robby Thompson (2B, did not play)




The 1988 season was Roger Craig's third full season as the Giants' manager. The Giants won the NL West in 1987 and in 1989, but stumbled in 1988. Craig ended up spending 7 full seasons (1986-1992) and part of another one (1985) as the SF manager.

Bob Brenly batted .189 with five homers in 206 at bats in 1988. It was a significant drop-off from his performance in 1987 and he was released after the season. Bob signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and played part of the 1989 season for the Jays. He was released in July and signed with the Giants to help with their '89 pennant drive. Brenly retired after the 1989 season.

Kirt Manwaring batted .250 in 40 games. He spent a large portion of the season in AAA Phoenix.

Bob Melvin was the Giants' starting catcher. He batted .234 with eight homers in 273 at bats. After the season Bob was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Terry Kennedy.

1990 Topps Giants Part 1

1990 San Francisco Giants

• Team record: 85-77 (3rd in NL West - 6 games behind Cincinnati Reds)
• Attendance: 1,975,528 (8th of 12)
• Team batting: .262 - 3rd in NL
• Team home runs: 152 - 3rd in NL
• Team ERA: 4.08 - 9th in NL
• Team fielding: .983 - 1st in NL
• Gold Gloves: none
• Silver Sluggers: Don Robinson (P), Matt Williams (3B)
• All Stars: Will Clark (starting 1B), Kevin Mitchell (starting LF), Jeff Brantley (P), Matt Williams (3B)

Roger Craig (#351) managed the Giants from the end of the 1985 season through the 1992 season. His record with the Giants was 586-566 (.509). He won two NL West titles (1987 and 1989) and one NL pennant (1989).

Gary Carter (#19T) batted .254 with nine home runs in 92 games. He was released by the New York Mets and signed by the Giants before the 1990 season. He left the Giants after the season as a free agent.

Kirt Manwaring (#678) batted .154 in 13 at bats for the Giants in 1990. He had two short stints with the Giants and spent the rest of the season with AAA Phoenix.

Terry Kennedy (#372) was the starting catcher. He batted .277 with 22 doubles and two home runs in 303 at bats.

The following players saw action behind the plate for the Giants in 1990 but didn't get Topps cards:

• Steve Decker (.296 in 54 at bats)
• Bill Bathe (.229 in 48 at bats)
• Mark Bailey (.143 in 7 at bats)