1976 SSPC Giants - Part 3

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).

1974 Topps Giants -- Part 2

• Dave Kingman didn't have one of his better years in 1974. He played in 121 games and batted .223 with 18 homers and 55 RBI.

• Steve Ontiveros started 72 games at third base in 1974. As a 22-year-0ld rookie he batted .265 with 4 HR and 57 walks (.375 OBP).
  
  
  

• Mike Phillips batted .219 in 100 games (283 AB) as a utility infielder.
  
  
  
  

• Ed Goodson started 67 games at 1B and played some 3B as well in his last good season. He batted .272 with 6 HR and 48 RBI in 298 AB. Ed would never bat above .229 for the rest of his major league career.
  
  
  

• Chris Arnold is listed as a catcher on this card because he caught in nine games in 1973. In 1974 he was a utility infielder, starting 30 games at 2B, six games at 3B, and one game at SS. Chris batted .241 in 174 AB.
  
  
  

• Tito Fuentes missed over a month of the season. He played on opening day (April 5) and didn't play again until May 7. He struggled to a .249 average in 108 games and was traded to the San Diego Padres after the season.
  
  
  
  

• Chris Speier batted .250 in 141 games as the starting shortstop and was the Giants' representative in the 1974 All Star Game.
  
  
  
  

• Gary Thomasson batted .244 in 315 AB as an outfielder and occasional first baseman.
  
  Others who played infield in 1974 but didn't get Topps Giants' cards:
• Bruce Miller (.278 in 198 AB as a utility infielder). He batted .357 in 33 games at Phoenix in '74 but couldn't duplicate it at the major league level.
• Glenn Redmon batted .235 in 17 late-season at bats. 1974 was his only season in the majors. Glenn batted .312 for Phoenix before his September call-up.
  
  
  
  
  
  

1975 Topps Giants Part 2

Mike Phillips (#642) batted .194 in 10 games for the Giants in 1975. The Giants waived him and the New York Mets claimed him on May 3.

Bruce Miller (#606) batted .239 in 99 games. He mostly played 3B and had some games at 2B and SS.

Chris Speier (#505) was the starting shortstop, played in 141 games, and batted .271.

Steve Ontiveros (#483) mostly played at 3B, but also saw action at 1B and in the OF. He batted .289 with little power in 108 games. He had a nice on base percentage (.391). In fact, none of the Giant starters had an OBP below .347.

Tito Fuentes (#425) was traded with Butch Metzger to the San Diego Padres for Darrell Thomas before the 1975 season.

Ed Goodson (#322) batted .207 in 121 at bats as a utilityman in 1975. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Craig Robinson on June 11.

Other infielders who saw action for the Giants but didn't get a 1975 Topps Giants card:

• Willie Montanez (1B) batted .305 in 135 games.
• Darrell Thomas (2B) batted .276 in 144 games and led the Giants in stolen bases (28).
• Johnnie LeMaster (SS) batted .189 in 74 at bats as a September call-up.
• Chris Arnold (UT) batted .195 in 41 at bats. He batted .339 in 35 games at AAA Phoenix in 1975.
• Craig Robinson (UT) batted .069 in 29 at bats after being acquired on June 11.