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.

1970 Topps Giants - Part 4 (more outfielders)

• Bobby Bonds (# 425)had a great all-around season in 1970. The 24-year-old outfielder played in 157 games and batted .302 with 200 hits. He homered 26 times and scored 134 runs. He also had 36 doubles, 10 triples, and 48 stolen bases. Bobby struck out 189 times, but also had 77 walks. It's hard to believe he didn't make the NL All-Star team that year.

• Steve Whitaker (# 496) batted .111 in 27 at bats for the Giants in 1970. His last major league game was May 9, 1970. Steve was sent down to AAA Phoenix, where he spent the rest of the season. He played for AAA Hawaii (San Diego Padres) for two more seasons before calling it a day.

• Willie Mays (# 600) was still productive at the age of 39. He batted .291, scored 94 runs, and hit 28 homers.
  
  

• Jim Gosger (# 651) didn't play for the Giants in 1970. He started the season in AAA Phoenix and was purchased by the Montreal Expos on April 20.
  
  
  
• Others who played OF for the Giants in 1970 but didn't get a Giants' card:

• Frank Johnson (.273 in 161 AB)
• Bob Taylor (.190 in 84 AB)
• George Foster (.316 in 19 AB)