San Francisco Giants Madness: 5-8 Seeds Announced
8 Seeds:
Before Felipe Alou was an accomplished manager for the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants, Alou and his brothers were outstanding outfielders. Felipe, Matty and Jesus all played for the Giants during their career and Felipe was the best Giant of the three. Felipe played 17 seasons in the major leagues, and began his career in San Francisco. For six seasons, Alou played in a talented Giants outfield. His best seasons in orange and black were his final two, with back to back 5 win seasons, according to WAR and his first trip to the All-Star game in 1962. Alou was traded to the Milwaukee Braves in 1963. Felipe currently works for the Giants organization as a special assistant. As a manager in Montreal and San Francisco, he always had a keen eye for talent. Felipe continues to help the Giants assemble talent today.
Greg Minton was known as the “Moon Man” for giving up home runs “once in a blue moon.” Minton set a major league record by pitching 269.1 consecutive innings (1978-1982) without allowing a home run. The nickname was certainly fitting for relief pitcher to go nearly five seasons without giving up the long ball. In 13 seasons with the Giants, Minton saved 125 games while maintaining a 3.23 ERA. He faced 3732 batters as a Giant but only gave up 33 home runs, or 0.3 HR/9.
"“I’m used to pitching three, four days in a row,” he says. “I’m used to leading the team in appearances. If I can’t do that, I don’t want to be out there.”"
The “Moon Man” was certainly a unique pitcher and a unique personality in Giants history.
Chili Davis began his career with the Giants in 1981 and finished fourth in the National League in Rookie of the Year voting the following year. For seven seasons, Davis was a versatile outfielder who hit 105 home runs and stole 95 bases. His versatility at the plate on the bases and play in center field had some touting him as “The next Willie Mays.”
An 11th round pick in the 1977 amateur draft, Davis became a free agent in 1987 and signed a contract with the California Angels. Davis would go on to play 19 seasons and hit 350 career home runs, playing most of his post Giants career as a designated hitter. The three time All-Star went to two as a member of the Giants in 1984 and 1986. Giants fans will always look back at Davis’ career as what might have been had he stayed in San Francisco.
Tom Haller played his first seven seasons in San Francisco, from 1961-1967. Haller was a two time All-Star who may have been the best catcher in San Francisco Giants history. Buster Posey has since passed Haller on that depth chart, but there was no denying the impact Haller had behind the plate in the 1960’s for the Giants. Despite being a career .248 hitter for the Giants, Haller’s bat is what set him apart from other catchers. In his first All-Star season in 1966, Haller finished with 27 home runs, 19 doubles and 67 RBI’s. In a rare trade between rivals, Haller was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 1968 season for Ron Hunt. It was the first time the two teams made a trade with each other on the West Coast.
Fun Fact: Haller, who later became a GM for the Giants was responsible for bringing both Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper to the Giants.