San Francisco Giants

1958 – Present

The Giants moved from New York to San Francisco after the 1957 season, with Horace Stoneham continuing as club president and controlling stockholder. Their home in 1958-59 was Seals Stadium; they played their first game at Candlestick Park on April 12, 1960. Led by centerfielder Willie Mays, first baseman Willie McCovey, and pitcher Juan Marichal, the Giants had several powerful clubs in the 1960s and won a pennant under manager Alvin Dark in 1962. Charlie Fox piloted them to a division title in 1971. In January of 1976, Stoneham negotiated to sell the team to Labatt’s Breweries of Toronto, but a court order prevented the club’s transfer to Canada. Native San Franciscan Bob Lurie stepped in, and with Arizona cattleman Bud Herseth, purchased the Giants and kept them in San Francisco. Lurie bought out Herseth in 1978.

In 1987, under the astute presidency of Al Rosen, the Giants, managed by Roger Craig, won their second NL West title. They made it to the World Series in 1989, aided by the strong bats of Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell. The Series was interrupted for ten days when an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck just before Game Three was to begin at Candlestick Park. Oddly, the 1962 World Series was also delayed in San Francisco, for three days, due to rain.