2 Clarks, 1 number should be retired
In 1972, the Yankees retired No. 8 not only for Yogi Berra but Bill Dickey, making it OK to retire a number belonging to two franchise legends.
The late, great Expos did the same with No. 10, retiring it for Rusty Staub in 1993 and Andre Dawson in 1997, and the Cubs retired 31 in 2009 for both Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux.
It’s time the Giants follow suit, and they’d benefit by keeping the same name on the back of both jerseys.
Will Clark, the face of the late-’80s teams that won two division titles and reached a World Series, wore 22. So did Jack Clark, the face of the team until he was dealt to St. Louis a year before the other Clark broke into the majors.
Jack the Ripper (with the Giants from 1975 to 1984) hit 163 homers with an .836 OPS in 1,044 games, Will the Thrill (1986-1993) 176 homers with an .872 OPS in 1,160 games.
For many Giants fans, Jack was every bit as significant as Will, though without the playoff moments, breaking into the majors at 19 as a right fielder with a big bat and big arm and becoming an All-Star at 22. He was the first Willie Mac Award winner (in 1980) and holds the San Francisco-era record for longest hit streak, 26 games.
The Giants erred in cutting ties with both players, each of whom had a higher OPS postSan Francisco. When Will Clark was a free agent, the Giants didn’t ante up for the first baseman (offering nothing close to the five-year guarantee he got in Texas) and were awful the next three seasons.
It was erroneously suggested amid the Aug. 11 Barry Bonds number retirement that he was the first non-Hall of Famer to have his Giants number retired. Willie Mays had his retired seven years before his induction. Juan Marichal, eight years. Willie McCovey, six years.
Eventually, the Giants must acknowledge their championship era by retiring multiple numbers starting with Buster Posey (28) and Madison Bumgarner (40), who contributed the most to all three titles, even if they’re not enshrined in Cooperstown.
Tim Lincecum (55) and Matt Cain (18) would be considered, too.
But first, the Clarks. John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey