WELCOME BACK DAVE
1965
Mays wins his second MVP award (his only one in San Francisco) by hitting .317 with 52 home runs, 112 RBI and a 1.042 OPS.
May 8, 1966
The Giants trade Cepeda to St. Louis for pitcher Ray Sadecki. Cepeda goes on to win the MVP Award in 1967 and help the Cardinals win the World Series.
Sept 17, 1968
Gaylord Perry no-hits St. Louis at Candlestick Park; a day later Ray Washburn repays the favor by no-hitting the Giants.
May 11, 1972
The Giants trade Mays to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and $50,000.
1979
Shortstop Johnnie LeMaster responds to constant jeers at Candlestick Park by changing his name to “BOO” on the back of his uniform. (this page, bottom)
Oct. 6, 1985
The Giants fall 8-7 to the Atlanta Braves, losing 100 games for the only time in franchise history. New manager Roger Craig would soon usher in an era of Humm-Baby electricity.
April 8, 1986
On Opening Day in Houston Will Clark hits a home run against Nolan Ryan with the first swing of his big league career.
Oct. 1987
Jeffrey Leonard hits four home runs and posts a .917 slugging percentage against the St. Louis Cardinals in NLCS. The Giants lose the seven-game series, but “Hac Man” turns his One Flap Down home run trot into an art form.
Aug. 10, 1989
Dave Dravecky returns from cancer to throw eight strong innings against the Cincinnati Reds at Candlestick Park. (opposite page)
Oct. 9, 1989
Will Clark’s two-run, eighth-inning single against Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams finishes off the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS and propels the Giants into their first World Series since 1962.
Oct. 17, 1989
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocks Candlestick Park just minutes before Game 3 of the World Series. The postponement is part of an anticlimactic sweep at the hands of the A’s. (this page, top)
Aug. 7, 1992
A Mercury News headline blares “Bye-Bye, Giants: Lurie accepts offer, team is headed to St. Petersburg.” But N.L. owners reject the move, which allows a group featuring Peter Magowan and Larry Baer to swoop in for a save.
Dec. 6, 1992
In an attempt to revive the franchise, the Giants sign free agent Barry Bonds to a then-record six-year, $43.75 million contract. “It’s a lot of money, but there’s only one Barry Bonds,’’ Magowan says.
1993
The Giants set a franchise-record by going 103-59 behind new manager Dusty Baker and MVP Bonds. Their failure to make the playoffs helps open the door for the addition of a “wild card” entrant first used in the ’95 season.
1994
The Giants pair former 20-game winner Mike Krukow with scrappy second baseman Duane Kuiper in the booth, creating broadcast magic that endures to this day.
Dec. 11, 1997
Construction begins on a $357 million ballpark at China Basin, the first privately financed major league ballpark to be built in 38 years. (opposite page, top)
April 11, 2000
Kirk Rueter delivers the first pitch in the history of what was then known as Pacific Bell Park. Kevin Elster hits three home runs in the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory. (this page)
Oct. 7, 2001
Bonds drills a full-count pitch from Dennis Springer of the Los Angeles Dodgers for his 73rd home run of the season, establishing a single-season record. (opposite page, bottom)
Oct. 26, 2002
Scott Spiezio homers against Giants reliever Felix Rodriguez, igniting an Angels comeback in Game 6 of the World Series. Anaheim erased a 5-0 deficit in that game and won the decisive Game 7 the next day. (this page)
June 5, 2006
The Giants select University of Washington pitcher Tim Lincecum with the 10th overall pick of the First-Year Player Draft. “The Freak” would win two Cy Young Awards and throw two no-hitters. (opposite page, top left)
Aug. 7, 2007
Bonds hits home run No. 756 to surpass Hank Aaron for the all-time career record. “Let the debate about the authenticity of Bonds’s record begin,’’ the New York Times wrote that night. “It will be here for a while.” (opposite page, top right)
June 5, 2008
The Giants select Florida State catcher Buster Posey with the fifth overall pick of the FirstYear Player Draft. He wins Rookie of the Year in 2010 and MVP in 2012.
Nov. 1, 2010
Brian Wilson strikes out Nelson Cruz swinging to finish off the Texas Rangers in Game 5, making the “Band of Misfits” the first Giants team to win a World Series since 1954 in New York.
June 13, 2012
Matt Cain throws the only perfect game in the history of the franchise, a 14-strikeout effort against the Houston Astros in a 10-0 victory at AT&T Park. (opposite page, bottom left)
Oct. 28, 2012
Behind dominant pitching and World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval (who hit three home runs in Game 1) the Giants sweep the Detroit Tigers. Sergio Romo strikes out Miguel Cabrera in the 10th to close Game 4.
Oct. 29, 2014
Madison Bumgarner comes out of the bullpen for five shutout innings to hold off the Royals, 3-2, in Game 7 of the World Series. For the postseason, Bumgarner goes 2-0 with an 0.43 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 21.0 innings. (opposite page, bottom right)