1959 San Francisco Giants season
Encyclopedia
The 1959
San Francisco Giants
season involved the 83-71 team's third-place finish in the National League
standings, four games behind the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
. It was the team's second and final season at Seals Stadium
before moving their games to Candlestick Park
the following season.
went four-for-four against future Hall-of-Famer
Robin Roberts en route to a .354 batting average
. McCovey went on to win National League Rookie of the Year honors while playing in just 52 games.
All-Star Game
(first game)
All-Star Game
(second game)
1959 Major League Baseball season
-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player**Nellie Fox, Chicago White Sox **Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs *Cy Young Award**Early Wynn, Chicago White Sox *Rookie of the Year**Bob Allison, Washington Senators...
San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
season involved the 83-71 team's third-place finish in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
standings, four games behind the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Braves, then won the pennant as they swept the Braves in a best-of-three playoff series. They went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just their second season since leaving Brooklyn.- Offseason :*...
. It was the team's second and final season at Seals Stadium
Seals Stadium
Seals Stadium was a minor league baseball stadium that stood in San Francisco from 1931 through 1959.Built during the depression, Seals Stadium opened on April 7, 1931, It cost $600,000 to construct, and Seals President "Doc" Strub described how laborers would leap onto the running boards of his...
before moving their games to Candlestick Park
Monster Park
Candlestick Park is an outdoor sports and entertainment stadium located in San Francisco, California, in the Bayview Heights area. The stadium was originally built as the home of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, who played there from 1960 until moving into Pacific Bell Park in 2000...
the following season.
Offseason
- October 8, 1958: Marv GrissomMarv GrissomMarvin Edward Grissom was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York & San Francisco Giants , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals . He was born in Los Molinos, California.He helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series...
and Ernie BroglioErnie BroglioErnest Gilbert Broglio is a former right-handed pitcher in American Major League Baseball from 1959-66. Broglio signed with the independent Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League after he attended West Contra Costa Junior College. He was acquired by the New York Giants in 1956...
were traded by the Giants to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Hobie LandrithHobie LandrithHobart "Hobie" Neal Landrith is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1950 through 1963 for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Senators...
, Billy MuffettBilly MuffettBilly Arnold Muffett was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957-1962. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox. In his playing days, he stood 6"1" tall, weighed 198 pounds , and threw and batted right-handed...
and Benny ValenzuelaBenny ValenzuelaBenjamin Beltrán Valenzuela is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for one season. He played in games for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1958 St. Louis Cardinals season. After retirement, he became a manager of the Alijadores de Tampico in the Mexican League.-External links:...
. - December 3, 1958: Rubén Gómez and Valmy ThomasValmy ThomasValmy Thomas was a Major League Baseball catcher. In his five-year career, he played for five different home cities: the New York Giants , the San Francisco Giants , the Philadelphia Phillies , the Baltimore Orioles , and the Cleveland Indians...
were traded by the Giants to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Jack SanfordJack SanfordJohn Stanley Sanford was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, and later in his career a relief pitcher as well, for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and California Angels. He finished his career playing very briefly with the Kansas City...
. - December 5, 1958: Joey AmalfitanoJoey AmalfitanoJohn Joseph Amalfitano is a former utility infielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball . He played a combined ten seasons with the New York/San Francisco Giants , Houston Colt .45s and Chicago Cubs . He managed the Cubs from 1979 to 1981...
was released by the Giants. - March 25, 1959: Ray JablonskiRay JablonskiRaymond Leo Jablonski was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball with an 8-year career from 1953 to 1960. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he played for the St...
and Bill White were traded by the Giants to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Sam JonesSam Jones (baseball)Samuel Jones , known during his career as "Toothpick Sam" Jones or "Sad Sam" Jones, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to ....
and Don ChoateDon ChoateDonald Leon Choate is a retired American professional baseball player. The right-handed pitcher appeared in four Major League games, all in relief, for the San Francisco Giants in . He stood tall and weighed ....
.
Regular season
In his major league debut on July 30, Willie McCoveyWillie McCovey
Willie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
went four-for-four against future Hall-of-Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Robin Roberts en route to a .354 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. McCovey went on to win National League Rookie of the Year honors while playing in just 52 games.
Opening Day starters
- Johnny AntonelliJohnny AntonelliJohn August Antonelli is an American former left-handed starting pitcher who played for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, New York and San Francisco Giants, and Cleveland Indians....
- Jackie BrandtJackie BrandtJohn George Brandt Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season, and played for the Cardinals , New York Giants , San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , and Houston Astros...
- Orlando CepedaOrlando CepedaOrlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes is a former Puerto Rican Major League Baseball first baseman.Cepeda was born to a poor family. His father, Pedro Cepeda, was a baseball player in Puerto Rico, which influenced his interest in the sport from a young age. His first contact with professional baseball was...
- Jim DavenportJim DavenportJames Houston Davenport is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played his entire career with the San Francisco Giants . The right-handed batter and thrower attended The University of Southern Mississippi.He played in one World Series in 1962, as the Giants lost to the New York Yankees...
- Willie KirklandWillie KirklandWillie Charles Kirkland is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators...
- Willie MaysWillie MaysWillie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
- Andre RodgersAndre RodgersKenneth Andre Ian Rodgers was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the New York and San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates . He also played one season in Japan for the Taiyo Whales...
- Bob SchmidtBob Schmidt (baseball)Robert Benjamin Schmidt , is an American former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1958 to 1965...
- Daryl SpencerDaryl SpencerDaryl Dean Spencer , is a former professional baseball player. He was a utility infielder, playing shortstop, second base, and third base in the major leagues from 1952-1963. He played for the New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, St...
Notable transactions
- July 26, 1959: Billy MuffettBilly MuffettBilly Arnold Muffett was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957-1962. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox. In his playing days, he stood 6"1" tall, weighed 198 pounds , and threw and batted right-handed...
and cash were traded by the Giants to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Bud ByerlyBud ByerlyEldred William Byerly is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants...
. - August 25, 1959: Hank SauerHank SauerHenry John "Hank" Sauer was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1959, Sauer played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and San Francisco Giants...
was released by the Giants.
Roster
| 1959 San Francisco Giants | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 109 | 283 | 71 | .251 | 3 | 29 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 48 | 9 | .188 | 0 | 7 | |
| 31 | 46 | 8 | .174 | 0 | 1 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 282 | 19 | 10 | 3.10 | 165 | |
| 50 | 270.2 | 21 | 15 | 2.83 | 209 | |
| 36 | 222.1 | 15 | 12 | 3.16 | 132 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.38 | 4 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 3 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.00 | 0 |
Awards and honors
- Willie McCoveyWillie McCoveyWillie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
- National League Rookie of the Year
All-Star Game
1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)
The 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 26th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 7, 1959 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of...
(first game)
All-Star Game
1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)
The 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 27th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on August 3, 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles,...
(second game)