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Bay Area Dream Team: San Francisco Giants Edition

By Gary Oversen

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When the San Francisco Giants wrapped up their third World Series title in five years, the question came up “Do any of the current players even make the franchise’s dream team?”

We are going to exclude the time in New York for this Dream Team, as it makes it more interesting. Mel Ott is one of the greatest players in the history of baseball and would be the definite right fielder, but we are going to focus strictly players who played on Bay Area soil. Also, the player must have played with the team for a minimum of five seasons.

Oct 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher

Buster Posey

before game six of the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

* All awards and statistical data shown is while the player was playing for the San Francisco Giants.

First Base – Willie McCovey 

“Stretch” was the consummate slugger of his time. The Hall-of-Famer spent 19 years with the club hitting 469 home runs and driving in 1388 runs while wearing the black and orange. He won the rookie of the year award (while playing in only 52 games), an MVP, and was named to the All-Star team six times.

Second Base – Jeff Kent

As far as performance, Kent is at the top of the list at second. Playing in exactly 900 games with the club, Kent hit .297 with 175 homers and 689 runs batted in. His tenure with the team ended a little acrimoniously, but he was adequate defensively, and took great advantage of having Barry Bonds in the lineup.

Shortstop – Rich Aurilia

This position was actually one of the harder ones to call. Chris Speier made three All-Star teams and became a fan favorite. But Aurilia more than doubled Speier’s home run total, hitting 143, while driving in 574 and hitting .275. Aurilia made one All-Star appearance, and appeared in 1292 games for the team.

Third Base – Matt Williams

To the freshly-minted Giants’ fans, this one might look odd. Having just had a third baseman contribute to three world titles. Williams wins out at third by sheer numbers: Home runs (Williams 247 – Sandoval 106); RBI’s (Williams 732 – Sandoval 462). Williams played in 1292 games with the team to Pablo’s 869. Williams also won three Gold Gloves and represented the team four times at the All-Star game.

Left Field – Barry Bonds

Normally this would be one of the longer write-ups. But most fans who follow the team know what he meant to the Giants during his tenure. Without him, a new ballpark probably doesn’t get built. Bonds was the best all-around baseball player while playing 15 years with the club. He appeared in 12 All-Star games, won five MVP’s, and even won five Gold Gloves. He’s the home run king, and he should be in the Hall of Fame.

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Center Field – Willie Mays

No-brainer here. The Hall of Famer made the All-Star team 15 times in San Francisco after solidifying himself as a superstar while the club was still in New York. To many, he is the greatest baseball player to ever play the game. The “Say Hey Kid” lost an entire season due to military service, and still is in the top-10 of almost every hitting category. Mays owned all five tools: Hit for average, hit for power, run, field, and throw.

Right Field – Bobby Bonds

There were several others that were close. Felipe Alou and Jack Clark were right there and Hunter Pence is making his way up the charts. There was even a little thought of Chili Davis. However, going by the number of years and the numbers put up, Barry’s dad gets to play right field. While with the Giants, Bonds hit 186 home runs, 552 runs batted in and won 3 Gold Gloves. He also represented the team twice in the All-Star game.

Catcher – Buster Posey

This wasn’t as clear cut, until one looks at the numbers. The Giants have had many decent catchers over the years. And then they have had some real good ones that only stay a few years. Here are the choices that played five-plus  years; Tom Haller, Dick Dietz, Dave Rader, Marc Hill, Bob Brenly, and Kirt Manwaring. So it really came down to Haller or Brenly for second place. Posey has already won the Rookie of the Year award, an MVP, and appeared in two All-Star games. He has also been a major influence on three World Series champions.

Starters – Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Tim Lincecum, Jason Schmidt, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain

Honorable mentions go out to Kirk Rueter, Mike Krukow, Mark Gardner, John Burkett, John Montefusco, and Russ Ortiz. Ortiz makes it, had Bumgarner not put the entire team on his back this past October. Overall performance while in the orange and black:

Marichal – The “Dominican Dandy” had 238 wins, nine All-Star appearances, 2.84 ERA, 2281 K’s, 52 shutouts. Threw a complete game in a 16-inning affair versus the Milwaukee Braves in 1963, striking out 10 and getting the win versus Warren Spahn. Hall-of-Fame inductee.

Perry – Appeared in 367 games with the team, 2.96 ERA, two All-Star appearances; Hall-of-Fame inductee.

Lincecum – Four-time All-Star, Two Cy Young Awards, 1644 K’s, was on all three World Series championship teams.

Schmidt – .678 winning percentage in six years with the team, three-time All-Star, consistent winner.

Cain – Three-time All-Star with over 1500 strikeouts with the club, instrumental in two out of the three championship teams.

Bumgarner – Two-time All-Star. After the performance in game seven of the 2014 World Series, nobody will ever wear #40 in the orange and black again.

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Bullpen – Gary Lavelle, Greg Minton, Rod Beck, Robb Nen, Brian Wilson

This is strictly relievers, otherwise Ortiz is a long man. Honorable Mentions: Scott Garrelts,  Jeff Brantley, Santiago Casilla, Randy Moffitt and Felix Rodriguez. Yes, even though Rodriguez is known best for the pitch he threw in Anaheim, he still was 34-19 with the club with an ERA of 3.06. Overall performance with the orange and black:

Lavelle – Two-time All Star, finished the most games in franchise history (369), with the most appearances, at 647.

Minton – Second most appearances in San Francisco history with 552, fifth in saves with 125, and one All-Star appearance.

Beck – Three-time All Star, 199 saves, and tied with Wilson for most saves in a single season (48).

Nen – Most saves (206), Three-time All Star, sacrificed himself for the team in 2002.

Wilson – Three-time All Star, Third most saves, tied for most single season saves with 48.

Bench – Orlando Cepeda, Will Clark, Robby Thompson, Kevin Mitchell, Tom Haller, Jack Clark

Honorable Mentions: Darrell Evans, Jim Davenport, Bob Brenly, Chris Speier, J.T. Snow, and Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval could have wound up supplanting Williams at third, but decided to move on.

Cepeda – Only Hall of Fame inductee not in the starting lineup. Rookie of the Year award winner, Six-time All Star with 226 home runs and a .308 batting average with the Giants.

Clark – Played eight years with the team hitting .299 and appearing in five All Star games, earning a Gold Glove, two Silver Sluggers, driving in 709 runs, and hitting 176 home runs.

Thompson – Played all eleven years with the team. Two-time All Star, 458 runs batted in, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger award.

Mitchell – Former MVP and two-time All Star played in parts of five seasons. Hit .278 while slugging 143 home runs, driving in 411 runs and winning a Silver Slugger award.

Haller – Played in San Francisco for seven years, representing the team twice in the All Star game. Hit 107 home runs and drove in 320.

Clark – Two-time All Star played with the team for 10 years. Slugged 163 home runs driving in 595 runs, and hitting .277 while with the team.

Also, Bruce Bochy, having guided the Giants to three World Series titles would have to be the manager of this team.

Next: Matt Cain Impressive in Spring Training Debut

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