May 26 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

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May 26 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants history.

Walk off 1959 home vs. Dodgers, always a good day when you're walking off the Dodgers, this is a Koufax game, he struck out 11 and took a 4-2 lead into the 9th. He loaded the bases and got pulled for Art Fowler - who gave up a grand slam to Leon Wagner to win it for the good guys.  Walk off grand slam against the Dodgers.  Big ups to 1959.  Daddy Wags spent his first two seasons in San Francisco (he had a career 128 OPS+ as a Giant) we moved him after this year to the Cardinals with Daryl Spencer for Don Blasingame. This was Wagner's first grand slam and first walk off. It's the third walk off home run in San Francisco history and the first one against Los Angeles.

 

1961 at Chicago, first place Giants head to Wrigley for 3 and a half hours on a Friday afternoon, 1-1 in the 13th, Harvey Kuenn singles home 2 off of Don Elston, we win the game 3-2.  This was Kuenn's first Giants season, we got him from the Indians for Johnny Antonelli and Willie Kirkland.  And he wasn't good in '61, his 87 OPS+ was the worst of his career to that date. He rebounded the following year, but in 2000 career Giants plate appearances he was really just okay.  We'd deal him to these Cubs four years later.

Walk off 1962 home vs. Mets, the Giants came in 30-14, but trailed 6-5 with one out and one on in the 10th - Willie Mays turned it around with a 2 run homer off of Jay Hook and the best ever San Francisco team moved to 31-14 on the year.  Just another 165 OPS+, 10 win season for Mays, the 4th best of his career, meaning the 4th best for any center fielder in organization history.  It was Willie's second career walk off homer and the 335th homer of his career.

Walk off 1997 home vs. Astros, first place Giants came into the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, on the second pitch of the inning Barry Bonds homered off of Jose Lima to send everyone home. Just another 170 OPS+, 8 and a half win season for Bonds, his 9th best season as a Giant meaning the 9th best season for any left fielder in organizational history.  It was Barry's second Giants walk off homer and the 342nd homer of his career.

2004 home vs. Diamondbacks, down 3-2 with the bases loaded in the 8th, Pedro Feliz doubles home 2 off of Jose Valverde, 4-3 is the final score.  Feliz got 3000+ plate appearances as the Giants third baseman over several years and just didn't hit - his Giants career OPS+ was 84.

See you to tomorrow.  Go Giants!