June 23 - Top 5 Moments in San Francisco Giants History

What is this all about?

Yesterday

Here are the top 5 June 23 moments in San Francisco Giants history.

1971 home vs. Cubs, we've won 6 straight have a 7.5 game lead and are 22 over .500, we are steamrolling through 1971.  Despite that, only 12,000 paid for this Wednesday afternoon, Juan Marichal and Milt Pappas each throw complete games, 2-2 in the 8th, Ken Henderson leads off with a home run and we win up winning 5-2.   It's Henderson's best Giants season, 127 OPS+, just shy of 4 WAR, the 32nd best season for a LF in franchise history.  Rick Wise hit two homers and no hit the Reds for the Phillies on this same day.

Walk off 1991 home vs. Cubs, it's turn back the clock day, we're 14 out so the season is over, but we're looking for a 4 game sweep of the Cubs, 1-1 in the 9th (it took a Will Clark triple to tie the game) bases loaded, Mike Felder bunt singles down the first base line to score Matt Williams to end the game.  It's Felder's first of two years as our 4th OF, he signed as a free agent prior to the season and would leave as one after '92.

Walk off 2003 home vs. Dodgers, we're 74 games into the season in a flat tie for first place with the Dodgers and about the start a showdown series.  The first game goes 11 innings, with one out and a man on, Benito Santiago singles home Barry Bonds (who had just stolen his 500th career base, starting the 500/500 club) off of Eric Gagne to win the game.  It's Santiago's third and final season in San Francisco and also the last year of his career he starts behind the plate.  He signs with the Royals in the offseason and 2005 is his last year in the bigs.

Walk off 2007 home vs Yankees, we've lost 8 straight games and are 11.5 out, it took a 4 and a half our game to break that losing streak, with 2 out in the bottom of the 13th, Nate Schierholtz singles home Ryan Klesko off of Scott Proctor to win the game.  Nate's 23, this is his 8th big league game.  It's his 10th hit.

2012 at Oakland, we're 3 games out of first place, we're up 9-8 in the bottom of the 9th but the A's have the bases loaded with 2 out, Clay Hensley gets Jamile Weeks to pop to second to end the game.  It's Hensley's only year in San Francisco (he was not particularly effective in 50 innings pitched) and his last season in the bigs, Brandon Moss was playing first for the A's, he committed 3 errors in the 6th, the first first baseman to do that since Jack Clark playing for the Cards in '87.

See you tomorrow.  Go Giants!