Seals Stadium
1958
Prior to the 1958 season, the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers heeded the advice of Horace Greeley who said, “Go West young man”. The Dodgers to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco. The Giants would find a temporary home at Seals Stadium, the long-time home to the San Francisco Seals and Mission Reds of the Pacific Coast League. As it turns, Seals Stadium would host the first ever game on the West Coast when the Giants and Dodgers played on April 15th.
Dodger vs. Giants
First West Coast Game
The Giants would finish the season in third place, 12 games back of the pennant-winning Braves. Debuting for the Giants in ’58 was first baseman and future Hall of Famer, Orlando Cepeda. The “Baby Bull”, Cepeda would homer in his very first game as a Giant.
Orlando Cepeda
First Career Home Run
Cepeda would slash .312/25/96 for the season to garner the Rookie of the Year award in the National League.
N.L. Rookie of the Year
Orlando Cepeda (SFG)
Centerfielder, Willie Mays, would lead the team offensively with a .347 average, 29 home runs and 96 RBIs. Mays would lead the N.L. in WAR (10.2), Runs Scored (121) and Stolen Bases (31).
N. L. Stolen Base Leader (31)
Willie Mays (SFG)
Mays would be named an All-Star along with Catcher Bob Schmidt. Schmidt batted .244 with 14 homers and 54 RBIs.
Also named to the midsummer classic was pitcher, Johnny Antonelli. The southpaw won 16 games for the Giants while striking out 143 batters and posting a 3.28 ERA. Righthander, Stu Miller led the National League in Earned Run Average with a 2.47 mark in 182 innings.
N. L. ERA Leader (2.47)
Stu Miller (SFG)
The Giants first year in San Francisco was a success on the field and at the gate. Over 1.25 million fans passed through the gates at Seal Stadium. The Giants were building a core group of veterans and young players that would lead to success for the years to come.
1959
The Giants would finish in third place for the second consecutive season in 1959. This time, only four games behind the first place Dodgers. Delays in the construction of Candlestick Park forced the Giants to play a second season at Seals Stadium. Newcomer, Willie McCovey, hit .354 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs in just 52 games. McCovey would take home the National League Rookie of the Year award for his performance.
N.L. Rookie of the Year
Willie McCovey (SFG)
The offense was driven by veteran Centerfielder, Willie Mays, who hit .313/34/104. Mays once again led the Senior Circuit in Stolen Bases with 27.
N. L. Stolen Base Leader (27)
Willie Mays (SFG)
Sophomore, Orlando Cepeda, followed his Rookie of the Year season by hitting .317 with 27 home runs and 105 runs driven in. Both Cepeda and Mays would garner invites to both All-Star Games in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.
Johnny Antonelli won 19 games and recorded a league co-leading four shutouts joined his teammates for the All-Star games. Righthander, Sam Jones, received an invite to the All-Star game in Pittsburgh based on his 21 wins, tied for most on the N.L.
N. L. Co-Wins Leader (21)
Sam Jones (SFG)
Jones also posted a league leading 2.83 Earned Run Average securing his spot in Los Angeles. He tied teammate Antonelli with four shutouts in ’59 and registered 209 punchouts.
N. L. ERA Leader (2.83)
Sam Jones (SFG)
The 1959 season would be the last for the Giants at Seals Stadium as they were set to move to the newly constructed Candlestick Park in 1960.
1960
Light Towers
Moved to Cheney Stadium
Tacoma Washington
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