2000–present: AT&T Park History of the San Francisco Giants

1 2000–present: at&t park

1.1 2002: national league championship season , world series
1.2 2003: wire wire
1.3 2004–06: playoff drought
1.4 2007–2009: losing ways & milestones

1.4.1 2007: end of bonds era
1.4.2 2008: without bonds & golden anniversary
1.4.3 2009: mix of old & new , no-hitter


1.5 2010–2014: dynasty in san francisco

1.5.1 2010: torture , triumph

1.5.1.1 first championship in san francisco


1.5.2 2011: square one
1.5.3 2012: champions again
1.5.4 2013: inconsistent struggles
1.5.5 2014: third world series championship in san francisco

2000–present: at&t park

in 2000, after forty years, giants bade farewell candlestick park and, long advocated, moved privately financed downtown stadium (at&t park, pacific or pac bell park , later renamed sbc park) on part of shoreline of china basin known giant fans mccovey cove, @ corner of 3rd , king streets (with official address of 24 willie mays plaza in honor of longtime giant superstar), ushering in new era giants , fans. while candlestick resembled multi-purpose concrete-dominated cookie-cutter parks built many teams during 1960s & 1970s, new home regarded 1 of beautiful venues in of professional sports. so, part of intense rivalry los angeles dodgers, dodger fans derisively , jealously refer at&t park phone booth current , former names (pac bell park, sbc park), expected.

at&t park

the giants routinely sell out new 43,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium built 21st century, whereas paltry paid attendances of less 10,000 not uncommon in candlestick despite 60,000 seating capacity, although 1999 season giants did manage draw 25,000 fans per game. team in striking new location annually vies highest mlb season attendance in contrast having lowest attendance in nl (or close it) before. still quite breezy in summer compared other mlb parks, at&t park has been consensus success despite reputation pitcher s park stingy power hitters. state-of-the-art design minimizes wind-chill, served mass transit , has spectacular views of bay , city skyline, traits lacking @ candlestick after redesigned in 1970s accommodate nfl 49ers. at&t park centerpiece of renaissance in san francisco s south beach , mission bay neighborhoods, known has been called sustainable design.

despite inaugural game festivities @ new ballpark, pesky dodgers spoiled 2000 season opener unexpected three-hr outburst little-known, light-hitting shortstop kevin elster. giants rebounded after losing first 6 games in new home solid effort season long, culminating not nl west division title best record in major leagues. kent paced attack clutch hits (33 hr, 125 rbi) en route being elected mvp on runner-up bonds 49 hr & 106 rbi. pitching staff not great decent, 5 starters earning @ least ten wins: liván hernández (17–11, 3.75), russ ortíz (14–12, 5.01), kirk rueter (11–9, 3.96), shawn estes (15–6, 4.26) , mark gardner (11–7, 4.05). closer robb nen perfect, 41 saves , minute 1.50 era.

the giants lost 2000 division series new york mets 3 games 1 after solid win in game 1 on postseason clutch pitching of liván hernández. mets won next 3 games despite decent starts estes, ortíz , mark gardner. game 2 in particular ended tumultuously disappointingly. down 4–1 in ninth, snow smacked three-run home run tie game; mets won in tenth run off félix hernández, bonds making last out 2 men on on controversial called third strike.

in 2001, giants eliminated playoff contention on next-to-last day of season. slugging shortstop rich aurilia put stellar numbers (37 hr, 97 rbi, .324 ba) in support of bonds, once again gave fans cheer single-season record 73 home runs, surpassing mark mcgwire s 70 in 1998. pitching staff not great, russ ortíz (17–9, 3.29) leading staff had liván hernández (13–15, 5.24) , kirk rueter (14–12, 4.42). shawn estes , mark gardner had subpar years, notable late-season acquisition pirates superstar starter jason schmidt (7–1, 3.39). robb nen continued dominant closer (45 saves, 3.01 era).

2002: national league championship season , world series

in 2002, giants finished 2nd in nl west behind arizona diamondbacks, bolstered mvp season bonds (46 hr, 110 rbi, .370 ba, then-record 198 walks , .582 obp) , kent (37 hr, 108 rbi , .313 ba). additional roster support provided decent seasons veteran catcher benito santiago , aurilia, aided new acquisitions third baseman david bell, slugging outfielder reggie sanders , fleet-footed outfielder tsuyoshi shinjo, (generally known last name only), spent 1 season giants before returning japan. pitching staff again proved solid, 5 starters winning 12 or more including jason schmidt in first full season in san francisco. closer robb nen had 43 saves , 2.20 era, , setup men felix rodríguez , tim worrell solid out of bullpen.

the giants made playoffs nl wild card in last weekend of season. began defeating atlanta braves in nlds 3 games two, ortíz winning games 1 , 5 in atlanta , snow ending deciding game spectacular double play ending in rundown between first , second.

in nlcs, defeated st. louis cardinals 4 games 1 wins rueter, schmidt , 2 worrell in relief. santiago, particularly late clutch game-turning , -winning home run in game 4, elected mvp of nlcs.

the giants faced american league champion anaheim angels (now known los angeles angels of anaheim) in world series, marking first world series between 2 wild-card teams. giants split first 2 (one-run) games in anaheim, took games 4 & 5 in pac bell park after being beaten soundly visiting angels in game 3 three-games-to-two lead following 16–4 blowout home win in game 5 before series shifted anaheim. giants leading 5–0 1 out in bottom of 7th of game 6, momentum changed decisively when manager dusty baker removed starter russ ortíz after gave 2 straight singles , handed him giant fans hoped game ball walked off mound. moments later, however, scott spiezio hit three-run home run angels off reliever felix rodríguez on 3–2 pitch on right field fence (with sanders out of position, playing him shallow) after fouling off numerous fastballs, , angels went on win game 6–5 on eighth-inning two-run double series mvp third baseman troy glaus off faltering nenn, pitching on fumes , guts injured pitching shoulder. following night, anaheim won game 7 4–1 behind 3-run double garret anderson off hernández claim series.

after 2002, giants went through many personnel changes. baker s managerial contract not renewed after ten seasons. closer nenn s damaged shoulder ended career, forcing him retirement; , kent, moving on houston astros in native texas, not re-signed. position players david bell, reggie sanders, tsuyoshi shinjo , kenny lofton, pitchers liván hernández, russ ortíz , southpaw reliever aaron fultz (winner of 2002 world series game 4), went other teams in 2003 well.

2003: wire wire

that season giants, under new manager felipe alou, won 100 games seventh time in franchise history , third time in san francisco, winning division third time in 7 seasons , spending every day of season in first place, ninth team accomplish feat in baseball history. offense paced yet mvp season bonds (45 hr, 90 rbi, .341 ba, 148 bb , obp of .529). decent offensive support provided rich aurilia, marquis grissom, josé cruz, jr., edgardo alfonzo, benito santiago, pedro felíz , andrés galarrága. pitching staff led jason schmidt (17–5, 2.34 era) , kirk rueter (10–5, 4.53), dropped off after that, no other starter earning ten wins.

once again in playoffs, , in 1997, giants faced eventual-world-champion florida marlins in nlds. schmidt won game 1 in san francisco low-scoring complete game outdueling josh beckett; marlins won next 3 games, , series 3 games one, giants bullpen faltered after game 2 starter sidney ponson imploded, blowing big giant lead. reliable outfielder fred snodgrass blew deciding game of 1912 world series on road giants 1 run ahead going last of tenth notorious muff of fly ball leadoff hitter ending home team boston red sox scoring 2 runs come-from-behind walkoff win, same scenario happened in last of tenth in florida in game 3 of 2003 nlds muff of easy leadoff fly ball otherwise slick-fielding josé cruz, jr., ending ivan rodríguez s two-out, two-run, come-from-behind bases-loaded walkoff win marlins off closer tim worrell.

2004–06: playoff drought

in 2004, bonds broke own records 232 walks , .609 obp en route 7th , last nl mvp award (45 hr, 101 rbi, .362 ba). team had solid not stellar supporting cast including marquís grissom (22, 90, .279) , pedro felíz (22, 84, .276), along decent hitting ray durham, edgárdo alfónzo, michael tucker , aj pierzynski. jason schmidt star of staff (18–7, 3.20 era, 251 so), team looking new closer (matt herges , dustin hermanson sharing role during season). after sitting out of first half of season injury, snow led league in hitting after all-star break.

the giants 2005 season least successful of decade in new stadium. bonds missed entire season knee injury, erratic closer armando benítez injured 4 months, , ace jason schmidt struggled after numerous injuries. management took advantage of off-year give playing time numerous young players, including pitchers noah lowry, brad hennessey, kevin correia, scott munter, matt cain , jeremy accardo, first baseman lance niekro , outfielders jason ellison , todd linden. acquisition of veteran outfield contact hitter randy winn seattle mariners invaluable in stretch run.

on september 28, giants officially eliminated nl west race after losing division champion san diego padres, finishing distant third @ 75–87, worst, , first losing, season since 1996. despite disappointing finish, giants extended manager felípe alou s contract year.

the giants expected contend in 2006 strong starting staff. despite losing streak in may, , worst batting performance barry bonds in fifteen years giants did contend in less-than-stellar western division , july 23 in first place. on day, however, during last game of homestand , leading san diego going ninth inning, closer armándo benítez blew save tying home run , giants lost in innings. first loss of horrendous three-week stretch saw san francisco go 3–16, losing 9 games 1 run.

on october 2, 2006, day after end of regular season, giants announced not renew manager felípe alou s contract still offer him opportunity stay them in advisory role general manager , baseball operations.

2007–2009: losing ways & milestones
2007: end of bonds era

with eleven free agents excluding jason schmidt signed dodgers $15 million year, new manager on board bruce bochy coming division rival san diego, , loss of veteran catcher mike matheny due complications resulting concussions sustained during career, giants prospects 2007 season less favorable going winter off-season. team agreed several deals—re-signing pedro feliz, ray durham, , old time giants fans favorite rich aurilia, , picking catcher bengie molina, ryan klesko, , dave roberts. signed free agent pitcher barry zito seven-year contract worth $126 million. deal, richest contract pitcher in baseball history, includes $18 million team option eighth year. on january 9, 2007, giants re-signed pitcher russ ortiz compete fifth starting position in spring training. ortiz slotted position in late march due outstanding spring.

the 2007 team during spring training

the giants started off regular season slow, had spurts of promise more stretches of mediocre worse play. pitching inconsistent or offense non-existent (such during pair of 1–0 losses losing pitcher matt cain).

the season did have memorable action, such giants playing red sox in boston first time since 1912 , giants hosting 2007 mlb all-star game. notable during season, however, bonds march towards hank aaron s career home run record of 755. bonds s proximity record brought heavy media attention san francisco giants.

leading off in top of second inning of game 2 versus padres, before sell-out crowd @ petco park, barry bonds hit high fastball off facing of upper deck in left field 755th career home run. opposite-field shot tied game @ 1–1 , tied hank aaron all-time home run record. giants lost in innings, time score of 2–3. in bottom of fifth inning @ home against nationals on august 7, 2007, bonds hit 756th home run caused melee in crowd. hank aaron appeared on big screen , congratulated bonds. giants went on lose game 8–6.

on august 9, 2007, mark sweeney traded los angeles dodgers aa second baseman travis denker. trade first between giants , dodgers since 1985.

the discouraging theme of 2007 continue solid pitching not backed offense. tim lincecum held chicago cubs 2 hits through 8 innings on august 21, team scored 1 run, losing cubs score of 5–1.

on september 22, 2007, giants officially announced team not re-sign barry bonds 2008 season. after speculation , debate, owner peter magowan announced bonds s departure @ press conference, stressing fact giants needed younger , start fielding more efficient offense.

barry bonds played last game san francisco giant on september 26, 2007. went 0 3, driving ball caught @ warning track in left-center field in final @ bat.

2008: without bonds & golden anniversary


tim lincecum 2008 cy young award winner.

the 2008 season marked first year barry bonds not member of team since first signing them in 1992 , 50th season in san francisco. giants signed former philadelphia phillies outfielder aaron rowand 5-year, $60 million contract. barry zito once again got off poor start, losing first 8 decisions. however, team found hope in pitcher tim lincecum. after going 7–5 in first stint in 2007 giants, exploded onto scene year winning 4 straight before losing 1st game of year on april 29, 2008, colorado rockies. lincecum selected 2008 mlb all-star game @ yankee stadium unable pitch due being hospitalized flu-like symptoms. went on win 2008 nl cy young award, finishing @ 18–5. first giant since mike mccormick won in 1967. giants finished season in fourth place in nl west record of 72–90.

2009: mix of old & new , no-hitter

during off season, giants strengthened pitching staff acquiring veteran starting pitcher randy johnson , relievers bobby howry , jeremy affeldt. giants signed infielders Édgar rentería , juan uribe. despite questions lingering team s struggling offense, team compiled 49–39 record 2009 major league baseball all-star game, enough second place in nl west.

in addition team s overall performance, first half of season provided several memorable moments players themselves. highlights included johnson earning 300th career victory, becoming twenty-fourth pitcher in major league history so, struggling starter jonathan sánchez tossing no-hitter against san diego padres on july 10, first giants no-hitter since 1976. 2009 s pitching staff go down 1 of strongest starting rotations in giants history– giants sent 2 of starting pitchers all-star game, including year s starter, tim lincecum. went on win 2009 nl cy young award, finishing @ 15–7. lincecum became pitcher capture cy young award in each of first 2 full major league seasons.

on july 10, jonathan sánchez, spot starting in place of injured randy johnson , on first start upon returning starting rotation after brief demotion bullpen, threw no-hitter against san diego padres. sánchez issued no walks (the runner reached on error third baseman juan uribe) , struck out career-high eleven hitters in game, first major league complete game , shutout , first no-hitter ever thrown @ at&t park. threw 110 pitches complete game, final score of 8–0 giants.

the team faced tragic note on july 19, when club announced sue burns, team s senior general partner virtual fixture in seat adjacent giants dugout, died sunday morning of cancer. burns widow of harmon burns, financier in san francisco bay area key member of investor group saved team moving tampa in 1992. giants honored burns in pre-game ceremony in barry bonds in attendance.

on july 20, giants traded 1 of top prospects, aa pitcher tim alderson, pittsburgh pirates second baseman freddy sanchez. alderson first round pick in 2007 draft , ranked number 4 prospect in giants organization baseball america, sanchez provided needed jump giants offense. sanchez ended 2009 season batting .293 41 runs batted in , 22 walks. on september 11, giants added key player when brought buster posey giants aaa affiliate fresno grizzlies.

although team finished 14 games above .500, won 16 more games previous season. emergence of star player pablo sandoval alongside dominant pitching staff, giants looked forward making playoffs next year first time since 2003.

2010–2014: dynasty in san francisco
2010: torture , triumph

in 2010, in season described slogan giants baseball: torture broadcaster duane kuiper, club won national league western division title first time since 2003 after trailing san diego padres of season. (the torture slogan coined on april 21 edition of kruk , kuip on baseball on knbr radio, following game giants lost 1–0 despite 1-hitter thrown jonathan sánchez.) on july 4, after losing four-game road series in colorado, giants record stood @ 41–40 @ half-way point of season. boosted 21-game hitting streak buster posey, called in may aaa fresno, giants won 19 of remaining 24 games in july. august saw losing record of 13–15, club lost 4 series against braves, padres, phillies, , cardinals. on august 25, despite overcoming 10–1 deficit in 5th inning, giants lost reds in innings @ home drop 6.5 games behind san diego. 3 days later, following 11–3 debacle @ home against diamondbacks, brian sabean, bruce bochy, , drew northfield held private meeting starting pitchers, had gone 5–13 5.56 era in august, including 14 straight starts without win.

the padres suffered 10-game losing streak going september , on 5th, giants beat dodgers 3–0 move within game of first place. despite being shut out 4 times in ten games, giants recorded september 18–8 move first 3 games pitching staff achieved team era of 1.78, lowest in national league in september stretch run since 1965 dodgers. during september run, giants pitching staff allowed no more 3 runs 18 straight games, longest single-season streak since 1920. division title came down final 3 games of year in october @ home against san diego, giants clinching in last regular season game, 3–0. jonathan sánchez, had been ridiculed in august when failed make boast giants sweep padres, led september charge 3–1 record , 1.17 era, , took win in clincher. closer brian wilson finished game franchise record-tying , major league-leading 48th save. in second half of season giants went 51–30. after 9–20 first half against division opponents, giants won 29 of remaining 43 division games.

pat burrell in giants 2010 world series victory parade.

at beginning of 2010 major league baseball season 1 (jim caple of espn.com, although later recanted pick before nlcs, saying philadelphia phillies beat giants , advance world series) out of literally dozens of baseball writers , pundits picked giants reach world series, not expecting giants make playoffs.

first championship in san francisco

in 2010 national league division series, giants defeated atlanta braves 3 games one. tim lincecum won game 1 memorable , record-setting 14-strikeout, 2-hit shutout performance. in ensuing nlcs, giants took 3–1 advantage on philadelphia phillies, winning 2 games @ home after splitting first 2 @ philadelphia. game 1 notable cody ross hitting 2 homeruns off of roy halladay, had come off throwing no-hitter against cincinnati reds in postseason debut. starting pitcher giants tim lincecum rematched against phillies roy halladay in game 5. giants failed beat roy halladay, losing 4–2, forcing return trip philadelphia. in game six, giants beat philadelphia final score of 3–2, win nlcs 4–2 , advance face texas rangers in 2010 world series.

the first world series game highly anticipated matchup between 2-time national league cy young award winner (2008,2009) tim lincecum, against 2008 american league cy young award winner , heretofore undefeated in postseason play cliff lee. pitching matchup turned out sideline, giants won first game of world series 11–7 on rangers, backed freddy sanchez s 3 doubles, setting world series record being first player hit 3 consecutive doubles in first 3 @ bats. game saw giants set record runs (6) scored in single half-inning in world series since 1933. next day, giants won game 2 of world series, crushing rangers 9–0 after rangers walked 4 in row , allowed 7 runs giants in 8th inning. matt cain had dominant game, pitching 7 ⁄3 innings without giving run. giants went on lose game 3 in arlington, texas 4–2 after 3-run home run ranger s rookie mitch moreland in second inning, , solo home run josh hamilton in fifth. game 4 belonged giants, rookie left-handed starting pitcher madison bumgarner shut out rangers on 8 innings home runs aubrey huff , buster posey propelling team 4–0 victory. giants, along tim lincecum, won game 5 score of 3–1. lincecum outdueled cliff lee in every-pitch-matters matchup scoreless until Édgar rentería hit stunning three-run homer 2 outs in seventh inning. nelson cruz homered in bottom half, lincecum returned wicked self , preserved lead. brian wilson brought in pitch 9th , produced scoreless inning, allowing san francisco bring out series of firsts, not giants, city of san francisco , san francisco bay area. Édgar rentería named world series valuable player.

the firsts championship were:

giants:

championship since 1954, when in new york.
championship since moving san francisco.


city of san francisco:

world series championship.
major sports championship since 49ers won super bowl xxix in 1995.


san francisco bay area:

world series championship since oakland athletics swept giants in 1989.
major sports championship since 49ers win in super bowl xxix.

on november 15, 2010, giants catcher buster posey named nl rookie of year.

2011: square one

2011 began on dark note when giants fan bryan stow critically injured after being attacked dodgers fans in dodger stadium parking lot on opening day. season continued plagued hardship, on may 25 during regular season game against miami marlins giants star catcher, buster posey, suffered year ending injury in collision @ home plate. san francisco finished 2011 season disappointing 86–76 record, winding in second place in nl west, 8 games behind arizona diamondbacks.

2012: champions again

the giants started season playing barely above .500, trailing dodgers in second place of first half of season , falling 7.5 games near end of may. however, june 17–10 giants, combined june 11–17 dodgers included sweep giants, brought giants ahead 1 game end june. giants , dodgers continue trade places @ top until august 20, @ point giants started sweep of dodgers give them lead good.

on june 13, 2012, matt cain pitched first perfect game in 129-year history of franchise, against houston astros @ at&t park.

melky cabrera named valuable player of all-star game after delivering first-inning hit off tigers justin verlander, followed game-breaking, two-run homer in fourth inning off matt harrison of rangers. @ trade deadline giants picked right fielder hunter pence philadelphia phillies , second baseman marco scutaro colorado rockies. on august 15, melky cabrera suspended major league baseball 50 games use of performance-enhancing drugs. despite suspension, giants still won 2012 nl west division.

on october 11, giants became first national league team come 2–0 deficit in nlds beat cincinnati reds in 3 straight games @ great american ball park. giants clinched spot in national league championship series , became first take best-of-five winning last 3 on road. nlcs pitted giants against st. louis cardinals. cardinals won 3 out of first 4 games, bringing giants brink of elimination again. giants left-hander barry zito, left off of 2010 postseason roster, led giants 5–0 win in game 5, pitching 7 2/3 innings. giants won next 2 games reach world series against detroit tigers. giants defeated tigers in first game, pablo sandoval becoming fourth player in mlb history hit 3 home runs in world series game, , proceeded sweep detroit in 4 straight games second world championship in 3 years. sandoval received world series mvp award.

2013: inconsistent struggles

early in 2013 season, giants in first place in national league west. however, in may, during road trip toronto, giants began slide last place. struggled both offensively , defensively due several players being injured throughout season, notably Ángel pagán, suffered hamstring injury mid-season , out 12 weeks, , no-hit against cincinnati reds. buster posey, had won previous year s national league batting title, experienced significant drop-off, hitting 15 home runs (and 2 in second half of season) , slumping .294 average. although giants won season series on every team in own division, including going 11-8 on rival dodgers, won division, went 32-54 outside of division, including mlb second worst 6-14 record in inter-league play, season series victory outside of national league west being on atlanta braves. in several series, giants scored 5 runs or fewer, such against red sox (outscored 21-4, lost series 2-1), against yankees (outscored 12-3, lost series 2-1), against cardinals in st. louis (outscored 17-5, lost series 2-1), against blue jays in san francisco (outscored 5-2, split series 1-1), , against cubs in san francisco (outscored 6-3, swept). slide lasted until mid-august when giants began play efficiently again (highlighted 19-3 romp on rival dodgers in los angeles) , ended season in tie 3rd place san diego padres after brief resurgence. @ conclusion of season giants signed right fielder hunter pence five-year, $90 million contract. giants finished 2013 season 76-86 record. giants .469 record marked first losing record since 2008 , 1 of worst records ever team had won world series previous year, behind 1998 florida marlins.

one notable highlight tim lincecum throwing first no-hitter against san diego padres @ petco park in 9-0 victory. notable oddity happened during doubleheader cincinnati reds on july 23 in reds designated home team game 2 though giants playing @ home. reds won game 1, 9-3, , giants prevailed in game 2, 5-3.

2014: third world series championship in san francisco

the giants acquired outfielder michael morse , starting pitcher tim hudson in offseason. @ 1 point, giants had twice many wins had losses, sporting 42-21 record. however, 9.5 game lead on dodgers dissipated. lincecum pitched second no-hitter, against padres. won-loss record of 12-9, lincecum achieved more wins previous 2 seasons, though second-half struggles put lincecum out of starting rotation.

the giants finished season 88-74 record, first time in baseball s modern era had reached postseason under 90 wins. giants defeated pirates in 2014 national league wild card game, 8-0, madison bumgarner pitching complete game , brandon crawford hitting grand slam off of pirates starter edinson vólquez, first in mlb postseason history shortstop. giants won 2014 nlds, defeating nationals , passing cincinnati reds big red machine new national league record in consecutive postseason victories. giants played cardinals in 2014 nlcs rematch, winning in 5 games. travis ishikawa hit game winning walk-off 3 run homer in game 5. madison bumgarner named mvp of series. giants faced kansas city royals in 2014 world series, defeating al champions in 7 games, winning 4 games 3. madison bumgarner named world series mvp.

the championship giants third in five-year span, spurring debate on whether giants considered modern-day baseball dynasty.