1978 San Francisco Giants season
Encyclopedia
The 1978 San Francisco Giants
season was a season in Major League Baseball
. The Giants finished third in the National League West
with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
season was a season in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. The Giants finished third in the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses.
Offseason
- October 25, 1977: Frank RiccelliFrank RiccelliFrank Joseph Riccelli is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of three seasons in the majors, for the San Francisco Giants, and and for the Houston Astros. He later pitched in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.-Sources:...
was traded by the Giants to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for a player to be named later. The Cardinals completed the deal by sending Jim DwyerJim Dwyer (baseball)James Edward Dwyer is a former outfielder who enjoyed an eighteen year major league career for seven different teams between and . Listed at 5' 10", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.-MLB career:...
to the Giants on June 15, 1978. - March 15, 1978: Gary AlexanderGary Alexander (baseball)Gary Wayne Alexander is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Oakland Athletics , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Gary ThomassonGary ThomassonGary Leah Thomasson is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1972-1980.He played in 1981-1982 for the Yomiuri Giants in Japanese Nippon Pro Baseball...
, Dave HeaverloDave HeaverloDavid Wallace Heaverlo is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.He attended Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington, graduating in 1968. He then went on to Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington, where he graduated in 1973...
, Alan WirthAlan WirthAlan Lee Wirth is a former professional baseball pitcher. Wirth pitched in parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, from until , for the Oakland Athletics.- Playing career :...
, John Henry JohnsonJohn Henry Johnson (baseball)John Henry Johnson is a former Major League Baseball player. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 15th round of the 1974 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the Oakland A's in after being acquired before the season in the trade that sent Vida Blue to the...
, Phil HuffmanPhil HuffmanPhillip Lee Huffman , is a retired Major League Baseball player who played pitcher in two seasons: 1979 and 1985...
, a player to be named later, and $300,000 were traded by the Giants to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Vida BlueVida BlueVida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
. The Giants completed the trade by sending Mario GuerreroMario GuerreroMario Miguel Guerrero Abud is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four teams in an eight-year career from to .Guerrero signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in...
to the Athletics on April 7. - March 21, 1978: Alan HargesheimerAlan HargesheimerAlan Robert Hargesheimer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in parts of four seasons between and for three different teams. Since his retirement, Hargesheimer has worked as a scout for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres.-Sources:...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Giants. - March 27, 1978: Randy ElliottRandy ElliottRandy Lee Elliott is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played parts of four seasons in the majors, spread out over nine years. After being drafted by the San Diego Padres during their inaugural season, he played for them in and . He later played for the San Francisco Giants in and...
was released by the Giants.
Opening Day starters
- Rob AndrewsRob AndrewsRobert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County....
- Jack ClarkJack Clark (baseball)Jack Anthony Clark , also known as "Jack the Ripper," is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1975 through 1992, Clark played for the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox...
- Darrell EvansDarrell EvansDarrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
- Larry HerndonLarry HerndonLarry Darnell Herndon is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , and Detroit Tigers...
- Marc HillMarc HillMarc Kevin Hill is a former Major League Baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Seattle Mariners , and Chicago White Sox ....
- Johnnie LeMasterJohnnie LeMasterJohnnie Lee LeMaster is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played for 12 seasons for four teams, including 10 seasons for the San Francisco Giants. He batted and threw right-handed....
- Willie McCoveyWillie McCoveyWillie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
- John MontefuscoJohn MontefuscoJohn Joseph Montefusco Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. Named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1975, Montefusco's nickname was "The Count", a pun on his last name which...
- Terry WhitfieldTerry WhitfieldTerry Bertland Whitfield is a former Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Seibu Lions of the Japanese Baseball League, and the Los Angeles Dodgers...
Notable transactions
- June 6, 1978: John RabbJohn RabbJohn Andrew Rabb is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played parts of five seasons in the majors between until .-Sources:...
was drafted by the Giants in the 11th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft1978 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
. - July 18, 1978: The Giants traded a player to be named later to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for John TamargoJohn TamargoJohn Felix Tamargo is a former Major League Baseball catcher and coach and long-time minor league manager. He played all or part of five seasons in the majors from until...
. The Giants completed the deal by sending Rob DresslerRob DresslerRobert Alan Dressler is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners....
to the Cardinals on July 24.
Roster
| 1978 San Francisco Giants | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 108 | 351 | 80 | .228 | 12 | 64 | |
| 2B | 122 | 447 | 138 | .309 | 15 | 44 | |
| 3B | 159 | 547 | 133 | .243 | 20 | 78 | |
| CF | 151 | 471 | 122 | .259 | 1 | 72 | |
| RF | 156 | 592 | 181 | .306 | 25 | 98 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 197 | 44 | .223 | 6 | 24 | |
| 73 | 173 | 39 | .225 | 5 | 22 | |
| 79 | 177 | 39 | .220 | 1 | 11 | |
| 40 | 109 | 26 | .239 | 2 | 9 | |
| 53 | 100 | 15 | .150 | 1 | 11 | |
| 36 | 92 | 22 | .239 | 1 | 8 | |
| 41 | 21 | 2 | .095 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 260 | 17 | 11 | 2.63 | 147 | |
| 35 | 258 | 18 | 10 | 2.79 | 171 | |
| 29 | 199 | 9 | 10 | 2.85 | 105 | |
| 32 | 163 | 8 | 11 | 3.53 | 44 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5.63 | 5 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3.71 | 38 | |
| 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5.44 | 22 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.05 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |