The Jints

The 70's started with the Giants dropping to 3rd place for the first time since 1964.  For 5 consecutive years the team finished in second barely missing the playoffs.  While only winning 1 pennant in the decade of the 60's the Giants were the epitome of consistency having never had a losing season since moving to San Francisico.  That would all change in 1972.  After finally taking 1st place in 1971 the veteran Giants team looked poised to make a mini-run in the NL West.  Instead the team got old very fast.  The greatest player of his generation, Willie Mays, was 41 and aging rapidly.  Mid season 1972 he was dealt to the Mets, so he could finish his career where it all started in the Big Apple.  Mays, who was a mere shell of his former self managed to pay his old team back with a walk off homer off the guy he was traded for (Charlie Williams) in his first game as a Met.  From that moment on it was all downhill for the Jints.  Willie McCovey's knees were going and his feared power was evaporating along with it.  Future HOF'er Juan Marichal was reduced to nothing more than a .500 pitcher.

The franchise needed to make some moves to get younger and fast.  Centerfielder Bobby Bonds was the heir apparent to Mays, but he struck out way too much and was never able to emerge from the large shadow cast by the Say Hey Kid.  Bonds was dealt to the Yankees for Bobby Murcer in 1975, which further hurt a franchise reeling for an identity.  Bonds would go on to have an All-Star season in New York, while Murcer became a powerless corner outfielder in San Fran.  Unfortunately for the Giants brain trust they were unable to accurately measure just how important the short porch in Yankee Stadium was to Murcer's lefty swing.  In Candlestick those 310 foot homers became 312 foot outs.  Throughout the decade the Giants made one poor deal after another.  Trading young talents like Gary Matthews, Garry Maddox and Bill Madlock was unforgivable.  Trading Gaylord Perry to the Indians for a washed up Sam McDowell further decimated a pitching challenged staff.  The Giants farm system was not able to produce many top flight arms other than John "the Count" Montefusco and Jim Barr.  Six times during the decade the Giants would finish below .500 as the once great franchise ware mired in mediocrity.