MAY 23, 1890
A National League record is established when the Giants and the Pittsburgh Alleghenys combine to steal seventeen bases in a single game. New York will win the Polo Grounds contest, 17-10.
(Nationalpastime.com)

Sat, 22 Jun, 2013 – Sun, 23 Jun, 2013

Celebrate the World Champion San Francisco Giants at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. June is Giants’ month at the Hall, and on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 the Hall of Fame will celebrate the rich history of the Giants organization and their 2012 World Series Championship. Throughout the day visitors can learn about the history of the Giants through guided tours and artifact spotlights. Trivia contests and craft stations will round out the program offerings. As a special treat, the 2012 World Series trophy will be on display for photo opportunities on both days. On Saturday, June 22, the Hall of Fame will welcome author Larry Hogan to talk about his new book, So Many Seasons in the Sun: A Century of Conversations with Baseball’s Greatest Clubhouse Managers.
This from the Hall of Fame website:
For the second time in three years, a green summer will turn orange with Giants fans as the World Series trophy visits the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The San Francisco Giants’ 2012 World Series trophy will be on exhibit at the Museum June 22-23 as part of Giants Weekend and a celebration of the Hall of Fame’s Autumn Glory exhibit.The Giants made history with their first World Series championship in San Francisco in 2010. Their predecessors, the New York Giants, had already achieved mythical status as one of the powerhouse teams of the first century of play in the National League – winning five World Series crowns before moving to the City by the Bay in 1958.
Continue reading →

MAY 18, 1942
Night games in New York are banned for the duration of WW II, leaving fans in the dark about the status of the All-Star game scheduled to be played at the Polo Grounds on the evening of Monday, July 6. The prohibition of nighttime tilts, announced by NYC Police Commissioner Lewis J.Valentine, will change the starting times for 28 contests involving the Dodgers and Giants. (The first night game at Yankee Stadium will be played in 1946)(Nationalpastime.com)

MAY 14, 1920
The Giants inform the Yankees, tenants since 1913, their lease to play at the Polo Grounds will not be renewed at the end of the season. There is speculation the National League team, who later will decide to continue sharing their home until the Yankees’ new stadium is completed in 1923, may have been reacting to the team’s recent acquisition of Babe Ruth.
(Nationalpastime.com)

Received this photo from Staci Slaughter and the Giants last night from the Giants Trophy Tour Day.

The NYGPS presented a check to Larry Baer at the Giants Trophy Tour in Manhattan, to the Jr. Giants Fund. The $400 was used to buy new gloves for underpriveleged youths in SF. This was our way of saying THANK YOU for the Giants remembering us as well as contributing to a very worthy cause. We continue to contribute when we can (meetings etc.) If you would like to help, let us know or contact the Giants directly.

HELD ON MAY 1, 2013
NYGPS Member Peter A. Magowan, the former managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants and now the Giants President Emeritus, was kind enough to send us his introduction of W…illie Mays at Mae Mays’ funeral ceremony a few weeks back. What a beautiful piece!! Here is his speech:
THANK YOU, MALCOLM FOR THAT VERY GENEROUS INTRODUCTION. AS YOU KNOW, LARRY BAER, WHO RUNS THE GIANTS, IS RECOVERING FROM AN UNEXPECTED SURGERY, AND CANNOT BE WITH US TODAY, MUCH AS HE WANTED TO BE. HE HAS ASKED METO REPRESENT THE GIANTS AS WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO WILLIE AND HIS FAMILY.

I’D LIKE TO BEGIN BY TELLING A STORY THAT I THINK SHOWS HOW MUCH WILLIE LOVED MAE.

RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT THE GIANTS I ASKED WILLIE TO VISIT ME. WHEN HE ARRIVED I SAID THAT THE GIANTS WANTED HIM TO ASSUME A PROMINENT ROLE IN OUR ORGANIZATION. WILLIE ASKED IF THERE WOULD BE A CONTRACT AND, IF SO, FOR HOW LONG AND I TOLD HIM THE GIANTS WERE PREPARED TO OFFER HIM A LIFETIME CONTRACT. WHEN I SAID LIFETIME THE TEARS STARTED ROLLING DOWN HIS CHEEKS. HE WAS THAT SURPRISED AND THAT HAPPY.

TEN YEARS WENT BY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT A CALL FROM WILLIE ASKING TO SEE ME. SO WE GOT TOGETHER AND HE SAID “I NEED TO DISCUSS MY CONTRACT”. I WAS QUITE SURPRISED, AS WE WERE PAYING HIM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS QUITE A GENEROUS AMOUNT ANNUALLY. I ASKED HIM, “IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MONEY?” “OH NO”, HE REPLIED, “THE MONEY IS FINE”. “IT’S THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT THAT BOTHERS ME.” “THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT”, I ASKED, QUITE SURPRISED, “DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE IT SHORTER”?.. “NO, NO” WILLIE REPLIED, “I NEED AN EXTENSION”. “AN EXTENSION”? NOW I’M REALLY SURPRISED. “AN EXTENSION ON A LIFETIME CONTRACT? I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.” “YES, THAT’S WHAT I NEED. I NEED ONE MORE YEAR FOR MAE TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT WHEN I’M NO LONGER THERE TO TAKE CARE OF HER”. Continue reading →

MAY 8, 1929
Giants’ hurler Carl Hubbell becomes the first left-hander in 13 seasons to throw a no-hitter when he beats the Pirates, 11-0. The 26-year old southpaw, in only his second season in the majors, will post an 18-6 record for the third-place club.
(Nationalpastime.com)

WILLIE MAYS TURNS 82 ON MAY 6.

MAY 6, 1937
Dodgers and Giants fans attending afternoon ball games at both the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field are thrilled to have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Hindenberg when it appears over New York nearing the end of its maiden voyage of the season from Germany. A few hours later, the majestic German zeppelin will explode on a landing strip in Lakehurst, N.J. killing 36 of its passengers.
(Nationalpastime.com)

MAY 2, 1928
With the bases loaded and two out in the ninth inning, Giants’ manager John McGraw orders that Dodger rookie Del Bissonette be intentionally walked with the bases loaded by Larry Benton, forcing home a run. The strategy works when Harry Riconda strikes out giving New York a 2-1 victory in the Polo Grounds contest.
(Nationalpastime.com)

MAY 2, 1956
During a game in which 48 players see action, Chicago’s third baseman Don Hoak strikes out a record six times against six different New York pitchers. The Giants outlast the Cubs in the 17-inning Wrigley Field marathon, 6-5.
(Nationalpastime.com)