A Giant Blog

The Giants continued to struggle in 1977, but things were improving. The Giants acquired Bill Madlock, and Willie McCovey returned to the team to make a good comeback. The Giants would contend in 1978, then the bottom fell out for a couple of years after that.

Joe Altobelli (#211) was in his first year as a major league manager. Joe had managed in the Baltimore Orioles organization (or in the Mexican League) from 1966-1976. He managed the Giants from 1977 through most of the 1979 season (he was let go in September). Joe managed in AAA in 1980 and coached for the New York Yankees in 1981 and 1982. He then managed the Baltimore Orioles for 2 1/2 years from 1983-1985, winning a World Championship in 1983. After he was fired by the Orioles, Joe coached for the Yankees in 1986 and 1987 and then coached for Don Zimmer with the Chicaco Cubs from 1988-1991. Altobelli managed one game for the Chicago Cubs in 1991 as an interim manager after Zimmer was fired. Altobelli then was the general manager of the AAA Rochester Red Wings for several years and then was a color commentator for the club's home game broadcasts until the 2009 season.

Record: 75-87 (4th in NL West, 23 games behind the LA Dodgers
Attendance: 700,056 (12th in NL)
Team Batting: .253 (10th in NL)
Team HR: 134 (7th in NL)
Team ERA: 3.76 (5th in NL)
Team Fielding: .972 (10th in NL)
League Leaders: none
NL All Stars: Gary Lavelle (P)


Mike Sadek (#129) batted .230 in 134 at bats.





Gary Alexander (#476) batted .303 with 5 HR and 20 RBI in 119 at bats.

After a promising 1978 season that saw the Giants (#356) in the pennant race for the first time in years, 1979 was a letdown. The Giants struggled and Joe Altobelli didn't even finish the season as manager. Altobelli had a 61-79 record when he was let go in September. Dave Bristol managed the last 22 games and posted a 10-12 record.

• Team Record: 71-91 (4th in NL West, 19 1/2 games behind Cincinnati)
• Attendance: 1,406,402 (9th in NL)
• Team Batting: .246 (11th in NL)
• Team Home Runs: 125 (7th in NL)
• Team ERA: 4.17 (11th in NL)
• Team Fielding: .974 (11th in NL)
• NL All Stars: Jack Clark (OF)
• NL Leaders: Bill North (caught stealing - 24); Vida Blue (earned runs allowed - 132)
• Team Batting Leader: Terry Whitfield (.287)
• Team HR Leader: Mike Ivie (27)
• Team RBI Leader: Mike Ivie (89)
• Team SB Leader: Bill North (58)
• Team Wins Leader: Vida Blue (14)
• Team Losses Leader: Vida Blue (14)
• Team Saves Leader: Gary Lavelle (20)
  
  
  

• Mike Sadek (#256) batted .238 in 126 AB in 1979.
  
  
  
  

• Marc Hill (#11) batted .207 in 169 AB. He didn't play after July 24.
  
  

• John Tamargo (#726) played in 30 games and batted .200 in 60 at bats. He was traded to the Montreal Expos for Joe Pettini on June 13.

Others who caught for the Giants but didn't receive a 1979 Topps Giants card:

• Dennis Littlejohn (.197, 1 HR, 13 RBI in 193 AB - was brought up to the Giants in mid-July)
• Bob Kearney (0 for 1 in two games)
  
  
  

• This is a cool-looking team card (#82). It looks different from the normal run-of-the-mill team picture. Candlestick Park looks odd with artificial turf.

• The 1978 Topps set is an underrated set. It has a nice design and the backs are easy to read. The set had 726 cards instead of the standard 660. The extra cards were needed due to expansion in 1977. The double prints were kind of a pain, but it was worth it to get more cards in the set.

• Record: 89-73 (3rd in NL West, 6 games behind Los Angeles)
• Team Batting: .248 (10th in NL)
• Team Home Runs: 117 (6th in NL)
• Team ERA: 3.30 (3rd in NL)
• Team Fielding: .977 (9th in NL)
• Attendance: 1,740,477 (4th in NL)
• Gold Glove Awards: none
• The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year: Vida Blue
• NL All Stars: Vida Blue (starting pitcher); Jack Clark (OF)
  

• The 1978 season was Joe Altobelli's (#256) second season as the Giants' manager. He was let go in September 1979 after the Giants struggled. Joe's record in almost three years as the SF manager was 225-239. Altobelli would later win a title with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983.
  
  

• Gary Alexander (#624) didn't play for the Giants in 1978. He was traded to the Oakland A's before the season as part of the big Vida Blue trade.
  
  
  

• Marc Hill (#359) was the starting catcher. He batted .243 with three HR in 117 games.
  
  
  

• Mike Sadek (#8) batted .239 with two HR in 109 at bats in 1978.

Other players who caught for the Giants but didn't get 1978 Topps Giants cards:

• John Tamargo (.239 in 92 at bats)

• Dennis Littlejohn (caught in two games with no at bats)