Our final MLB roster might be the most stacked squad of all - at least among National League franchises. Here's the San Francisco Giants all-time team.
The Giants played more years at Candlestick Park (and the Polo Grounds), but all of their modern-day title teams played at Pac Bell/SBC/AT&T/Oracle Park.
John McGraw managed the Giants for 31 seasons, leading the team to ten National League titles and three World Series victories in New York. He might have had a fourth World Series win if the team hadn't scoffed at playing the "inferior" American League champions in 1904.
Here's his all-time lineup.
This lineup is loaded with home run power, surrounded by high-average hitters including lead-off man George Davis, who batted .332 and stole 357 bases over ten Giants seasons. Again, shout-out to Gregory at Nine Pickets for the Davis custom.
While other NL West franchises like Arizona and Colorado have few backup first basemen to choose from, the Giants are overflowing with options.
Will Clark was a Barnstormer in the original series; he'll try to hold on to his roster spot in an expanded competition. McGraw will find a place for Orlando Cepeda somewhere.
The other infield positions are more quantity over quality. San Fran has a lot of league-average options.
George "High Pockets" Kelly would give Larry Doyle a run for his money but his primary position is - you guessed it - first base. Doyle stays.
While Barry Bonds is locked into the starting left field spot, his dad Bobby has a bit of a battle for a bench role.
McGraw would add underrated 19th-century star Tiernan as a fifth outfielder, but not at the expense of Cepeda.
If the Giants hitters aren't impressive enough, the starting pitching may just put them over the top.
The only non-Hall of Famer here is the still-active Madison Bumgarner, recently DFA'd by Arizona. It would be easy to assemble an all-Hall Giants rotation with any of these starters should McGraw choose to do what the Diamondbacks did and cut MadBum.
Bumgarner's big-game bona fides gave him the edge originally, and it's enough to stay in this rotation.
The Giants' relief group is also unchanged.
Greg Minton is third among Giants pitchers in appearances, but he walked more batters than he whiffed.
Looking ahead... this is going to be a tough roster to break through for any young Giant. Starting pitcher Logan Webb and closer Camilo Doval have been impressive at the big-league level, and lefty starter Kyle Harrison is knocking on the door. A middle infield role might be easier to earn than a middle relief role; Marco Luciano is a top tier shortstop prospect but he's at least a couple years away.
TL; DR: No changes from the original roster.
This completes the updated All-Time Teams roster for all 30 MLB franchises. But we're expanding this league to 32 teams this weekend with the Negro League All-Stars and the "best of the rest" Barnstormers.
This completes the updated All-Time Teams roster for all 30 MLB franchises. But we're expanding this league to 32 teams this weekend with the Negro League All-Stars and the "best of the rest" Barnstormers.
Thanks for reading!
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Great finish to a great series. Thanks for the awesome write-ups!
ReplyDeleteObviously a great roster. Not much to add to my gushing the last time. Maybe I'd put Mays higher in the batting order, but that's a quibble.
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to the Negro League grouping, which may well be the best of them all.
That starting outfield is impressive. And had no idea Robby Thompson's WAR was higher than Crawford's. That's impressive too.
ReplyDeleteNot very familiar with the early Giants so that was interesting. Starting lineup is quite impressive.
ReplyDeleteGot the PWE a couple of days ago, thank you sir! All needs other the junk wax era Topps!
Nice work on all of these!
ReplyDeleteThis lineup is arguably better than the Yankees'.
ReplyDeleteQuite an impressive lineup when you have to stick Orlando Cepeda on the bench.
ReplyDeleteCarlos Correa missed an opportunity here!
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