1980 Topps Giants - Part 2 (infielders)

Joe Strain (#538) batted .286 in 189 at bats as a backup second baseman. He made most of his starts in May and June. Strain didn't play during the month of August and was only a pinch hitter after July 26.

Johnnie LeMaster (#434) batted .215 in 135 games as the starting shortstop.

Willie McCovey (#335) played in 48 games and batted .204 with 1 HR and 16 RBI in 113 at bats. Willie played his final game on July 6 and retired.

Roger Metzger (#311) batted .074 in 27 at bats. He cut off the tips of four fingers in a table saw accident before the 1980 season. Metzger attempted a comeback but the comeback was unsuccessful and the Giants released him on August 16.

Rob Andrews (#279) didn't play for the Giants in 1980. He was released after the 1979 season. Rob signed with the New York Mets during spring training of 1980 but didn't make the club.

Darrell Evans (#145) batted .264 with 20 HR and 78 RBI in 154 games. He led the Giants in walks (83) and doubles (23)

Mike Ivie (#62) batted .241 with 4 HR and 25 RBI in 79 games.

Others who played infield for the Giants but did not get 1980 Topps Giants cards:

Rennie Stennett (.244 in 120 games as the starting second baseman)

Joe Pettini (.232 in 190 at bats as a backup shortstop)

Rich Murray (.194 with 4 HR in 194 at bats as a backup first baseman)

Guy Sularz (.246 in 65 at bats as a backup second baseman)

1979 Topps Giants - Part 1

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)
  
  
  

1981 Topps Giants Part 2

• Rich Murray spent the season in AAA Phoenix, where he batted .326.

• Mike Ivie batted .294 in 7 games for the Giants. He was traded to Houston on April 20 for Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard.
  
  

• Johnnie LeMaster was the starting shortstop and batted .253 in 104 games in 1981.
  
  
  

• Rennie Stennett batted .230 in 87 at bats in 1981. It was his last major league season.
  
  
  

• Darrell Evans started at 3B and batted .258 with 12 homers in 102 games.
  
  
  

• Joe Strain did not play for the Giants in 1981. He was traded to the Cubs before the season.
  
  
  
  

• Joe Pettini batted .069 in 35 games (34 at bats).

• Other infielders who didn't have SF Giants Topps cards:

• Enos Cabell was acquired from Houston to play 1B. He batted .255 in 96 games and had a .274 on base percentage.

• Joe Morgan signed as a free agent and played 2B. He batted .240 in 90 games. Joe walked 66 times and had 14 stolen bases (second on the team).

• Dave Bergman played 1B and OF in 1981. Dave batted .267 in 145 at bats.

• Billy Smith was a utility man in 1981, batting .180 in 61 at bats.

• Guy Sularz batted .200 in 20 at bats as a September call-up.