5 in 50- The San Francisco Giants

Continuing my 5 in 50 series, today’s team is the San Francisco Giants. This will be a list of the top 5 greatest players for the Giants in the last 50 years, since the 1972 season. The criteria are as follows: Player must have been part of team for at least 5 full seasons. Both regular season and post season success will be measured (statistical leaders, awards, et). Players on this list can be from any position. Multiple players at the same position can be included. I’ll list the major accomplishments for each player only for the team they are selected.

Here is my list of the top 5 greatest Giants in the last 50 years.

5.   Tim Lincecum (2007-20015)- 2-time NL Cy Young award winner.

4.   Jeff Kent (1997-2002)- 2001 NL MVP

3.   Madison Bumgarner (2009-2019)- Finished twice in top 5 Cy Young voting. 2014 NLCS MVP, and World Series MVP

2.  Buster Posey (2009-2020)- 2012 NL Batting champion. 2012 NL MVP. Gold glove winner.

1.  Barry Bonds (1993-2007)- 5-time NL MVP, 2-time home run champion. 2-time batting champion.

Honorable mention to Will Clark, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt

Notes. This list consists of players from the 2002 pennant winning team and the 3-time championship team of the 2010s. Lincecum is the only Giants pitcher to win a Cy Young award with the team (winning 2). Kent was a dominating player during the 6 yrs he played with the Giants and is the all-time home run leader for second basemen. Bumgarner was a terrific pitcher who almost singlehandedly won the 2014 championship for the Giants. Posey is one of only a few catchers to win a batting title in the National League. And finally, steroids or not, Bonds must be at the top of the list with his 5 MVP awards.

This is the last of the 30 teams in my 5 in 50 series. Until the off season when my next list comes out, enjoy the 2022 season.

5 in 50- The San Diego Padres

Continuing my 5 in 50 series, today’s team is the San Diego Padres. This will be a list of the top 5 greatest players for the Padres in the last 50 years, since the 1972 season. The criteria are as follows: Player must have been part of team for at least 5 full seasons. Both regular season and post season success will be measured (statistical leaders, awards, et). Players on this list can be from any position. Multiple players at the same position can be included. I’ll list the major accomplishments for each player only for the team they are selected.

Here is my list of the top 5 greatest Padres in the last 50 years.

5.   Adrian Gonzalez (2006-2010)- Finished 4^th in NL MVP voting. 2-time gold glove winner.

4.   Randy Jones (1973-1980)- 1976 NL Cy Young award. Finished 2^nd in Cy Young voting.

3.   Dave Winfield (1973-1980)- Finished twice in top 10 MVP voting. 2-time gold glove winner.

2.   Trevor Hoffman (1993-2010)- 2^nd in all time saves. Finished 3 times in top 5 Cy Young award voting.

1.  Tony Gwynn (1982-2001)- 8-time NL batting champion. 5-time gold glove winner.

Honorable mention to Jake Peavy, Gary Templeton, Chase Headly, Andy Benes, Terry Kennedy

Notes. Although Gonzalez was only with the Padres for 5 years, he deserves to be on this list. He was an all star in 4 of 5 years he played with them and had a few MVP type seasons. Randy Jones was one of the best pitchers in baseball for a few years in the mid-70s. Winfield is a Hall of Famer who was a superstar on some awful Padres teams. Hoffman is a Hall of Famer who is the 2^nd greatest closer of all time. And finally, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn is the greatest Padre of all time, and one of the greatest hitters ever.

Next up is the last team to do 5 in 50, The San Francisco Giants

5 in 50- The Los Angeles Dodgers

 Continuing my 5 in 50 series, today’s team is the Los Angeles Dodgers. This will be a list of the top 5 greatest players for the Dodgers in the last 50 years, since the 1972 season. The criteria are as follows: Player must have been part of team for at least 5 full seasons. Both regular season and post season success will be measured (statistical leaders, awards, et). Players on this list can be from any position. Multiple players at the same position can be included. I’ll list the major accomplishments for each player only for the team they are selected.

Here is my list of the top 5 greatest Dodgers in the last 50 years.

5.   Fernando Valenzuela (1980-1990)- 1981 NL Cy Young award winner. Finished 3 times in top 5 Cy Young voting

4.   Orel Hershiser (1983- 1994)- 1988 NL Cy Young award winner. 1988 NLCS MVP, and 1988 World Series MVP

3.   Mike Piazza (1992-1997)- Finished 3 times in top 5 MVP voting. Hit .331 in his 7 yrs as a Dodger.

2.   Steve Garvey (1972-1982)- 1974 NL MVP. Finished 4 times in top 6 MVP voting. 1978 NLCS MVP.

1.   Clayton Kershaw (2008-2021)- 3-time NL Cy Young award. 2014 NL MVP.

Honorable mention to Don Sutton, Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Justin Turner, Kenley Jensen.

Notes. This list was a lot tougher to put together than I thought it would be. The Dodgers have a lot of great players, but most of their Hall of Fame players played prior to the 1972 cut off. At #5, I considered another Hall of Famer, Don Sutton, but he was a classic compiler. Valenzuela had more impact (and won a Cy Young). Hershiser almost singlehandedly led the Dodgers to the 1988 World Series championship. Piazza was one of the greatest hitting catchers of all time. Garvey was one of the great players in the decade of the 70s and should be in the Hall of Fame. Finally, Kershaw will be a first ballot Hall of Famer and will go down as the second-best pitcher in Dodger’s history after Koufax.

Next up is the San Diego Padres

5 in 50- Colorado Rockies

Continuing my 5 in 50 series, today’s team is the Colorado Rockies. This will be a list of the top 5 greatest players for the Rockies in their history (they have been in existence since 1993). The criteria are as follows: Player must have been part of team for at least 5 full seasons. Both regular season and post season success will be measured (statistical leaders, awards, et). Players on this list can be from any position. Multiple players at the same position can be included. I’ll list the major accomplishments for each player only for the team they are selected.

Here is my list of the top 5 greatest Rockies players in their history.

5.  Carlos Gonzalez (2009-2018)- 2010 NL batting champion. 3-time gold glove award winner.

4.  Troy Tulowitzki (2006-2015)- Finished 3 times in top 8 MVP voting. 2-time gold glove award winner.

3.  Noland Arenado (2013-2020)- 3-time NL home run champion. 7-time gold glove award winner.

2.  Todd Helton (1997-2013)- 2000 NL batting champion. Finished 3 times in top 10 MVP voting.

1.  Larry Walker (1995-2003)- 1997 NL MVP. 3-time NL batting champion.

Honorable mention to Ubaldo Jimenez, Matt Holiday, Charlie Blackman, Andres Galarraga, Vinnie Castilla

Notes. Only questions on this list were #s 4 and 5. Both Gonzalez and Tulowitzki were great players for the Rockies. Gonzalez was an MVP candidate in 2010 when we won the batting title. Tulowitzki came in as a rookie in 2007 and immediately was an integral part of the Rockies only pennant winning team. Arenado was an all-time great player with the Rockies. If he played his whole career with the team, he would have probably been #1. Helton holds most of the team batting records. And finally, Walker took advantage of the high altitude in Colorado. He hit .350 or better in 4 different seasons. But he was a great hitter who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Next up is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

5 in 50- The Arizona Diamondbacks

Continuing my 5 in 50 series, today’s team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. This will be a list of the top 5 greatest players for the Diamondbacks in their history (they have been in existence since 1998). The criteria are as follows: Player must have been part of team for at least 5 full seasons. Both regular season and post season success will be measured (statistical leaders, awards, et). Players on this list can be from any position. Multiple players at the same position can be included. I’ll list the major accomplishments for each player only for the team they are selected.

Here is my list of the top 5 greatest Diamondbacks players in their history.

5.  Steve Finley (1999-2004)- 3-time gold glove winner. 2001 World Series champion.

4.  Luis Gonzalez (1999-2006)- Diamondbacks all-time leader in hits.  2001 World Series champion.

3.  Brandon Webb (2003-2009)- 2006 NL Cy Young award winner. Finished 2^nd in Cy Young voting twice.

2.  Paul Goldschmidt (2011-2018)- 2013 NL home run and RBI leader. Finished in top 3 MVP voting 3 times.

1.  Randy Johnson (1999-2004, 2007, 2008)- 4-time NL Cy Young award winner. World Series MVP.

Honorable mention to Patrick Corbin, AJ Pollock, Justin Upton, Chris Young.

Notes. Curt Schilling only played for 4 years with the Diamondbacks or would have been on the list. Lots of tough decisions after 1 and 2. Diamondbacks had a lot of players who were short term and didn’t meet the 5-year criteria. Finley was a great fielder who solidified centerfield during the Diamondbacks championship team in 01. Gonzalez will always be remembered for getting the game winning hit in game 7 of the 2001 World Series win against the Yankees.  Webb’s career was shortened by injury, but, for about 4 years, he was one of the top pitchers in all of baseball. Goldschmidt had some remarkable seasons where he could have easily won the MVP. Finally, Johnson was an all-time great Hall of Fame pitcher. And will be remembered for leading the Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series Championship by winning 3 games against the Yankees.

Next up is the Colorado Rockies.