The Toronto Giants?

Many of us remember the Giants' near-move to St. Petersburg, Florida, or at least know the story. What's perhaps less known to today's fans is that the Giants came just as close to becoming the Toronto Giants in 1976. Ironically, the man who saved them - Bob Lurie - was the same guy who later tried to sell them off to St. Petersburg.

The link is to a CBC radio story on the proposed sale that I just came across.

about 2 years ago jcb9 5 comments 0 recs |

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This must be why they keep taking all of our castoffs

Adopted brother of Jason Jarvis.

by j14 on Apr 29, 2010 2:36 PM PDT reply actions

That was the year that the only remotely entertaining thing about the Giants was one of the greatest broadcasting teams of all time: Lon Simmons and a young Al Michaels who went on many hilarious flights of fancy during interminably awful games. Michaels himself has for years (whenever broadcasting a football game that hits the score 9-0) brought up Simmons classic: “and the score is Cincinnati nine, San Francisco nine. Unfortunately the Giants are playing in German.”

But the remark that’s always stuck with me was during one their standard kick and throw the ball all over the field games. It might have the game that John Curtis emptied the bases by throwing three consecutive wild pitches, or it might have been some other nightmare, but as Lon and Al were laughing about the ugliness Michaels says, “Boy if they try to move to Toronto playing like this they’re never gonna make it through customs.”

My Bucardo is better than yours.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on Apr 29, 2010 7:29 PM PDT reply actions

1975

I loved that year. My friends and I got to really like Derrel Thomas when he took to centerfield; we’d go hang out in the upperdeck and cheer him on. They came within a game of .500, which was very unexpected. And Montefusco, of course. Really loved listening to Al Michaels and Lon—thanks for reminding me of that, Roger.

well, it was really gary thomasson--the great, giant, fan
Language of the McCoven--TWSS!, Meh!, STFD!, Bork!, Fail!, STFD! STFD!
mccoven diversity: Romosexuals, Velezbians, Nerb's--they're all here...

by greatgiantfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions