Fourteen years ago, the San Francisco Giants were in a bit of a pickle. The team had finished last in the NL West with a 71-91 record, despite their hiring of a shiny new manager—Bruce Bochy— from the San Diego Padres. Barry Bonds had broken the all-time home run record with a late summer blast into AT&T Park’s centerfield, but he was gone after the season’s end. The young rookie, Tim Lincecum, had had an electric debut season, and Matt Cain was in his ultimate prime, but pitching could only go so far. What the Giants needed was a heir apparent to Bonds, a face of the franchise that could lead them steadily through the next decade.
Buster Posey: Year in Review
