RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Darrell Evans, a left-handed slugger known for his power and patience at the plate, enjoyed a lengthy career in Major League Baseball. Born on May 26, 1947, in Pasadena, California, Evans began his professional journey when he was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in 1966. However, it was with the Atlanta Braves that he would make his
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1980 San Francisco Giants vs Montreal Expos - Radio Broadcast
On a sunny day at Stade Olympique on May 4, 1980, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the Montreal Expos in a match that saw starting pitchers John Montefusco for the Giants and Steve Rogers for the Expos. At this point in the season, both teams were aiming to improve their standings, with the Giants looking to leverage their offensive strengths and the Expos hoping to capitalize on their home-field advantage. The game not only featured these seasoned pitchers but also notable players like Jack Clark and Willie McCovey for the Giants, each bringing a season of mixed successes and challenges that added layers to the day’s expectations.
The game unfolded with the Giants setting a strong pace, initiating their scoring in the very first inning and gradually building their lead. Key offensive plays included a double by Terry Whitfield that drove in two runs early, setting the tone for the Giants. The middle innings remained relatively quiet, with both teams' pitchers working hard to stifle batters. However, the Giants broke through again in the seventh and eighth innings, significantly extending their lead thanks to strategic hits and capitalizing on an error by the Expos’ Warren Cromartie. This surge was highlighted by important RBIs from players like Jack Clark, who continued to be instrumental throughout the game.
The final score of 8-4 reflected a well-earned victory for the Giants, with the Expos unable to close the gap despite late efforts including a double by Ron LeFlore that spurred a brief rally. This game mirrored broader seasonal trends for both teams, with the Giants showing flashes of the potential that often went unrealized throughout the season, while the Expos grappled with consistency.
On Thursday, September 14, 1978, the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants faced off...
Atlanta Braves vs San Francisco Giants - Radio Broadcast / On Thursday, September 14, 1978, the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants faced off at Candlestick Park. The Braves sent Jim Bouton to the mound, an experienced right-hander who had a unique career trajectory, transitioning from a successful starter to a knuckleball reliever after a series of arm troubles. The Giants countered with Ed Halicki, a towering 6'7" right-hander known for his no-hitter in 1975. At this point in the season, the Braves were in the middle of the pack in the National League West, while the Giants were struggling to keep pace. The 1978 season was marked by the Yankees and Dodgers' fierce competition, each leading their respective leagues, while Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds was in pursuit of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak record.
The game got off to a slow start, with the Braves scoring an unearned run in the second inning due to errors by Halicki and John Tamargo. The Giants responded with a run of their own in the third, capitalizing on an error by Bouton. The Braves' Dale Murphy, who would later become a two-time MVP, made an impact on the base paths by stealing second base and later scoring due to the Giants' errors. In the sixth inning, the Giants threatened to score with a runner on second, but Bouton managed to get out of the jam, maintaining the slim lead.
The Braves broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring two more runs thanks to key hits from Glenn Hubbard and Jerry Royster. The Giants, however, struggled to generate offense against the Braves' pitching. After Bouton's solid six innings of work, Craig Skok and Gene Garber held the Giants hitless over the final three innings. The Braves added an insurance run in the eighth, securing a 4-1 victory.
The win improved the Braves' standing in the NL West, although they would ultimately finish the season in the middle of the pack. The Giants, meanwhile, continued to struggle, ending the year near the bottom of the division. The 1978 season would conclude with the New York Yankees defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The Braves' Dale Murphy, despite his team's middling performance, began to show signs of the player he would become in the 1980s, one of the most dominant in the National League. This game, while not a highlight of the season, was a good representation of the Braves' potential and the Giants' struggles in the 1978 season.
