5 Greatest Giants Pitchers of All Time

As one of the oldest franchises in baseball history, picking the top five Giants pitchers of all time is a tough task. The top of the list is clear, but so many great arms have played in San Francisco and New York as to make the rest of the top five a crapshoot.

Plus, given the age of the franchise and how dominant they were in the dead-ball era, even, distinguishing between that epoch of pitchers and the more modern ones makes things even tougher.

But, it’s our list and we tried. Some iconic names are left off the list, including 21st-century Giants postseason hero Madison Bumgarner. Here’s who made it.

5. Tim Lincecum (2007-2015)

The age-old question: Is it better to burn out or fade away? Those who believe in the latter might immediately kick Lincecum to the curb. Maybe not even put the lithe right-hander in the top 10. Fair enough. But for a brief bout, as the 2000s turned into the 2010s, he may have been the best pitcher in baseball.

Lincecum played nine years with the Giants, debuting in 2007 as he cracked the rotation upon call-up in early summer. The very next year, he was the National League Cy Young Award winner, leading all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts, WAR, and home runs per nine.

In 2009, he won the award again with eerily similar numbers. He helped the Giants to a World Series win in 2010 by picking up 16 mound victories and made his fourth and final All-Star Game in 2011.

Lincecum’s career hit the skids after that as he registered a negative-3.4 WAR combined over his final three seasons in San Francisco. But if you prefer Bumgarner’s longevity over Lincecum’s prime here, we totally understand.

4. Amos Rusie (1890-1898)

It would have been easier to place one of the two Giants 2010s stars here instead of Rusie. Unless you’re a Giants historian, you’re probably - ahem - unfamiliar with his game.

Rusie pitched his entire New York Giants career (eight seasons) before the turn of the century. The turn of the 20th century, that is. From 1890 to 1898, Rusie racked up a 234-163 record with a 2.89 earned-run average. He led all of baseball in strikeouts five times…and walks five times. It was a different, wild era. He was great enough, anyway, to make this list.

3. Juan Marichal (1960-1973)