When the San Francisco Giants traded for Jeff Kent before the 1997 season, sending franchise legend Matt Williams to Cleveland, the reaction from local fans was mostly mixed. Until then, Kent had a decent but uninspiring tenure as a regular infielder for Toronto, New York, and Cleveland, showing occasional power but never seeming like a superstar. Few could have foreseen that moving to the West Coast would dramatically change his career, turning an underestimated journeyman into the leading power-hitting second baseman of his generation.

The move to San Francisco immediately elevated Kent's offensive performance to a new level of power. Placed at the core of Dusty Baker’s batting lineup, he set a standard for consistent elite run production, surpassing his National League peers. He achieved an impressive streak, hitting at least 23 home runs and totaling 101 or more RBIs in all six seasons with the Giants—highlighted by a 128-RBI season in 1998 and a career-best 37 home runs in 2002, during their pennant run.

Kent reached the peak of his individual greatness during the remarkable 2000 season, when he produced a standout performance on the field. He hit an impressive .334 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs, vital in sustaining the Giants’ offense during crucial moments and securing the National League West championship. In an unexpected development, baseball writers honored his clutch efforts by awarding him the National League Most Valuable Player Award, surpassing his teammate Barry Bonds—a historic achievement that confirmed Kent's position as an elite, top-tier superstar.

The shared MVP race highlighted the complex and volatile nature of the San Francisco clubhouse during that time. Kent and Bonds had a notably cold relationship that sometimes erupted into public, physical disputes in the dugout. Despite this personal tension, both stars maintained professionalism on the field, creating one of the most formidable middle-of-the-order duos in baseball history, constantly challenging opposing pitchers to choose their approach.

Although some old-school purists occasionally criticized his glove, Kent strengthened his defense enough to stay a reliable presence on the infield, earning three straight All-Star selections and three Silver Slugger Awards while with the Giants. The inevitable departure came after the 2002 World Series; with his contract up and tensions lingering from a spring training wrist injury, Kent left for the Houston Astros as a free agent. He exited San Francisco with a career total of 1,021 hits, 175 home runs, and an impressive .903 OPS over 915 games.

He was inducted as the only member into the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame in August 2009. His career reached its peak when the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee elected Jeff Kent to the Hall of Fame and the Giants retired his number 21 jersey, cementing his legacy.

We have to go way back for this one, as Buck Ewing joined the Giants in 1883, after 

A player with multiple defensive skills (he played at Catcher, Outfield, Second, and Third), Ewing began his career in the National League with Troy, where he played three seasons before the team folded, and he joined New York, the team where he became a star.  Along with his defensive versatility (though he was at his best as a Catcher), Ewing was a competent hitter, batting over .300 in six of his first seven years with New York.  

19^th Century Baseball was not a power game, but Triples and Stolen Bases were in vogue, and Ewing could deliver.  He was the league leader in Triples with 20 in 1894 and had 109 in total as a Giant.  Ewing stole 178 bases on the base paths for New York, an astonishing number for a Catcher.  Ewing was also a large part of the original version of the World Series, leading New York to titles in 1888 and 1889.  

After 1989, Ewing was one of many players who jumped to the Players League, but with that organization lasting only one year, he was back to the Giants, playing there three more years before he was traded to Cleveland.

In 1939 Ewing was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Old Timers Committee.  

The story of the New York Giants in the 1930s is mainly centered on the legendary 'King Carl' Hubbell. However, the team's quick rise to becoming a strong National League contender was largely thanks to a dependable second pitcher. Signed in 1931 from St. Lawrence University by scout Art Devlin, with the condition that he could finish his degree, Harold ‘Prince Hal’ Schumacher brought a smart, businesslike attitude to manager John McGraw’s pitching staff. By the time Bill Terry became the manager, Schumacher was well-placed to serve as a powerful right-handed complement to Hubbell's left-handed skills, holding the second spot in the rotation as the team grew into a championship contender.

Schumacher’s breakthrough came during the notable 1933 season, a summer when he played at a top, frontline level. He ignited with a remarkable 19–12 record, a stellar 2.16 ERA, and leading the National League by allowing just 6.9 hits per nine innings. He carried this top form into the Fall Classic against the Washington Senators, delivering a brilliant five-hit complete game in Game 2 and driving in three runs. He also started the exciting, extra-inning Game 5 final, earning his only World Series ring and a spot in the first-ever 1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

In his remarkable 1934 season, he reached new heights in the regular season, establishing himself as a dependable workhorse. He made a career-high 36 starts and pitched 297 innings, leading the team with 23 wins and only 10 losses. Beyond his pitching prowess, he was a versatile player, hitting six home runs and helping the Giants navigate a tough pennant race. His durability and reliability impressed national writers, earning him a ninth-place spot in the National League MVP voting.

Schumacher earned a second All-Star selection in 1935 after another strong 19–9 season. However, the demanding workload of nearly 940 innings before age 25 began taking a toll. After this intense peak, he became a reliable, middle-of-the-road starting pitcher for the rest of his career. Although he no longer reached 15 wins or matched his early statistical outliers, he remained a dependable player who consistently ate innings and helped keep a competitive New York team afloat in the standings.

His long-standing tenure with the club ended suddenly after the 1942 season, as a larger global conflict overshadowed baseball. Instead of remaining in the Giants' rotation, Schumacher prioritized his duty and joined the United States Navy to serve in World War II. He missed three key seasons, from 1943 to 1945, while serving honorably in the Pacific Theater as a lieutenant on the escort aircraft carrier USS Cape Esperance. He returned safely to Manhattan for a brief, final appearance in 1946, winning two complete games early in the summer before retiring from baseball at age 35.

Schumacher retired having spent his entire 13-year major league career exclusively in a New York Giants uniform, compiling a highly successful 158–121 record, 906 strikeouts, and a sharp 3.36 ERA across 391 appearances.

Art Fletcher is thought of more by baseball pundits for his time as a Coach for the New York Yankees, but as a player, he is arguably the greatest defensive player in Giants history.

Holding the franchise record for Defensive bWAR (25.9) and a three-time league leader in that stat, Fletcher was also first in Assists four times.  Offensively, Fletcher was no star, but he accumulated 1,311 hits, batted .275 for New York, and mastered the selfless art of being hit by pitches, leading the NL in that statistic four times.

The Giants made the World Series (though lost) with Fletcher as their Shortstop four times.  You have to be a pretty good ballplayer to be a starting Shortstop for that to happen.