Pacific Coast League (1966-1985)
Tombstone
Born: 1966 – The Tacoma Giants relocate to Phoenix
Re-Branded: 1986 (Phoenix Firebirds)
First Game: April 15, 1966 (W 6-3 vs. Tulsa Oilers)
Last Game: September 10, 1985 (L 3-1 vs. Vancouver Canadians)
PCL Champions: 1977
Stadium
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Opened: 1964
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 1966-1973: San Francisco Giants
- 1973-1977: John Ashby, Dan Walker, Ethan Blackaby, et al.
- 1978-1979: Dave Downey, Jo Ellyn Downey & Ethan Blackaby
- 1980-????: Ted Vallone, Jerry Colangelo, Dick Van Arsdale, Jimmy Walker, Ethan Blackaby, et al.
- ????-1985: Martin Stone, et al.
Major League Affiliation: San Francisco Giants
Trophy Case
Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player
- 1984: Alejandro Sanchez
GIANTS GEAR
Phoenix Giants
Throwback T-Shirt
If you liked your baseball played under an unforgiving, broiling hot sun then Phoenix Giants games at Municipal Stadium were the place for you. The Giants enjoyed two stints as the San Francisco Giants’ top farm club in 1958-1959 and again from 1966 to 1985.
This design is also available as a 3/4 sleeve raglan, women’s tank top and as as a hooded or crewneck sweatshirt today at Old School Shirts!
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Background
The Phoenix Giants were the long-time top farm club of the National League’s San Francisco Giants. (This edition of the Giants followed an earlier Phoenix Giants entry in the Pacific Coast League in 1958-1959).
Giants prospects roasted in the Phoenix heat during the summer months. In a 2014 retrospective on the team, catcher Bob Brenly (Phoenix ’80-’81) told Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic that he routinely lost eight to ten pounds in water weight at each home game.
The Giants won their lone Pacific Coast League crown during the 1977 season.
Following the 1985 season, the franchise was re-branded as the Phoenix Firebirds. The Firebirds remained an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants for another twelve seasons through 1997 until minor league baseball was displaced by the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League expansion team. The former Phoenix Giants/Firebirds franchise moved to Tucson in 1998.
Trivia
Phoenix Municipal Stadium was absolutely cavernous. It was 360′ down the lines, 412′ to the power alleys and 430′ to dead center with a 40′ high wall. The Giants’ 1977 PCL championship squad hit more triples (84) than home runs (67).
Phoenix Giants Shop
Giants GEAR
Phoenix Giants
Replica Jersey
When it comes to Replica Jerseys, we turn to our friends at Royal Retros, who put extraordinary detail into their customizable Baseball, Basketball, Football & Hockey jerseys.
Free Customization Included
Any name and number
Heavyweight sewn tackle twill
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When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
In Memoriam
Manager Rocky Bridges (Giants ’74-’82) passed away on January 27, 2015 at age 87. Washington Post obituary.
Links
“Before Chase Field, Phoenix heat didn’t stop baseball“, Scott Bordow, azcentral sports, July 12, 2014
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5 Responses
Interesting to read in the Bob Brenly article that the Giants played at home on the day when Phoenix recorded its hottest ever temperature (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It would be interesting to find the box score or reports for that game – was the game conducted quickly to get the players out of the heat, or did the heat cause it to take longer to play than normal?
I have a good friend, whose name is Doug Schaefer. He pitched for the Phoenix Giants. I’m was looking for something special for him to autograph. Are these programs still available and is his name listed on the program? Please let me know. Thank you for you time. Pamela Spinks
I had a bunch of Phoenix Gaints cards all signed. I don’t think I got them anymore. I hope my mom still has them I probably got one signed by your husband already but I am unsure. I would like to get back into collecting cards again.
My mother work there in the office. I work their to.How could I get an autograph.
Sorry I didn’t Know he was your friend. I thought you said husband till I look at it again!