1996 San Francisco Giants season

The 1996 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 114th season in Major League Baseball, their 39th season in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their 37th at 3Com Park at Candlestick Point. The team finished in fourth place in the National League West with a 68–94 record, 23 games behind the San Diego Padres.

Offseason

 * October 6, 1995: Mike Benjamin was traded by the Giants to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jeff Juden and Tommy Eason (minors).
 * October 26, 1995: John Roper was claimed off waivers from the Giants by the Cincinnati Reds.
 * December 1, 1995: Rikkert Faneyte was sent to the Texas Rangers by the San Francisco Giants as part of a conditional deal.
 * March 26, 1996: Scott Service was released by the Giants.

Game log

 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss Bold = Giants team member
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss Bold = Giants team member

Notable transactions

 * April 5, 1996: Steve Decker was signed as a free agent by the Giants.
 * July 11, 1996: Jeff Juden was selected off waivers from the Giants by the Montreal Expos.
 * July 27, 1996: Kirt Manwaring was traded by the Giants to the Houston Astros for Rick Wilkins and cash.
 * July 30, 1996: Mark Leiter was traded by the Giants to the Montreal Expos for Kirk Rueter and Tim Scott.
 * August 21, 1996: Steve Decker was purchased from the Giants by the Colorado Rockies.
 * August 21, 1996: Trenidad Hubbard was selected off waivers by the San Francisco Giants from the Colorado Rockies.

Lou Seal


Lou Seal is the official mascot of the San Francisco Giants. "Born" on July 25, 1996, Luigi Francisco Seal has been a regular part of the Giants baseball home games and events around San Francisco, and the United States. The name is a play on the name "Lucille." Todd Schwenk, an Oakland Athletics Fan, named the mascot in a KNBR Sports Radio phone-in contest. Schwenk named Lou for the Seals always hanging out on the wharfs at Fisherman's Wharf. It also refers to the San Francisco Seals, the baseball club which was a mainstay of the Pacific Coast League from 1903 until 1957.

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors
All-Star Game
 * Shawon Dunston SS, Willie Mac Award