Franchise Timeline

Ott also drove in his 1,583rd run, establishing what was then a National League record. But 1942 was only the beginning of the lean war years for the Giants, who seemed to be hit harder by the loss of players to military service than other NL clubs. Mize, Harry Danning, Babe Young and Willard Marshall all were called to duty in 1943, and the Giants lost 98 games that year and 87 in 1944.

Despite the on-field struggles, the team did its part to support the war effort, wearing red, white and blue uniforms and staging victory rallies at the Polo Grounds, as well as giving up night games in observance of the wartime curfew and raising millions of dollars selling war bonds.

1943

After holding Spring Training in New Jersey to help conserve resources for the war effort, the Giants finish a miserable 49 1/2 games out. Carl Hubbell wraps up his Hall of Fame career with 253 wins.

1946

The first post-war season should be bright for the Giants, but the rogue Mexican League lures away many of the top New York players. The exodus hits the Giants harder than most NL squads, and they lose 93 games. Mel Ott hits his 511th and final home run.

1948

In a stunning July development, hated Dodgers manager Leo Durocher replaces Mel Ott as manager of the Giants and starts the rebuilding process.