Major League debuts are always special, but a select group of Giants burst onto the scene in particularly memorable fashion.
Here’s a look at the best MLB debuts in Giants history:
Juan Marichal, RHP (July 19, 1960 vs. Phillies)
Final line: 9 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 12 K, 1 BB
Marichal enjoyed a legendary start to his Hall of Fame career, tossing a one-hit shutout to lead the Giants to a 2-0 win at Candlestick Park. The Dominican right-hander held the Phillies hitless for 7 2/3 innings before he surrendered a single to pinch-hitter Clay Dalrymple. Marichal went on to retire the next four batters to cap his gem, earning the highest game score (96) of any Giants pitcher in his Major League debut.
John Montefusco, RHP (Sept. 3, 1974 vs. Dodgers)
Final line: 9 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 7 K, 5 BB. Batting: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs
Montefusco made his big league debut out of the bullpen after he was brought in to replace starter Rob Bryant, who faced six batters without recording an out in the first inning. The 24-year-old Montefusco ended up going the distance anyway, working nine innings in relief to earn the win in the Giants’ 9-5 victory at Dodger Stadium. Not only did he hold the Dodgers to one run on six hits, but he also slugged a two-run homer in his first career at-bat in the third inning.
Willie McCovey, 1B (July 30, 1959 vs. Phillies)
Final line: 4-for-4, 2 3B, 2 RBIs
McCovey was hitting .372 at Triple-A Phoenix when the Giants decided to call him up and insert him into their lineup for the first time. The 21-year-old slugger wasted no time proving he was ready for the big leagues, going 4-for-4 with a pair of triples against Phillies ace and future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts in the Giants’ 7-2 win at Seals Stadium. McCovey didn’t look back after that, batting .354 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs over 52 games to unanimously capture 1959 National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Mike Remlinger, LHP (June 15, 1991 vs. Pirates)
Final line: 9 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 3 BB
The Giants’ 1987 first-round Draft pick lived up to the hype by tossing a three-hit shutout against the Pirates to earn the win in his Major League debut at Candlestick Park. Remlinger made only eight appearances for the Giants before he was traded to the Mariners along with Kevin Mitchell in exchange for Dave Burba, Mike Jackson and Bill Swift in December 1991.
Bobby Bonds, OF (June 25, 1968 vs. Dodgers)
Final line: 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs
Bonds was known for his rare blend of power and speed, and it didn’t take long for that skill set to start to show up in the big leagues. In his third career plate appearance, Bonds crushed a grand slam that fueled a 9-0 rout of the Dodgers at Candlestick Park. He became only the second player to hit a grand slam in his Major League debut and the first since 1898.
Brandon Crawford, SS (May 27, 2011 vs. Brewers)
Final line: 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs
Forty-three years after Bonds’ debut, Crawford enjoyed his own grand entrance to the big leagues. The slick-fielding shortstop’s first career hit also proved to be a go-ahead grand slam off Shaun Marcum that paved the way for the Giants’ 5-4 win at Milwaukee.
Will Clark, 1B (April 8, 1986 vs. Astros)
Final line: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
Less than a year after being taken by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 1985 MLB Draft, Clark found himself batting second against future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan on Opening Day at the Astrodome. The 22-year-old Clark instantly showed he belonged, hammering a solo shot off Ryan in his first career at-bat to set the tone for the Giants’ 8-3 win.
Orlando Cepeda, 1B (April 15, 1958 vs. Dodgers)
Final line: 1-for-5, HR, RBI
Cepeda’s big league debut came on Opening Day in 1958, when the Giants and Dodgers played the first Major League game on the West Coast. The 20-year-old rookie quickly endeared himself to fans in San Francisco by homering in his third career at-bat to help the Giants cruise to an 8-0 win at Seals Stadium.
Johnnie LeMaster, SS (Sept. 2, 1975 vs. Dodgers)
Final line: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs
LeMaster hit only 22 home runs over his 12-year career in the Majors, and his most memorable shot might have come in his first career game for the Giants. The light-hitting shortstop improbably hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run off Don Sutton in his first Major League at-bat to help the Giants edge the Dodgers, 7-3, at Candlestick Park.
Casey Schmitt, SS (May 9, 2023 vs. Nationals)
Final line: 2-for-4, HR, RBI
A natural third baseman, Schmitt got a chance to make his Major League debut at shortstop after Crawford landed on the injured list with a right calf strain. He promptly gave the Giants a big lift with his bat, hammering a solo shot off left-hander Patrick Corbin in his second career at-bat at Oracle Park. The 24-year-old Schmitt became the youngest Giant to homer in his Major League debut since Clark accomplished the feat as a 22-year-old rookie in 1986.