FROM THE ARCHIVE: Bill Mueller was a good Giant

Posted on November 29, 2011

Bill Mueller of the San Francisco Giants bats during a game against the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

One of the fun parts about working on my never-ending archive project is being able to re-live all the great games and fun personalities I have photographed in the past 25 years. Among all my old pictures, the most important to me are those depicting San Francisco Giants history. They are my team. The always have been, and they always will be. With that in mind I have made a special effort of getting old chromes scanned of pretty much everyone who ever wore a Giants uniform in front of my cameras. It is so fun to look back on this old stuff. Need a picture of Jerry Spradlin? Got him. What about Damon Minor? Got him too. What about Mike LaCoss? Well of course I do! And finally, if you wanted to see some Bill Mueller, well look no further!

Bill Mueller was one of those guys who seemed to come out of nowhere. He joined the team during the horrendous 1996 season and surprised everyone by hitting .330 in 200 at bats. Would the Giants be able to pencil him in as their opening day third baseman in 1997? You betcha! “Our little Ted Williams,” as teammate Barry Bonds liked to call him, would hold down third base for the next four seasons.

Within no time Mueller was a fan favorite, and a favorite of photographers like me because of his old-school style of play that included hustle, eye-black, and a ferocious competitive spirit. It is no wonder that the Giants had several good seasons with Mueller holding down the hot corner as they made the playoffs in 1997 and 2000, while making it to a one-game playoff in 1998 to decide the National league Wild Card winner against the Cubs.

After the Giants 2000 season ended suddenly in the first round of the playoffs at Shea Stadium in New York local fans were shocked when Mueller was traded to the Cubs for Tim Worrell. Third base would become a black hole that the Giants tried to fill in following years with Russ Davis, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Pedro Feliz. While the Giants were trying to stabilize their infield after Mueller’s departure he eventually landed in Boston where he was a vital cog in their ball club that brought Red Sox fans their first World Series championship since 1918. Many Giants fans felt a little something special for Mueller as he became a champion with the Red Sox. After all, he was once a Giant. He was a GOOD Giant.