Shortstop: George Davis (1893-1901, 1903)
One of the great players of the 1890’s, George Davis was a rarity in that he could hit for power as a shortstop. In just eight full seasons with the Giants, he made his mark as one of the best players in team history.
A forgotten player from the 19th century until relatively recently, Davis’ numbers with the Giants could have been even better. After spending the 1902 season with the White Sox, he attempted to return to the Giants. However, he only played four games with the team due to a dispute over who owned his rights, with a decision eventually favoring Chicago.
Nonetheless, he made his mark in Giants history. Hitting double digit homers twice, and having three seasons with 100 RBI or more, he was one of the best hitters of his time. He produced a .332/.393/.467 batting like in New York, with 53 home runs and 229 doubles. Davis also had excellent speed, stealing 357 bases and hitting 98 triples.
Although he moved around the infield for the Giants, he settled in at short beginning in the 1897 season. From that time forward, he was one of the best defensive players in the game, finishing in the top ten in defensive WAR in each of those five seasons. He led the league in range factor three times, and in his first full season as a shortstop, led National League shortstops in double plays and putouts.
George Davis may have been forgotten for decades, but he received his due in 1989, when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee. Even if the world at large did not remember his contributions, Davis was remembered by Giants fans.