The New York Giants have sent more men to the Baseball Hall of Fame than any other team, a distinction that only begins to hint at the place this storied franchise holds in the long history of America�s national pastime. Between 1883 and 1957, a span of 75 summers, the Giants were one of professional sports� great dynasties. Aside from the17 National League pennants and 8 world pennants the team won during this period, there were the unique personalities and imperishable moments that remain so much a part of the lore of the game: John McGraw�s pugnacity, Christy Mathewson�s fadeaway, Fred Snodgrass�s muff, Mel Ott�s leg kick, CarlHubbell�s scroogie, Bobby Thomson�s home run, and Willie Mays� catch. Even the Giants� ballpark, the Polo Grounds, had a personality of its own, with a center field that seemed as expansive as Utah and abbreviated foul lines that turned many an ordinary fly ball into a mighty home run.
