
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in San Francisco, California.
Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
---|---|---|---|
- | investor | €0.0 | round |
* | N/A | Growth Equity non VC | |
Total Funding | 000k |
The story begins not in San Francisco, but in New York City in 1883. Founded by John B. Day and Jim Mutrie, the team was originally called the New York Gothams. They quickly became a dominant force, rebranding as the Giants and winning multiple championships in their early years. A pivotal moment came in 1958 when, facing a decaying stadium and declining attendance, owner Horace Stoneham moved the franchise to San Francisco. This westward expansion, along with the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles, brought Major League Baseball to the West Coast for the first time. Decades later, the franchise faced another existential threat. In 1992, then-owner Bob Lurie agreed to sell the team to a group that planned to move them to Tampa, Florida. The deal seemed done. However, National League owners blocked the move, providing an opportunity for a local group to emerge. An investment group led by Peter Magowan and including Charles B. Johnson purchased the team for $100 million, securing its future in San Francisco. This acquisition marked a new era, leading to the construction of a privately financed ballpark and a period of renewed success, including three World Series titles in the 2010s.