SAN FRANCISCO–Ryan Vogelsong’s regular season numbers wouldn’t suggest his career was anything special.
His postseason resume, though, would tell you otherwise.
On Sunday afternoon, San Francisco honored one of the greatest postseason performers in franchise history, as Vogelsong made a final appearance on the mound at AT&T Park before retiring as a member of the Giants’ organization.
Vogelsong finished his Major League career with a 61-75 record and a 4.48 career ERA, but in seven postseason starts, Vogelsong recorded a 3-0 record and the Giants won every game he took the ball. Twice in his career, Vogelsong pitched in postseason elimination games, and much like he did on a personal level at various points during his journey, Vogelsong helped the Giants rebound from a position in which they had their backs against the wall.
“It was good seeing Vogey,” Bochy said. “It was great seeing how the crowd got into it with him coming back. He will forever be a Giant with the big games, the huge games he pitched for us. But just the person that he is. Those of us that know him, you guys that know him, he’s just such a class guy but also a very tough competitor that I think helped change the culture around this clubhouse.”
Vogelsong was honored prior to Sunday’s game as the Giants had him take the mound and throw warmup pitches to catcher Nick Hundley before Bochy walked onto the field and took the ball from him one final time. As he came off the diamond, Vogelsong tipped his hat to a crowd that offered him a long standing ovation, and then proceeded to pound his fist against his heart in appreciation of the support San Francisco’s fans offered him.
Part of the reason Vogelsong endeared himself to Giants’ fans was his competitiveness and determination. On Sunday, many of his former teammates including Matt Cain recalled memories of the days Vogelsong started, pointing out that the Giants’ clubhouse had a different type of energy when he was in it.
“They were extra serious,” 13-year veteran Matt Cain said of Vogelsong’s starts. “He kind of took the seriousness to a different level. Even when Randy Johnson was here, I know his days were pretty serious. But it seemed like Vogey’s were a little more intense than even that. But it seemed like that was how he went about his start days and he never broke stride with it, that was how he was going to make every start.”