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Hardware big part of Giants' history

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By Chris Haft / MLB.com

12/21/09 6:01 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Lincecum currently holds the key to the Giants franchise trophy case.

Lincecum made the latest major addition to the Giants' hardware collection by winning the 2009 National League Cy Young Award, his second in a row.

Moreover, Lincecum became the only pitcher to capture the Cy Young in each of his first two full Major League seasons.

"It's a tremendous honor for me," said Lincecum, 25. "To be up there and do what I've done means the world."

Before Lincecum, the only Cy Young winner in Giants history was Mike McCormick, a 22-10 finisher in 1967.

Lincecum became the first pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards since Randy Johnson, a Giant in 2009, won four in a row with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1999-2002. Other back-to-back winners include Pedro Martinez (1999-2000), Roger Clemens (1997-98 and 1986-87), Greg Maddux (1992-95), Jim Palmer (1975-76), Denny McLain (1968-69; he shared the honor in the latter year with Mike Cuellar) and Sandy Koufax (1965-66).

Celebrating major award winners is nothing new for the Giants. Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie McCovey captured the franchise's first two Most Valuable Player awards after the club moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958. Mays, the 1954 NL MVP with New York, won it again in 1965 when he hit a career-high 52 home runs. McCovey followed four years later as he amassed his personal best with 45 homers.

Kevin Mitchell joined the pantheon of Giants to double as home run champions and MVPs by smacking 47 homers and carrying home the plaque in 1989.

The same went for Barry Bonds in 1993, when he hit an NL-best 46 homers while garnering MVP honors. Bonds proceeded to win the award from 2001-04, on his way to becoming baseball's all-time home run leader.

Jeff Kent preceded Bonds' four-year run by winning the MVP award in 2000, which went a long way toward helping the Giants capture the NL West title.

Once blessed with one of baseball's best scouting and development systems, the Giants produced four Rookie of the Year winners between 1958 and 1975. First baseman Orlando Cepeda, another future Hall of Famer, helped make the Giants' inaugural 1958 season in San Francisco memorable by winning top rookie honors. McCovey duplicated the feat the following year despite playing only 52 games.

Left fielder Gary Matthews hit and hustled his way to the 1973 Rookie of the Year award, two years before John "The Count" Montefusco won the same honor.

Dusty Baker, the winningest manager in San Francisco history, garnered Manager of the Year honors in 1993, 1997 and 2000.

Mays, voted to Rawlings' All-Time Gold Glove Team in 2007 for his excellence in center field, heads the Giants' list of Gold Glove winners. San Francisco's other Gold Glovers include outfielders Jackie Brandt, Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds, Darren Lewis and Jose Cruz Jr., first basemen Will Clark and J.T. Snow, second baseman Robby Thompson, shortstop Omar Vizquel, third basemen Jim Davenport and Matt Williams, catchers Kirt Manwaring and Mike Matheny and pitcher Rick Reuschel.

Silver Slugger recipients are Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, Rich Aurilia, Kevin Mitchell, Don Robinson, Joe Morgan, Thompson, Williams and Clark.

The Giants also honor their own with the "Willie Mac" award, named for McCovey and given annually to the team's most inspirational player. Representatives of the print media annually present the "Good Guy Award" to the Giant most cooperative with the print media.

Not to be forgotten are the This Year In Baseball awards, which have included a Giant among its recipients for two years in a row. Lincecum won the fan vote as top Major League starter in 2008. Left-hander Jeremy Affeldt was elected top setup man last season.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.