It was the first season with Dusty Baker as manager, having been promoted from previously serving as the hitting coach under Roger Craig.
In the offseason, under new ownership and general manager, Barry Bonds left the Pittsburgh Pirates to sign a lucrative free agent contract worth a then-record $43.75 million over six years with the Giants, with whom his father, Bobby Bonds, spent the first seven years of his career, and with whom his godfather Willie Mays played 22 of his 24 Major League seasons.
The deal was, at that time, the largest in baseball history, in terms of both total value and average annual salary.
[2] Bonds hit .336 in 1993, leading the league with 46 home runs and 123 RBI en route to his second consecutive MVP award[3] and third overall (of an eventual seven).
As good as the Giants were (winning 103 games), the Atlanta Braves won 104 in what some call the last great pennant race (due to the Wild Card being instituted the following season).