Before we get to the man of the hour, let’s have a look at the basketball sensation, Caitlin Clark. For those unaware (for whatever reason), she is a name that has transformed women’s basketball, not just across America but the whole world. What’s even more praiseworthy is that ever since her comeback from the injury, Clark has literally been breathing fire. In the 102-88 win over the New York Liberty, the Indiana Fever’s star made three consecutive three-point field goals. That too, within just 45 seconds.

Coming to the social media post, the official X handle of the Giants, which goes by the username of SFGiants, posted a birthday post for their beloved Tim Lincecum. The caption read, “Happy birthday, Timmy.” As sweet as it was, it went viral for entirely different reasons. Yes, because apparently, fans started drawing some uncanny resemblance between Lincecum and Clark. But why her?

From the picture—those long hair, facial features, and slim body structure—Lincecum does look eerily similar to Clark. No wonder the post was a sure-fire hit, going viral with over 3.4 million views. Fans are likely confused and can’t help but share their hilarious reactions. 

As for the man of the hour, who we can’t help but miss when the Giants step on the diamond, he once said, “Since baseball is my favorite sport, it’s easy to go out and do what I do.” And Lincecum certainly proved it. He went 110-89 with a 3.74 ERA and 278 games, recording 1,736 strikeouts at a 1.29 WHIP.

However, Lincecum never officially announced his retirement while with the Giants. It was back in 2016 when he played for the Los Angeles Angels for the last time in his career. His career was cut short due to injuries that caught him off guard. He struggled the entire 2015 season, grappling with injuries, and made only 15 appearances until getting traded to the Angels. While injuries left a black hole in his career, the loss of his wife to cancer shook him deeply.

He sold his $2 million luxury penthouse located in the Escala Tower in downtown Seattle. According to various reports, he soon moved to a small house adjacent to a lake in Madison Park. He has remained away from the media and the public. The last time he made a rare public gesture was congratulating Bruce Bochy after the Rangers won the World Series title. Although his career ended in a way that he might not have anticipated. Nevertheless, his legacy remains, and fans who remember him didn’t hesitate to leave both positive and funny reactions on the birthday post.

Former Giants star’s comparison with Caitlin Clark leaves fans confused

Just as the post wishing Tim Lincecum a happy birthday surfaced on social media, fans were quick to respond. In fact, you might say they were looking for clarification as confusion mounted. 

One fan commented, “Thought this was Caitlyn Clark for a sec.” Well, many had similar confusion at the beginning. They both sport long hair, and their facial appearance even looked similar. While Lincecum is eighteen years older than Clark, the stark contrast between them is still negligible.

Echoing a similar statement, another fan chimed in. “I thought this was Caitlin Clark.” This simple but hilarious remark highlighted just how widespread and unexpected the mix-up had become. It was a playful reminder of how quickly social media can turn a straightforward celebration into a moment of shared laughter and surprise across fan communities. 

“Miss that guy.” The fan’s emotions are penned down, reminiscing about the days when Lincecum was part of the league. Though his career was cut short due to injuries, it cannot be denied that he performed excellently when in his usual form. Remember April 18, 2011, when he struck out 19 Rockies consecutively? His pitch-perfect innings didn’t even allow the Rockies to score a run until the seventh inning. Lincecum won two consecutive Cy Young awards that he won in 2008 and 2009. But the main comeback came in 2010, when he recorded a win in the final game between the Giants and the Rangers. Ultimately, the Giants lifted the World Series title that year, their first since 1954.

Birthday wishes continued to pour in. “One great GIANT! Happy Birthday!” It’s his performances and memorable moments that still resonate with fans. No wonder they still remember him as one of the greatest players for the Giants. And why not? He was the only Giants player to record 15 strikeouts in a single game. It was on July 27, 2009. Such was his commitment to the game that, out of the 115 pitches he made that day, 80 were strikes.

A final comment came from a fan, who injected a bit more humor. “Never knew Caitlin Clark was a Giants fan. LFG!” Well, that just adds to the whole confusion. While it’s unknown whether Clark is a Giants fan, we do know that she enjoys baseball games. She attended a game between the Yankees and the Rangers sometime back and even auditioned as a baseball broadcaster on TikTok. No pun intended! It was just an effort to inject some humor during the live commentary. She later posted on X, “@Phillies hire me?” Of course, as a commentator.