SAN FRANCISCO — Dave Righetti never got a World Series ring as a player, but has made up for it in his second career.
The former Yankees stud lefty, who has spent the last 15 seasons as Giants pitching coach, will have a shot at a third ring in five years when his team faces the Royals in the World Series beginning Tuesday.
Righetti, who wore pinstripes from 1981-90, went to the World Series as a rookie – the Yankees lost to the Dodgers – and then played for teams in the Bronx that were perennially good, but just a player or two short of postseason material.
“I always think about it,” Righetti told The Post after the Giants beat the Cardinals in Game 5 of the NLCS. “I think about it every day. The reason that I do, there is always somebody in the other dugout who is an ex-Yankee or an ex-teammate, so it is always brought up, and people are writing books about the lost ’80s.”
The 21st century has been kinder to the 55-year-old Righetti, who in recent seasons has mentored the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.
The lefty Bumgarner was named MVP of the NLCS after going 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in two starts. During the regular season he was 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA.
“[Righetti] is obviously the only pitching coach I’ve had, but it would be hard to imagine there being a better one,” Bumgarner said. “It seems like he always knows what to do and how to approach somebody and how to help him.
“He’s not always set in one way to help someone out. He can adjust to who he’s talking to and knows how to talk to them and he’s a lot of fun to work with.”
As much as the Giants rely on starting pitching, with a rotation that also includes veterans Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong, it might be the bullpen that sets them apart.
Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Jean Machi, Hunter Strickland, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla serve largely as the Giants’ foundation.
“When you’re signing other guys for a lot of money, you can cut back in a lot of places and the bullpen is one of them,” Righetti said. “But [the front office] never did that, and this is paying off. It costs a lot of money, but you can see why it’s so special to have veteran relievers who know what they are doing in tough circumstances.”
Righetti, who saved 46 games for the Yankees in 1986, lamented the fact there were no wild-card entries to the postseason when he played.
“I always wanted [a ring] and every year we had a great team, but we never could seem to get in the dance to find out where your limit is,” Righetti said. “That’s all I wanted. I wanted to find out how good I was and you can’t do that unless you are on this stage.”
The nucleus also included Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield and Willie Randolph, all of whom Righetti still sees.
“I’m just proud of the guys I played with,” Righetti said. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t enjoy that together, because we were a pretty close bunch and to not enjoy it together, kind of [stinks].”