I would have gotten to the ballpark on time if it was just any other game. I had trouble finding parking because this wasn't just any other game. This game against the San Diego Padres, would decide whether the San Francisco Giants would clinch the National League West Championship.
From a block away, I heard what sounded like the roar of a home run. I fired up my MLB.com iPhone App to check. Nope, only hits so far.
When I entered the stadium, I was happy to still get one of the 40,000 orange rally rags.
It was a standing-room-only crowd
We only needed to win one of the three games in this series against the Padres. We lost the first two, now we are down to the last game. In fact, it was game 162, the last game of the regular season.
Jonathan Sánchez pitched expertly...
Miguel Tejada didn't make it to first base in time.
In the third inning, the Padres played Jonathan Sánchez short; he was the pitcher after all. The stadium lit up when Sánchez smacked the ball over the heads of the outfielders into right field for a triple. At third base, a bat boy brought him his jacket.
Third base coach Tim Flannery gave him kudos and advice.
More kudos from Aubrey Huff after he crossed home plate thanks to Freddy Sanchez's hit.
More rally rags.
Freddy Sanchez coming home brought the score to two zero.
To give you an idea how challenging it was to get these photos, here's the uncropped version of the same photo.
I also have a bevy of photos of orange rally rags obstructing my lens. But I digress.
With the Padres, a two-point lead is no reason to feel comfortable, even in the eighth inning. The Giants fans were still cautiously optimistic. But then Buster Posey hit a home run at the bottom of the eighth and the crowd went crazy. It would be very difficult for the Padres to catch up from a zero-three deficit. This home run should be the icing on the cake for the "Rookie of the Year Award" for Buster Posey.
Now all we have to do is protect this lead. Closer Brian Wilson is in the bull pen warming up.
Wilson's colorful personality inspires the fans to pay homage to his mohawk...
...and his new beard.
We watched his familiar form with anticipation.
Every fan stood up for the final outs
And then Wilson struck out the last batter.
Pandemonium broke out. The media rushed the field...
...security made sure the fans did not.
The Giants took a victory lap around the field.
Comcast was broadcasting live from Willie Mays Plaza
while fans celebrated sweet victory
My son insisted on standing in line for thirty minutes in order to buy the grey championship t-shirt, just like the Giants wore for their victory lap.
He will wear it proudly to school on Monday.
You certainly are eclectic in your choice of entertainments. I never had much interest in professional sports but living directly in the path of all celebrating when Philadelphia wins a sports championship, I have grown to despise the sports, the players, their moronic destructive fans and
ReplyDeletethe neighborhood damage, torn trees, broken windows, small streets used as human litter boxes (hope you get my meaning) and the outrageous noise level all through the night.
I ALWAYS cheer for the "other guys".
But I do appreciate your pictures even though I do not share the enthusiasm.
Well, dear DB: Congratulations to you. As one who bleeds Dodger blue, it is hard to extend my best wishes to "the north", but I do. It is a great feeling, isn't it? Fortunately, we are doing the same down here in sunny Texas, having done our clinching last week in that other Bay Area ballpark. Hope to see you in the Fall Classic, but it seems so far from here! Good luck in any case.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the pictures! EFH
Love the pics. Everyone looks so excited!!
ReplyDeleteThat orange really gives a punch to your pics!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I can just imagine! It would have been fun to be there.
ReplyDeleteLooks like an amazing celebration.
ReplyDeleteYou know I don’t understand this game, but I know that when one sees it live it is much more interesting. I went to see the Atlanta Braves once and enjoyed it a lot. Your pictures show well how energized everyone was at this game, it must have been a lot of fun, particularly if you had Giants fans with you.
ReplyDeleteI bet that was SOOOOO exciting! I love watching baseball, especially when it's an important game, but really I know nothing about baseball. I think its a good game of strategy and statistics!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking back to when the Toronto blue Jays won 2 World Series back to back, oh my, that was such an exciting time!
Good luck to your Giants team.
Great pictures, I can imagine the cheering.
The thing is, DB, when you come from a city that has it's own team, how can you NOT be excited. We lived in San Diego for 7 years and had baseball fever, but not as much as when we lived in Atlanta. THERE was where I got baseball fever.
ReplyDeleteSo, our Giants vs. Braves wager in the playoffs is downright fun and appropraite. Don't get too cocky just because you're ahead now, 2-1. HA! I'm watching you. I'm watching you!! :)
Hey Dutchbaby,
ReplyDeleteI adored reading this post and seeing your fine photographs of the S.F. Giants!! The Orange kerchiefs waiving abound en mass is exquisitely exciting! You somehow have made me excited about Baseball!
Way down here (over yonder) in Tejas, my husband is feeling this same excitement, except for his team, the Rangers. Nonetheless, I know he will appreciate reading your post! He's been a big fan of baseball his whole life!
Haven't been yet to Nola yet, but SOON we well go! Can't wait!!
xox
Constance
ps Thanks for touring my website!
ps
ReplyDeleteI agree with CC
You have an eclectic mix of passions.
It makes me smile to think of your appreciation for floral arranging standing akimbo to a hankie waving baseball game!
xox
C
Pete just read your post. First he said: "She got good pictures". When he finished, he said, "that was really good". :-) First blog post he has ever read.
ReplyDeletexox
C
Dear CC,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it is difficult to live through the mayhem of drunken disorderly behavior of some of the fans. I know that those South African vuvuzelas sent you over the edge this summer. I have to say that the Giants fans at this game were fairly well-behaved. It was uplifting to be amongst the joyful fans. I attribute this to the fact that, in most parts of AT&T Park, they stop serving alcohol after the seventh inning. I went home immediately after the game and did not stick around to see the fans resume their alcohol consumption until 2 a.m.
Dear Expat from Hell,
ReplyDeleteThanks, and congrats to you too! The Yankees and the Phillies will be tough to beat, but it would be fun if the Giants and the Rangers meet up. May the best team win!
Dear Kris,
ReplyDeleteIt was truly exciting. I see that the Yankees advanced also. It would be amazing if the Giants were in the World Series with the Yankees.
Dear Jeannette,
ReplyDeleteI'm watching the Giants in Philadelphia right now and the Phillies fans are waiving white rally rags. They look nice, but I think the orange looks more fierce..
Dear Marilyn,
ReplyDeleteI think you would enjoy a game at AT&T Park and then you can walk to the Samovar Tea Lounge for an exotic cup of tea.
Dear Kala,
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see your photos if you came to a Giants game.
I'm not surprised that you don't know the rules of the game. Baseball is virtually nonexistent in France. It is definitely exhilarating to be amongst 43,000 fans, most cheering for your favorite team.
ReplyDeleteOops, last comment was supposed to be addressed to Vagabonde.
ReplyDeleteDear Shammickite,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a very exciting time here in San Francisco. What I find amusing is all these brand-new fans that come crawling out of the woodworks. You are so lucky to have experienced two World Series wins. The Giants haven't won a World Series since they were in New York back in nineteen forgotten.
Dear Ginnie,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your beloved Atlanta Braves got eliminated, but I'm really looking forward to my Dutch chocolate :-D
After tonight's dismal loss against the Phillies, I'm anything but cocky. I'm so glad the Giants are coming home now so that we can shower them with our cheers of encouragement.
Dear Constance at rochambeau,
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how flattered I am that Pete read this post, and that it was his first blog post! Thank you for urging him to do so, Constance! Please let him know how much I appreciate his attention and pass on my congratulations to him on his Rangers. I wish them well and maybe we will see them in the World Series!
How wonderful! I love that you got to be there. And, I really love that crazy orange-hatted dude.
ReplyDeleteI am the biggest baseball nut of the Giants so i really loved reading your article.I was glad i got my San Francisco Giants Tickets for the up coming baseball game for Giants Stadium.
ReplyDelete