An American Past Time... and a Little Torture

As we've been experiencing a such fun and surprising football season with the 49ers that it's made me think about the amazing World Series run the Giants had in 2010. Last year, well... not so much. But, our beloved baseball team did the best they could under the circumstances. The highlight of the season for me was taking my parents to the last evening home game of the season at AT&T Park. I managed to score a great deal on three Club Level tickets behind home plate plus parking! I tell you if you haven't sat in the Club Level before, it's hard to go back! It's so nice to be able to retreat into the amenities when in need for a break and shorter concession lines. Maybe a Cosmopolitan too. Good times!

Trying to take a photo of all 3 of us. Not such a good angle...

This one's better!

Mother's Day at the Ballpark

I took my Mom to a Giants game for Mother's Day this year. My friend Liz and I had purchased tickets for May 8 a few weeks back and she later enlightened me that the game was on Mother's Day! I thought Mother's Day was the weekend after the game so I was a little caught off guard. Since my Mom is such a huge Giants fan, I asked her if she could join us for the game as well and she said yes. Luckily, I was able to purchase one more seat in the same row, just two seats away. Once we arrived, some really nice people scooted over a seat so all three of us could sit together. I warned everyone that we had nose-bleed seats in the View Reserved section, but it was a great view above home plate and ended up protecting us from the windy day. All in all it worked out really well.

The game was so much fun! I get all excited for lots of game food, even if it's kind of pricey. Calories don't count at baseball games! We indulged in Giants Dogs and French Fries (we decided to forgo the Garlic Fries. Ugh, I'm not a fan) and my Mom bought me a Red Rope. : ) So yummy! My Mom is not going to like that I've posted this photo of her, but she looked so nice in her orange sweatshirt!

It also happened to be Tote Bag Day! I love the games where they give you stuff. Aren't tote bags perfect for Mother's Day? See's Candies was the sponsor and the logo on the back wasn't too obnoxious. I have a ton of tote bags, but not one with Giants World Champions on it.

Oh and so you know, the Giants played the Colorado Rockies, the number one team in their division, and WON! Woot woot!

SF Giants - The Ring Ceremony

The day before the second Giants home game of the season I decided I had to go that game! The first weekend of home games was a BIG weekend for the Giants as the current World Series Champions. The second game was the ring ceremony where the players finally received their World Series rings. The first 20K fans (the ballpark holds about 42K seats) got a World Championship ring key chain. Yay!

My new SF Giants hat. Ready to go!

The ceremony. Tiffany & Co made the rings.

Ooh say can you seeee....

The most expensive key chain I've ever bought! ; ) It was worth it!

Everyone Loves a Parade!

To quote my Mom, "It couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of boys." This SF Giants baseball team were called the "misfits" and they were quite the motley crew. They had a phenomenal pitching staff, a few incredible rookies, a clutch hitter, and many other talented members of the team to make up a great team. That was the thing, they were a TEAM! The Giants last visit to the World Series in 2003, it was all about Barry Bonds. I was lucky enough to attend Game 3 of that series and had a great time. It was heartbreaking that the Giants lost steam and lost to the Anaheim Angels in Game 7. In hindsight though, it was good that they didn't win that year. It would have always had an asterisk by it due to Barry's alleged steroid use.

Back to the 2010 SF Giants! The parade through the city was two days ofter the team captured the World Series championship in Arlington, Texas against the Texas Rangers, was maybe the biggest celebration in San Francisco history. Over a million fans descended on the city as the players, manager, and coaches were hailed as heroes. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the parade since I was on press for work across the Bay in Point Richmond. I watched it all on TV and tried my best to feel like I was there. I pulled some images of the day from the web for you to get a feel for the energy in the city. It was amazing!

This was the parade route. The team took the same parade route from the Financial District through downtown to City Hall that the team did in 1958 when they moved from New York to San Francisco.

Two players per motor cable car. I loved the orange confetti!

The team's manager of 4 years, Bruce Bochy with the championship trophy.

The crowd at City Hall

Three of the renowned pitchers. Brian Wilson, Tim Lincecum, and Matt Cain. A good number of the players got up and spoke at the podium. It was great to hear their excitement as well. Catcher Buster Posey said, " Let's celebrate now, rest, then take another run at it next year!" I love it!

THE SF GIANTS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

My Mom said she didn't think it would happen in her lifetime and no one predicted it would happen this year, but the San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions! I've never seen San Francisco so pumped and excited rallying behind this team. Here is a little of my experience leading up to the World Series.

A workday walk around the ballpark. My office is close to the ballpark so we couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement of the playoffs.

I wasn't able to get playoff tickets, but during one game against the Philadelphia Phillies I met some friends across the street from the ballpark at Pete's Tavern. It was odd but fun to hear the roar of the crowd from the ballpark, then see the big play a few seconds later in delay on the big screen TV's. This is a photo during my walk back to my car near the end of the game.

Another ballpark photo.

A photo from the drawbridge over McCovey Cove.

Even Morgan got into the playoffs wearing a Panda hat from her Gram and Grampa B. They say Giants player Pablo Sandoval looks like a Panda which inspired the panda hat.

Being a fan of Giants baseball is not easy! There was not one game leading up to or during the Post-Season that we weren't on edge. The Giants rarely get far enough ahead in runs to be able to relax. We call it "Torture."

This photo is of the SF City Hall swathed in orange lights after the Giants won the National League Championships.

Another shot.

And the San Francisco Giants are World Champions! It's still surreal to see this logo.

Wordless Wednesday: GO GIANTS!