Bivens -- Wow -- July 6, 2024

Sunday we went to our first Giants game since COVID-19. There was a full house because we were playing the Dodgers and the first 15,000 fans received Giants caps with mouse ears. The kindergartners should like them when I do yard duty. 

Spencer Bivens made his first start and went five scoreless innings. As you can see from the image above, the Giants scored in each of the first four innings. He left with a 5-0 lead. We saw Shohei Ohtani for the first time in person. Bivens struck him out twice. Things got a little close in the last innings, but the Giants won. BART and Muni were crowded coming and going because of the game and the Pride Parade. 

The weather was warm and sunny. 

Tributes to Willie Mays surround his statue.

The scoreboard displayed this animation after Matt Chapman's home run. 

Orlando Cepeda, RIP -- June 28, 2024

Giants Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda has died. We are losing our Hall of Famers. The Giants had two great hitters who were only suitable to play first base, Cepeda and Willie McCovey.  I have been to many special games that were graced by the appearance of Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey. Now only Marichal is left. 

This blow is made worse because it comes so soon after the death of Willie Mays. 

I took the photo of the new statue of Orlando Cepeda, on King near Second Street, on 16-September-2008.

Tribute to Willie Mays -- June 20, 2024

Major League Baseball had been planning to have a tribute to Willie Mays tonight at Rickwood Field, where he broke in with the Birmingham Black Barons. When he died this week, the tribute became even more important than it had been.  Before the game, a large group of Negro League veterans took the field. 99-year-old Reverend Bill Greason, a Black Barons teammate, threw out the first pitch. 

The Giants wore their San Francisco Sea Lions uniforms and the Cardinals wore Saint Louis Stars uniforms. 

Unfortunately, the Cardinals won 6-5. 

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Willie Mays, RIP -- June 18, 2024

Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, 24-time National League All Star, Giants immortal, the greatest living baseball player, perhaps the greatest ever has died. He is the reason I am a Giants fan. Willie Mays was the greatest player I have seen in person. 

A high school friend lived in his neighborhood and said that the Mays family gave the best Halloween candy. 

I took the photo of the Willie Mays statue on 21-September-2007.

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Baseball Legends -- Willie Mays -- June 6, 2023

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Willie Mays is the greatest player I have seen in person. This 1992 issue of Baseball Legends, Number Two shows him as a Giants and after he was traded the Mets 50 years ago last month. I am still sad about that.

Comic Book -- The Amazing Willie Mays -- March 7, 2023

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Spring Training is in progress.

Willie Mays is the greatest player I have seen in person. 

Willie Mays Traded to the Mets -- May 11, 2022

50 years ago today, on 11-May-1972, Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, 24-time National League All Star, Giants immortal, the greatest living baseball player, perhaps the greatest ever was traded from the Giants to the Mets in return for a bucket of warm spit. 

There was mass depression in San Francisco. I didn't know that Giants owner Horace Stoneham was nearly broke. 

The move gave Willie Mays a chance to play in front of New York fans, who still loved him. 

I took the photo of the Willie Mays statue on 21-September-2007.

Alvin Dark 100 -- January 7, 2022

Great Giants shortstop and manager Alvin Dark was born 100 years ago today, on 07-January-1922. Willie Mays gave Dark and Eddie Stanky credit for helping him to adjust when he joined the Giants. When Dark managed the San Francisco Giants, some Latin players felt that he divided the team and did not respect them. Some racist fans called them "Alvin's Darkies." He was a veteran of the USMC and a vocal Christian.

Stan Musial 100 -- November 21, 2020

 

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Stan the Man Musial, the greatest Cardinal player, was born 100 years ago today, on 21-November-1920. I don't remember him playing, but I remember people saying what a nice guy and a wonderful hitter he was. Willie Mays said Musial was always a gentleman "who understood the race thing" and took care of him at the All Star Game. Brooklyn fans, who hated everyone, gave him his nickname, and appreciated the way he accepted Jackie Robinson and integration.

He served in the Navy at the end of World War II.

I have never read anything bad about him.

Monte Irvin 100 -- February 25, 2019

Giants great Monte Irvin was born 100 years ago today, on 25-February-1919.  He played in the Negro Leagues for the Newark Eagles and was an All Star five times.  Newark won the Negro League World Series in 1946.  His Negro League career was interrupted by Army service during World War II.

In 1949, Irvin and Hank Thompson were the first two African American Giants players, if you don't count the men John McGraw tried to pass off as Native American.  Irvin was an outfielder who could hit, run, field and throw exceptionally well.  He was a Major League All Star once.

When Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Irvin was his mentor.

Irvin played in the Major League World Series in 1951 and 1954.  He played for the Cubs in 1956 and retired in 1957 because of a back injury.

The Giants retired  his number in 2010.  He died in 2016.

Willie McCovey, RIP -- October 31, 2018

The great Giant Willie McCovey has died.  I used to love watching him on television and at Candlestick Park.   McCovey batting fourth allowed Willie Mays to do many of the things that he did batting third. Everyone loved Willie McCovey when I was growing up. Some people liked McCovey more than Willie Mays because McCovey had started out in San Francisco. I loved watching him hit line drives. I loved watching him stretch out to take a throw at first.

I was shattered when he went to the Padres in 1974. I was very happy when he came back in 1977. He earned the Comeback Player of the Year award.

We were at a game at Candlestick in 1980, one of his last, I think, when he reached first base. I don't remember who was hitting behind him, but suddenly McCovey took off for second; it looked as if he was trying to steal the bag. Because of knee problems, it had been a long time since he had stolen a base. The stadium went silent, the catcher threw the ball to second, and he was out. It turned out to be a broken hit and run play.

Willie McCovey is in the Hall of Fame, where he belongs. Despite mobility problems, he spent a lot of time at the ballpark and shared his wisdom with the players. Every year the Giants players and coaches vote to give the Willie Mac Award to a player who embodies Stretch's qualities of leadership and spirit.

I took the photo of Willie McCovey's statue, across China Basin, also known as McCovey Cove, from the ballpark on 21-September-2007.

1954 World Series -- October 17, 2017

In 1954, I would have rooted for the New York Giants, who swept the Cleveland Indians.  This year, depending how the playoffs turn out, I will probably root for the Indians.  My dad was a big fan.  He got to see Bob Feller and Satchel Paige pitch in Municipal Stadium.  Willie Mays made The Catch off of Vic Wertz during the first game at the Polo Grounds. 

1956 Ferrari 625 Le Mans Spyder -- September 29, 2017

We visited the Blackhawk Museum in June, 2013 to drool over their collection of classic autos.The 1956 Ferrari 625 Le Mans Spyder (roadster), one of only three built, was intended to compete at Le Mans.  It did not finish because of transmission problems.

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Backup catcher Nick Hundley won the Willie Mac Award.  Good choice. 

The World Series MVP award will be named after Willie Mays.  Also a good choice. 

Monte Irvin, RIP -- January 16, 2016

I was sad to learn of the passing of Giants great Monte Irvin.  He played in the Negro Leagues for the Newark Eagles and was an All Star five times.  Newark won the Negro League World Series in 1946.  His Negro League career was interrupted by Army service during World War II.

In 1949, Irvin and Hank Thompson were the first two African American Giants players, if you don't count the men John McGraw tried to pass off as Native American.  Irvin was an outfielder who could hit, run, field and throw exceptionally well.  He was a Major League All Star once.

When Willie Mays joined the Giants in 1951, Irvin was his mentor.

Irvin played in the Major League World Series in 1951 and 1954.  He played for the Cubs in 1956 and retired in 1957 because of a back injury. 

New Cat #25 -- November 25, 2015

I took the photo on 07-November-2015. 

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 Willie Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  

Alvin Dark, RIP -- November 15, 2014

I was sad to learn of the passing of great Giants shortstop and manager Alvin Dark.  Willie Mays gave Dark and Eddie Stanky credit for helping him to adjust when he joined the Giants.  When Dark managed the San Francisco Giants, some Latin players felt that he divided the team and did not respect them. 

The Say Hey Kid -- September 19, 2014

Inspired by the book Few and Chosen: Defining Giants Greatness Across the Eras by Giants great Bobby Thomson and Phil Pepe, I thought I would devote my nickname meme to Giants players for several months.

Much as I admire other men who have played centerfield for the Giants, I have to write about Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, 24-time National League All Star, Giants immortal, the greatest living baseball player, perhaps the greatest ever. 

I took the photo of the Willie Mays statue on 21-September-2007.

Stan Musial, RIP -- January 19, 2013

Stan the Man Musial, the greatest Cardinal player, died today.  I don't remember him playing, but I remember people saying what a nice guy and a wonderful hitter he was.  Willie Mays said Musial was always a gentleman "who understood the race thing" and took care of him at the All Star Game.  Brooklyn fans, who hated everyone, gave him his nickname, and appreciated the way he accepted Jackie Robinson and integration.

He served in the Navy at the end of World War II.  

I have never read anything bad about him.  

Earl Weaver also died.  I never really liked his management philosophy, but I liked his quotes and respected his success with the Orioles.

It's Hard Work Being a Cat #64 -- October 25, 2012

I took this photo on 13-October-2012. 

The actor who plays the teacher on Glee sang the National Anthem. Marine Corporal Nicholas Kimmel, who lost an arm and both legs in Afghanistan, threw out the first pitch, accompanied by Willie Mays and Barry Zito. Kimmel made a good throw and Sergio Romo caught it on the fly.

Madison Bumgarner and Doug Fister both pitched well.  There was no score until the 7th inning.  Romo saved it in the 9th.  The Giants won 2-1, and lead the series 2-0.  I'm enjoying myself.

Fister got hit in the head by a line drive, but continued to pitch well.  

Orlando Cepeda #2 -- October 24, 2012

Before game one of the World Series, the Giants brought out a group of Hall of Famers including Orlando Cepeda, whose statue is here in a photo I took on 10-September-2008, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and  Gaylord Perry, who threw out the first pitch.

I missed the National Anthem.  Pablo Sandoval hit home runs in his first three at-bats. Barry Zito started and has pitched well. Tim Lincecum relieved in the sixth.  Sergeant Jerry D'Arcy of the SFPD sang "God Bless America." 

The Giants beat the Tigers 8-3 in the first game of the World Series.  I'm happy.