SF Giants Sell-out for Opening Home Game Against Atlanta Braves

The Giants' opening home game tomorrow against the Atlanta Braves is a sell out!

The very last ticket went at 4.42 this afternoon - and I purchased it!  Waving it afterwards beneath the imposing statue of Willie Mays outside the entrance to the AT & T ballpark, it felt more like Willie Wonka and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory revisited.

Unluckiest person of the afternoon was Monty, the first person to be told all the tickets had gone. It was a double whammy for the Giants fan visiting from New York.
 Minutes earlier he had been at the front of the small late afternoon queue and been offered a ticket. But he went to confer with a friend waiting for him in a car at the sidewalk about the seating detail, as his friend had already purchased a ticket.

And when he returned, he discovered too late that it been almost the last ticket and there were no more to be had.

'I'm very disappointed,' he said.

A minute after Monty had left the ticket window, the sales lady had announced, 'There's only one ticket left!' The girls in the queue in front of me - pic below - didn't want only one, so that left me.

It cost $70 and is in the Arcade. The ballpark has a seating capacity of over 41,000.

Next to face disappointment were a group of university graduates from London enjoying a two-week tour of California.

Nick, Sarah, Finbarr, Liz and Alex had been to Vegas and LA, and were now in the city and had multiple reasons for wanting to see the game.

Sports lovers, they knew it was the opening home game of the season and had been looking forward both to the game and to seeing the ballpark in its stunning location. It would also have been a great experience for them as well as an opportunity for a slice of American culture.

Already they had spent some of their holiday watching baseball on TV, and some of them had been to hockey and basketball games. Had there been a football game nearby, they would have gone to that too.

'We'll probably visit a vineyard tomorrow instead,' said Liz, keeping their spirits up with thoughts of another aspect of California culture.

A wise decision in all probability. Only 30 tickets had been on sale today and, asked if tickets would become available tomorrow through 'returns', the ticket lady said with confidence, 'Unlikely!'

The game starts at 1.35 pm with the Giants on a high. They won their opening away games against the Houston Astros 10-4.

SF Giants Opener 2009 - First Win of the Season

Garlic fries, one of the mainstays of days at the San Francisco Giants been more popular than ever on Opening Day 2009 - see previous blogs for more on Opening Day 2009 - now that they are being served from the country's first ever green garlic fries stand.

'It's been a good day!' said Gilroy manager Saudia. 'Garlic fries are one of the most popular things in the ballpark, apart from alcohol!'

But since the stand has been painted bright green to reflect it's new green energy-saving status kitted out with, among other things, lower-energy fryers and recyclable and compostible accessories, it has hit fans in the eye!

'They think it's something new!' she said.

It is not the only new feature for the 2009 season.

Nostalgia covers part of the walls of the promenade, a mural of huge pics of former Giants' legends reaching as far back as 1883.

'For me, it brings back all the memories of the Giants,' said Robb - apologies to him

because the pic didn't record.

'I've been coming to the Opening Day for 20 years at least,' he said as he perused the banner.

He picked out Darren Lewis and Brett Butler. Marvin Benard was another. 'I actually came to a game in 2001 when Marvin Benard hit a home run and won the game for us,' he said.

Back outside on the terrace, Ron and Mona had their eyes peeled on the pitch.

'I wouldn't miss it for the world,' said Ron of Opening Day. 'I had tears coming from my eyes when it started, I miss baseball so much.'

The Giants were on a winning streak as we spoke. 'I think we've got a great chance,' Ron said of the new season.

'Considering they expected a wet day,' said Mona, 'it's been a beautiful day in San Francisco and they've had a great Opening Day.'

Like so many, Mona was thrilled at the Giants' pick of Sully Sullenberger to throw the ceremonial pitch.

'It was great for him to be a part of Opening Day because people look to him as such a hero right now. It was probably just as great for him to meet Tim Lincecum as for Tim Lincecum to meet him,' she said reflecting on the pre-match meeting of the heroes.

'I think it was a great day to start the season.'

What of the play?

'I think the Giants play well. We got to see a lot of new pitchers today,' she said, hoping that Brian Wilson who was just going in to pitch would close play for the night.

He did! Not long after that, the stadium erupted. The game was over, a jubilant 10 - 6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The crowd streamed out of the stadium to the strains of 'I left my heart in San Francisco,' not just with garlic fries under their belts but the first win of the 2009 season.

By early evening, a lustrous rainbow beamed over the ballpark.

***The match continues on Wednesday at 7.15 pm and Thursday at 4.05 pm. Tomorrow night Tim Lincecum will be presented with the 2008 Cy Young Award and there will be fireworks after the match over the Bay behind the ballpark

SF Giants Opener 2009 - Best Dressed Fans 2

It was a day for dressing one's best! Not just any orange and black, but for some fans a day to turn the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day into a sartorial occasion - see previous blogs

Inside the stadium, enjoying a celebratory drink were Faham and Matt while outside on the terrace was Jeff in a vivid orange suit, bow tie and hat, completed by a button-hole and walking cane.

'This is the first year I've worn it,' he said of his stunning outfit. 'It was handed down to me, I believe it was bought on eBay.'

He has been an avid Giants fan for much longer. 'My entire life, all 22 years,' he said. Jeff is from San Francisco and has

lived in the city all his life.

His all-time favourite player is Matt Williams from the 90s. 'He was going to break the all-time home run record in 1994 but there was a shortened home run season when the players had a strike,' he said.

Setting out on the path of life-long allegiance to the Giants and of being a Giants' fashionista on Opening Day - without even taking her first steps - was Kiali who will be five-months-old on Good Friday.

How much of a fan is she?

'Huge!' said her dad proudly. ''On the way to the ballpark I was telling her how much of a fan she is going to be. She's going to know baseball better than her mum!'

SF Giants Opener 2009 - Ardent Fans

Barbara and Jan sitting in prime seats at the Giants' ballpark for the opening ceremony are two of the Giants' ardent fans - see previous blogs

'We haven't missed an opening game in years, not since they had the baseball strike in the 90s,' said Jan.

Said Barbara, 'We've been coming here - ie to Giants games - way before that, when they were in Candlestick Park.'

'We love this place,' said Jan. 'Where else can you see the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco skyline and the Bay?'

Barbara and Jan were appreciating the stunning views surrounded by the enormous, rapidly-filling stadium and the pitch preparation. Below, grounds staff hauled back the vast sheet that covered much of the field and mopped up the rain with water-sucking machines.

They were especially thrilled that Captain Sully Sullenberger had been invited to throw the ceremonial pitch.

'He's astronomical. Look at him, he's all over the place. I think it's an honour to have him here, I think it's great the Giants have asked him,' said Jan. 'And he's from the area, Danville, across the Bay.'

What were they most looking forward to?

'A Giant's win and a complete game!' said Jan.

SF Giants Opener 2009 - Best Dressed Fans

As the Giants prepared for their Opening Ceremony and match against the Milwaukee Brewers - see previous blogs - there were fans who'd obviously let the Giants go to their heads!


Outside the AT & T Park in eager anticipation were Carrie, Linda, and Susan with 'my lucky trout. It works 50 per cent of the time!' she said.

SF Giants Opening 2009 -

Giants fans arriving on Opening Day for the match against the Milwaukee Brewers - see previous blogs - braved the rain and the uncertainty of the game going ahead as they set out early this morning.

Disembarking from Caltrain, the roads were still wet for this group pictured below. But the scene, when they arrived at the Willie Mays Plaza was business as usual, except for the protest they had to pass.

A small, orderly but vocal demonstration of AT & T workers were circling with placards and chanting, and handing out orange info sheets headlined 'You are out!'

AT & T sponsor the Giants' ballpark at China Basin which is known as the AT & T Park. The protestors say that while the corporation made $12.9 billion in profits last year it is 'on the brink of a strike with its employees, insisting that it needs huge concessions from its workforce.'

Issues of executive pay and

shareholder dividends are part of the argument. Top executives, they say, were paid $33.5 million last year, and investors $9.8 billion in dividends, aside from money spent on campaigns, lobbying and gifts.

It is 'at the bargaining table with over 100,000 employees in 22 states - including about 25,000 right here in California. Can AT & T afford to provide decent, middle class jobs to its employees?...Yes, AT & T can,' say the workers.

On the other side of the Willie Mays Plaza at the rows of ticket windows people were queuing to collect pre-ordered tickets or standing in the hope of picking up some of the very few remaining tickets that were coming in slowly as returns.

With the clock ticking at 12.30 pm, one ticket seller said she thought all the tickets had gone, but she would check again.

'Two have just come in,' she said, 'they're $135 and $71 dollars.' The last-minute purchaser took the cheaper that came with good views at Club Level. Passing through the gates, the ticket collector said the capacity of the park at ballgames was 40,100 - and the house was almost full!

San Francisco Giants 2009 Ceremonial Opening Pitch

Hero pilot Captain Chesley B. 'Sully' Sullenberger 111 has thrown the ceremonial pitch for the San Francisco Giants before over 40,000 fans to mark the much-anticipated opening of the 2009 season.

Despite fears about the heavy rain earlier today the skies cleared before midday, the sun shone thinly through the rainclouds and fans poured into the stadium at China Basin for one of their great celebrations of the year.

For the opening ceremonial pitch, Captain Sullenberger wore a special Jersey the Giants had had printed for him, one with his name and the number 155 on the back, to commemorate the number of lives he saved when with outstanding skill he brought his plane safely down on the chill waters of the Hudson River in January.

Captain Sullenberger is aged 57 and from Danville, across the Bay. A former U.S. Air Force F-4 fighter pilot, he was flying Flight 1549 for US Airways when he experienced a double bird strike on take off, crippling both engines.

'We welcome a true American hero,' said the Giants announcer in her introduction.

And then it was left, at about 1.30 pm, to Captain Sullenberger to stride confidently out across the sodden turf, ready himself, take aim, throw the pitch to great applause. He returned to the sidelines as one of an illustrious elite to open baseball games around the country this week.

Yesterday saw former President George W. Bush throw for the Texas Rangers in Arlington and Vice President Joe Biden pitch for the Baltimore Orioles, in place of President Barack Obama who is in the Middle East. Today Senator Ted Kennedy was on the field for the Boston Red Sox.

After Captain Sullenberger's pitch he was escorted away surrounded by the media.

The 2009 season of the San Francisco Giants is truly underway!

SG Giants Opening Day 2009

pics show Joe at the Willie Mays Plaza listening to the KNBR broadcast forecasting the possible raining off of the Opening Day ceremony and match against the Milwaukee Brewers - see previous blogs - and Tom and Sherman.

Joe had been up at 4 am in Monterey and spent three hours travelling for the game. But he had arrived without a ticket and was hoping to be able to buy a late one.

If the game was rained off, 'it would be better for me because I don't have a ticket and a lot of people won't be able to come tomorrow, so I'll get a better ticket for a cheaper price,' he said, finishing his breakfast hastily.

'Today, though, scalpers are selling tickets for double, maybe triple,' he said.

Was his early rise and travel worth it?

'Oh yeah, definitely!' he said. 'I've been retired two months now.'

His favourite player?

'It's hard,' he said. Willie Mays is his all-time great and a few seasons ago it would have been Barry Bonds. But today?

'The Giants don't have anyone legendary at the moment, a Hall of Famer right now.'

And how does he think the team will fare?

'We'll be lucky to make the play-offs.' Critical of the team's hitting, he said their pitching was the best.

'But it's a beautiful ballpark!'

Joe counts himself as a member of the 'paparazzi family'. He collects autographs, and has among his collection those of Kevin Costner, two of the Eagles band, and The Doors whom he met backstage at the Monterey Music Festival.

Tom, with Sherman dressed in a smart orange and black collar to match his dad's colours, was horrified at the thought of rain-off.

'I've been waiting for this for about six months now! I just hope it doesn't happen. Everyone's been waiting so long for this game. It just seems so unfair with the weather we've had over the last few days,' he said.

Would he be able to make a game tomorrow?

'Yes,' he said, 'it's really easy for me to make it, but living here in this neighbourhood it's been like a ghost town for the last six months. Now it might not happen!'

His favourite player?

He thought a minute. 'Obviously Tim Lincecum is the popular man. I'll say Pablo Sandoval, go off the beaten track,' he said.

And his hopes for 2009?

'Finish ahead of the (LA) Dodgers!'

All this player talk went over Sherman's head, though at only 16-months-old already in training to be a Giants fan.

He is a placid Dogue de Bordeaux, a member of the French Mastiff family.

'He's just a French guy,' said Tom. 'He eats croissants and drinks lattes!'

His French roots should serve him well with the Giants - plenty of garlic in the fries!

San Francisco Giants 2009 - Go Green

The Giants are going green. Forget the orange and black colours of the baseball team, think green.

Their signature garlic fries are green as well as the baseball park.

Up on the Promenade Level, the Gilroy Garlic Fries stand has been retrofitted with new fryers and lights replaced. The result? Enough energy saved to fry another 110 tons of the signature garlic fries.

Can you tell the difference working with the new fryers, I asked Sergio, before he led me into the kitchen to show off the row of gleaming fryers filled with sliced potatoes ready for cooking?

Yes, he said.

The new fryers are Henny Penny Open Fryers that reduce gas consumption by 32 percent, cut utility costs by over half and reduce the use of cooking oil by 12 per cent.

A new cooler system saves up to 35 per cent more energy and the new lights save 36.5 per cent electricity.

The 550-square foot stand uses biodegradable and recyclable materials for its signage, drink cups are recyclable and paper boats and carry trays are compostable. It has been painted with environmentally friendly paint.

Rosa, who's been working there 'a very long time, going on 15 years,' said of her new green work place, 'I've been looking forward to it.'

She handed me a carton of freshly made garlic fries with plenty of garlic and liberally sprinkled with fresh, green, finely chopped parsley.

They were delicious. She is used to seeing about 800 pounds of garlic fries served per game. Maybe this season, it will be more!