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 Opening Ceremony

The first pitches of the opening game of the San Francisco Giants were thrown by Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum to the thrill of thousands of fans - see previous blog for Captain Sully Sullenberger and the ceremonial opening pitch

The opening ceremony before the match with the Milwaukee Brewers began at 1.05 pm with Voice of the Giants, Jon Miller, introducing the players.

It may not be the perfect day to play, he said, referring to the earlier downfalls and the pitch that had water-sucking machines rolling over it, but it is time for the latest chapter in the long history of the Giants!

And then with outbursts of applause from stands heaving with full-capacity of over 40,000 fans, he announced the players one by one. There was a 25-roster line up with new young players, homegrown players and familiar faces with the greatest cheer reserved for the last man to be called out, Tim Lincecum, the 2008 winner of the Cy Young Award. Tim received a standing ovation.

When the players had lined up, fans were asked to stand and remove their caps in respectful memory of former Giants players and staff who have died since the start of last season. Displayed on the scoreboard in tribute to those who had died were their names, their role with the Giants and their photos.

The Bay Area Joint Forces Colour Guard standing in the middle of the field were introduced, and then Taylor Hicks, American Idol winner, sang the National Anthem. As he finished, fireworks flared into sky above the scoreboard and red, blue and silver streamers burst over the crowds.

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!

SF Giants Opening Day May be Rained Off

The skies have opened and the rain is pouring down over the San Francisco Giants ballpark on what was the much-heralded 2009 Opening Day with the possibility that the game will be cancelled.

'You don't want to say they won't play...' said the broadcaster, not wanting to be too definite at this early stage.

By 10 am as fans were beginning a gentle stream towards the Willie Mays Plaza at the front of the park at China Basin, the voice of a KNBR sports presenter broadcasting over the park queried the possibility of the match going ahead and instead there being a 'double hitter' tomorrow.

At 1.05 pm Captain Sully Sullenberger, hero of the Hudson river, is due to cast the ceremonial pitch before the match with the Milwaukee Brewers - see earlier blogs

Fans will be gutted if the game does not go ahead.

First in line by 7 am was Ermelita, closely followed by her friend, Nicole. It wasn't raining at the start of the interview just after 9 am, but by the end ominous drops were falling.

Ermelita, dressed in a white zipper Giants top, was up at 5 am and took about an hour to travel there.

What did The Day mean to her and who is her favourite player?

'It's a very special day, it's the Opening Day for the Giants,' she said enthusiastically. 'And Tim Lincecum is my favourite player - he's all worth it, he's worth everything - rain or shine!'

Nicole had left home at 7 am and arrived outside the main gates at around 8.30 am.

'It's Opening Day and I'm a die-hard Giants fan,' she said, wearing her black Giants top with orange lettering. 'I'm so happy the baseball season is back, it's going to be so much fun. And Tim Lincecum is awesome, he's electrifying, he's good stuff, man!'

How often will the girls be supporting their team? As often as they could get there, they said.

Prospects for the season?

'I think they'll do really well. You've just got to have faith and believe in the Giants,' said Ermelita. Nicole agreed. 'They're going to do really good!

The girls were joined by James under a green umbrella. His expectations for the 2009 season?

'I'm hoping the Giants will make the World Series and will win the Division. Tim Lincecum will get the Cy Young Award,' he said. 'No doubt!' chipped in Ermelita.

Tim is already a Cy Young Award winner for last season and will be presented with the award tomorrow evening.

'I hope Matt Cain will pitch better this season than last season,' added James.

What did he think of the ballpark going green?

'Great idea!' he said.

Around the corner a small queue had formed at the ticket booth, fans hoping to get late tickets as they become available from others cancelling.

more interviews in next blog
pics show: Nicole, James, Ermelita; banner of Tim Lincecum and the bunting above the main gates at the Willie Mays Plaza; Nicole and Ermelita first in the queue!

San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2009 Dawns

It's a glorious day, as any Giants fan will tell you - the Opening Day of the 2009 season.

As if the heavens are rooting for the team, the sun rose spreading a deep orange glow around the Bay and across the AT & T ballpark.

In a few hours time, circling the ballpark from the cove to King Street and the Willie Mays Plaza will be a surging tide of orange and black as fans arrive.

And it will be a day for heroes. Not only will the new young team be there, sporting among them four homegrown players and all the hopes of a new season, but Sully Sullenberger, Captain of the stricken plane that landed on the Hudson River, will be throwing the opening ceremonial pitch.
The ceremony starts at I.05 pm before the first match against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fans will see an even greener stadium this season where even the Gilroy's garlic fries are green. The stand is green with new energy-saving fryers and the signature garlic fries are topped with herbs.

It is part of a bid to be the first existing Major League baseball park in the country to achieve the US Green Building Council certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance (EBO & M).

Fans will also see a new banner display of past sporting Giants from 1883 to today, and for the first 40,000 through the gates there will be the traditional giving of a calendar.

The only possible dampener might be the weather. Scattered showers with some heavier showers and possibly thunder are being forecast and lower temps of 61 degrees.

Pic shows sunrise across the Bay towards Oakland and second pic, taken a few mins later, shows the edge of the ballpark at McCovey Cove