I didn't expect it. Hoped for but didn't expect it. Grateful, gratified, satisfied. Two World Series in three years. Two is a good number. I could finish with that much in the book.
Earlier this year when I stopped into Vegas for a day in April, I placed a bit on the G-Men to win the World Series at 12:1 odds. I'm satisfied about that too.
All this unselfish play allows a city to cry out "we did it!" and have a parade. A mostly great feeling of unity and something shared. Not sure what we did exactly but the team is always nice enough to include the fans in their success. However I'll go the other way and just take all the credit- although ultimately in disbelief, without words to describe what I have done.
Down 2 games to 0 and going to Cincinnati did not seem promising. Listening to what seemed to be the final game of the year- game 3 with the G-Men about to be eliminated with only one hit into the seventh inning felt sad and final. Walking through Warren Hellman's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass museum when the transistor radio provided the amazing 10th inning, and the impetus to improbability. I did it! Down 3 games to 1 in St.Louis and winning 3 straight games. I did it! A game 5 score gathered in a stop motion museum in Anaheim and Game 7 concluding in sudden pouring rain that was cinematic and uplifting in its visual plight. Shutting down the mighty favored Detroit Tigers 4 games to zero...I did it again!!! 22 of 27 Espn experts chose the Tigers.
Watching game 1 of the World Series at my Dad's and the final game of the year at Ann and John's with Maria, Dexter, and Oliver, Jeremiah and Bobby, the Cupps, Mickey and Clark, Eileen and Woody was truly a special shared experience. The drama and finish was further heightened by the tenseness of the game.
Tom coming up and staying the night before the parade, cool. The parts of the parade I saw first hand and the speeches later witnessed on television were rewarding. The great Giants- Mays, McCovery, Marichal, Perry, Cepada and Alou, rode in open cars. Also coaches, and alumni including Will Clark, JT Snow and the Hac Man, Jeff Leonard came along Spear Street heading to Market. Leonard's interacted when I called out "Hac Man". He pointed and I followed with "one flap down!" (see 1987 playoffs)- we both one flapped down. At that point I was good with the parade.
Our great announcers with funny bits (Miller, Fleming, especially Kuiper's put on of Affeldt) and Krukow's passion for the team and the city. Pence and the team rallying around the slow clap. The best part of a Giants win (next to the win) is the playing of "I left My Heart In San Francisco" at the end of the game with Ralph Sharon's tinkling piano and Bennett's raspy tenor singing about cable cars to the stars. To close the ceremony the man was there- maybe a little rough holding notes but still a jazz singer- rephrasing lines singing as a man reflecting on great days lived. The team gathered around him for a touching finale.
The new Giants tradition of the After Game Breast Feel. These Giants, individuals in the bunch with many nick- named after animals (Panda, White Shark, Giraffe, Reverend Praying Mantis) plus the Freak, Blockbuster and Pooty Dancer. Alright, I made up the last one.
11/15 Buster Posey MVP of the National League. Highest batting average and on base percentage in baseball.
12/4 Marco Scutaro resigns 3 years. 20. Well, that's a good thing.
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