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.

Joe Panik Wow -- August 28, 2016

We took BART and Muni Metro to see the Giants play the Braves.  We had nice seats.  Madison Bumgarner gave up a run in the first inning, and then settled down.  The Giants tied it, then went ahead.  The Braves came back, but the Giants scored eight runs in the seventh.

Joe Panik had two home runs.  

It was Mike Krukow Day.  We received bobble heads honoring his 20-win season.  They played a video and everyone gave him an ovation after. 

After the game, we paused to look at the recently unveiled statue of Gaylord Perry.

We had dinner at the Surf Spot.  We sat out back.  A surf band was playing. 

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. 

Willie Mays 80 #2 -- May 7, 2011

06-May-2011 was the 80th birthday of the greatest baseball player who ever lived, Willie Mays. Last night we went to see the Giants play the Colorado Rockies and honor Willie Mays. When I left the office, I was shocked by the power of the wind. My cap blew off as I crossed Harrison. I found a huge crowd waiting in line at the front gate. I also found that the statue of Mays was wearing an orange party hat. I took this photo.

I walked around the outside of the park, waiting for the booth that sells Muni tickets to open. The line for the main gate extended across the bridge and past the McCovey statue. The line for the gate by the bridge went to the marina. The line for the Second Street gate stretched off down the Embarcadero.

I bought the tickets and had a nice chat about Pacifica with the seller. I went across the bridge and found the end of the line near the gate to the little ball field by the McCovey statue. The line wrapped around the statue, back across the bridge, and up to the front gate. My wife and daughter tried to join me as we passed the Dugout store, but a security guard rudely threw them out. I stayed in line to be sure to get one of the statues the Giants were handing out.

I went up to the Club level and looked at the exhibits. I found our seats, out in the left field corner. When the family made it in, we bought sandwiches and took them to our seats. The cold and the papers blowing around reminded us of Candlestick.

Before the game, the Giants honored Willie Mays on his birthday. Two of his teammates from the Birmingham Black Barons, Jimmy Zapp and the Reverend William Greason, were on the field, along with Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey. Teammates Felipe Alou and Jimmy Davenport were also there. Lon Simmons read a letter from Monte Irvin. Jon Miller read a letter from President and Mrs Obama. Many people spoke on video, including Hank Aaron, President Bill Clinton, Barry Bonds, John Montefusco, and Bill Cosby, who led us all in a toast to his great friend Willy Brown. Willie Mays cried. I wanted to cry.

In the game, Matt Cain pitched against Ubaldo Jimenez. Cain gave up a home run in the first and two in the third. The Giants weren't hitting at all, scoring only one run through the 7th. They tied it in the 8th and won in the 9th. Brian Wilson got the win.

I felt bad, but we had to leave after the 8th. We took an N car to Powell, and drove home from Fifth and Mission.

Today is National Train Day.

Giants World Series Ring Ceremony -- April 10, 2011

Before yesterday's game, the Giants had a World Series ring ceremony. Mike Murphy got the first one, then other clubhouse men and the coaches. Each player received a ring, then the Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie MCovey, Gaylord Perry and Orlando Cepeda. Juan Marichal and Monte Irvin will get theirs later. The broadcasters received rings during the game.

The broadcasters mentioned that the president of the Hall of Fame had brought items given by the Giants for each of their previous World Series wins. He had a 1905 pin that belonged to Turkey Mike Donlin, a 1911 watch fob, and a 1921 medal. The 1922 ring, seen above, was the first given to World Series Champions. There were also rings from 1933 and 1954.

The Giants played a stressful game and finally won on a two-run hit with two outs in the ninth.

Orlando Cepeda -- October 27, 2010

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 McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, and Monte Irvin. Irvin threw out the first pitch. Willie Mays wasn't feeling well and had to stay home.

John Legend sang a great a capella "Star Spangled Banner." He enunciated every word. Tony Bennett sang "I Left my Heart" and "God Bless America."

The Giants beat the Rangers 11-7 in the first game of the World Series. It was not the Cliff Lee-Tim Lincecum pitching duel that everyone predicted. It wasn't pretty, but I'll take it.

Red Devils Return to Pacifica #4 -- June 27, 2010

I first spotted a fireworks stand while driving home on Wednesday. There has not been much controversy in the Tribune. I took this photo of the stand in the Park Mall on 26-June-2010.

Before the game yesterday, the Giants honored Monte Irvin and retired his number. Mays, McCovey, Marichal, Perry and Cepeda were there. Wow.