I was born a Giants fan. My dad loved and followed them when they still played at the Polo Grounds in New York, and was thrilled when they moved to San Francisco in 1958 and played their first two seasons at Seals Stadium on 16th & Bryant before Candlestick Park was completed. The San Francisco Seals minor league team had toiled there, across the street from the Double Play Bar & Restaurant, which still stands and hangs historic photos from back in the day when Joe DiMaggio bellied up to the bar for a beer and a burger.
I was 5 when dad took me to my first game at the Stick, where we watched both Willies (Mays and McCovey), Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda play. We'd go on to spend many afternoons in that cold windy park out in the forlorn far corner of southern San Francisco. It was heaven. My younger brother, who horned in when he was old enough (much to my dismay) now spends thousands of hours at AT&T park shooting the Giants for Sports Illustrated and Major League Baseball.
I've worn Giant's caps all my life. It's my subtle way of showing support, since I've never been a fan of sporting sports logo apparel. The practicality of a cap to corral my hair is also a factor. I happened to be wearing my Giants lid when I boarded an NYC to SFO flight 20 years ago and passed Willie Mays on my way to coach through first class. I nervously removed it and asked him to sign, which he did. I flew home in every sense of the word.
Back in New York, my blog partner Jennifer, aka "Jslow," sent me a photo of herself in a Giants top with the word, "representing." Her kids were born here in San Francisco, and although they currently live in Brooklyn, they are "representing" the Giants from across the country: Her son with orange and black bands on his braces courtesy of his orthodontist, her daughter in a custom "Panda" tee, and Jslow in her Giants shirt. Love of a team holds that special power to unite. It's corny and I don't care. She then texted me what she wore while she watched the Giant's beat the Cards in game 7: "Giants tee, leather pants, Marant Sneakers + Comme army green jacket." Scary that that exact outfit, sans Giants tee, is one that I recently sported to a night game. Always wear leather pants to a night game.
So if you are lucky enough to have tickets to the World Series, here is some orange inspiration. I must say that sports and logo apparel has come a long way; there are many chic options for showing team support. Go Giants!
1:Moschino Cheap & Cheap padded duffle jacket, farfetch.com. 2: Giants hoodie, MLB.com. 3: Givenchy Odsedia leather bracelet, mytheresa.com. 4: Alexander McQueen cropped leather pants, theoutnet.com. 5: Giants mini-bag, MLB.com. 6: Orange snood, debenhams.com. 7: Giants cap, MLB.com. 8: Orange Dr. Martens.com.