Finally…
It’s the only word that can explain what the people of San Francisco and all past Giants were feeling when Brian Wilson turned away from Buster Posey to give his signal to the sky after completing the final save of the 2010 World Series.
The party was on as each member of the team, on the field and in the dugout, ran as fast as they could towards their bearded closer on the mound. Everyone jumped and hugged in exuberant joy as they celebrated bringing the organization it’s first World Series title since moving from New York to San Francisco in 1958.
After a season of tremendous torture, unbelievable obstacles and nail-biting wins, the San Francisco Giants have come full circle to stand alone on baseball’s mountain top screaming “we are the champions…”. Never a favorite to win the championship from the start of the season to the first pitch of the World Series, the team believed they could complete their underdog run to a capture the title.
The championship is a first for many on the team and culminates years of working hard for the chance to call themselves the best.
In his first ten seasons in the big leagues, Aubrey Huff never had a post season appearance.
Although he has multiple all stars and a silver slugger award in 2008, Huff has never been the prodigal superstar, just an ultimate professional. A strong presence in the clubhouse with a quiet demeanor, he is the epitome of someone who speaks softly but carries a big stick.
This title is for recognition of his patience and professionalism.
Freddy Sanchez spent most of his career playing for the always-miserable Pittsburgh Pirates. Three all-star appearances and a batting title are the only accomplishments that the second basemen had to show for all the losing seasons.
After joining the Giants via trade during the 2009 season, Sanchez dealt with numerous nagging injuries that kept him off the field. Concerns grew as his production and inability to stay healthy became issues at the start of the 2010 season. He would battle back to be a key component to Giants first title.
This title is for his perseverance and hard work.
Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Johnathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner were all drafted by the San Francisco Giants and went through the organization’s minor leagues. Though brought up at different times and having diverse outcomes each season, this year became their first as the main components of the Giants rotation.
Ultimately, they would culminate the season as champions and the best starting pitching of any team in the league.
This title is for their ability to come together and lead the way to the promise land.
Despite many first timers, some had already won a title with a team in previous years. While already having a chance to stand atop of the baseball world as champions, this time around appears more fulfilling than in years past.
During the 2008 season, Pat Burrell was a winner with the Philadelphia Phillies. Since then he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, but had difficulty adjusting to the American League. He would get cut from the team in May 2010.
He would join the San Francisco Giants soon after, returning back to the area he grew up in. He would also propel the team to the playoffs, ultimately helping to get them their first championship.
This title is for returning back to where he grew up and helping them get their first.
During the 1989 World Series, Jose Uribe was manning the shortstop position for the Giants. Although he couldn’t help them win the title, he luckily had another family member who would play the same position when San Francisco eventually won a title.
That member is Juan Uribe and he would fulfill the dream that his second cousin could not accomplish in 1989. Although he won a title with the White Sox in 2005, this championship is an achievement of the mission his cousin could not complete.
This title is for finishing what his family had originally started.
The San Francisco Giants may be the 2010 World Series winners, but the championship is shared by more than just the 35 players on their current roster.
The history of the organization is rich with great players who have reached high pinnacles of success. Despite their accomplishments, all of the past San Francisco Giants have come up short of that grand prize of being a champion.
Willie Mays was able to win the last title for the Giants in New York on the 1954 team, but spent the next fourteen seasons with no World Series ring to show for it. The same results would follow for greats like Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Bobby Bonds, and Juan Marichal.
There was the 1962 World Series that the Giants lost in the last inning of game seven by the score of 1-0. Then came the 1989 “Battle of the Bay” World Series that also brought the great Loma Prieta earthquake and the Oakland A’s sweep of the Giants. The 2002 World Series would be the last time the organization would get to the championship round, only to be beaten by the Anaheim Angels in seven games.
This title is for all the great players who came up short and for all the missed opportunities the team had over the past decades.
Then, there are the fans.
Fans of a team whose patience finally pays off with a trophy. 52 years of torture and hope molded into that one great moment of winning the ultimate prize they have been seeking for years. Not only did they enjoy this win, they would go off the deep end in celebrating it.
This title is for all the fans from different generations and ages who got to reap the success of having a winner and having that ability exhale that one word they’ve been dying to say:
Finally…
