Below is a message from Larry Baer, now CEO of the SF Giants and a former fellow Northern CA YPOer. He makes an elegant case for why we love baseball, our team, Opening Day, the change (finally) of seasons opening day foretells, the history, its heroes, and the promise of this years Championship season. Cant wait. Dear Scott, Tonight, when Angel Pagan steps into the batters box at Chase Field in Phoenix, we will begin the 132nd season of Giants baseball and the 57th in San Francisco. The team dates back to 1883 - twenty- five years before Henry Ford built his first Model T. I cant help picturing mothers and fathers at the Polo Grounds telling stories about the Giants to their children, who told the stories to their children. At Seals Stadium, Candlestick and now AT&T Park, the rich history of the Giants franchise continues to be passed from parent to child to grandchild and great-grandchild. Every Opening Day I think about this bright orange thread stitching one generation to the next and how proud I am to be a part of this organization. This is what it means to be a Giant -- for players as well as for fans. Two weeks ago, Jeff Leonard -- Hac Man -- was on a panel of former players talking to our minor-leaguers at spring camp. When he was asked to name the proudest moment of his career, he said: The first time I put on a Giants uniform and thought about the history of all the players who had come before me. On that same panel, Will Clark explained why he coaches at spring training and travels to our minor-league affiliates: This whole game is about passing it down. And Willie McCovey told the minor-leaguers: Be proud youre with the organization where you can tell your grandkids you wore the same uniform as Willie Mays. This sense of history is another way of saying Giants baseball is about family and team baseball, from the front office to the dugout. And I cant think of any group in Giants history thats more about team baseball than the players and coaches who will be wearing the orange and black this season. Michael Morse and Tim Hudson have already shown they are the perfect fit in a clubhouse that is as close-knit as any in baseball. Were thrilled to have kept together the great core-group of players that won the World Series in 2012 and hung together through the injuries and difficulties of last season. All-Stars Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Madison Bumgarner, Sergio Romo, Matt Cain and Marco Scutaro are back. So are Hunter Pence, Tim Lincecum, Javier Lopez, Jeremy Affeldt, Angel Pagan, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt, who enter the new season ready to contend. I was told about a closed-door meeting in the clubhouse early in spring training. The players were asked to consider a single question: What do you want to be known for as a team? Guys called out words, and a consensus was quickly reached: Hardworking. Humble. Confident. Selfless. Loyal to each other. I love that list. That list is how you win. Its about everyone together, as a single unit, playing hard and playing for each other. I am thrilled to welcome you back to another season of Giants baseball and to thank you for your unwavering support of our team. The connection between this franchise and this community is unlike anything anywhere in professional sports. I cant tell you enough how deeply we appreciate what you give to us. You are a key reason players want to sign with the Giants - and stay with the Giants. We begin a new chapter of Giants baseball tonight. Thank you for joining us as stewards of this storied franchise. Sincerely, Larry Laurence M. Baer, President & CEO
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 01:27:30 +0000
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