The San Francisco Giants Are Going To The World Series

Raise your hands if you thought the San Francisco Giants are playing in the 2012 World Series? I should see no hands up. Brian Wilson was injured for the season during the first week of the season. Pablo Sandoval was on the disabled list twice. Melky Cabrera was suspended for performance enhancing drugs. Tim Lincecum had the worse season of his career. The Giants played and won their playoff elimination games against the Cincinnati Reds down 2-0 in a best of 5 and the St. Louis Cardinals down 3-1 in a best of 7. The Giants persevered, didn't give up, and find ways to win. Congratulations to the Giants for winning the National League Pennant and playing against the Detroit Tigers for the 2012 World Series championship.

I want to share my highlights and lowlights the Giants appeared in the World Series and also winning the National League Champion Series (NLCS) to win the pennant during my lifetime. I always said "The San Francisco Giants are going to the World Series" since the 2002 season.

1989. It was my first year I started collecting baseball cards. I picked a good year. The baseball talk and baseball card conventions buzzed around the Giants and the Oakland Athletics. Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell were popular.

I watched Game 1 with my family and uncle's family. My uncle said the Giants had no chance. He was right. Dave Stewart pitched a complete game win. I watched Game 2 alone. I studied Algebra because I was behind in my homework during Game 3. The Loma Prieta Earthquake magnitude 6.9 happened at 5:04pm on Oct 17. I skipped Game 3 ten days later. I watched Game 4 alone.

The Giants lost to the Athletics in the Battle Of The Bay 4-0.

2002. I was in the family room watching Game 5 of the NLCS. I lied down on the floor and jumped for joy saying, "The San Francisco Giants are going to the World Series" when David Bell scored from a Kenny Lofton single in the bottom of the ninth. The 2002 season started that winning statement.

The Giants lost to the Anaheim Angels 4-3. Why did Dusty Baker give starting pitcher Russ Ortiz the game ball as Ortiz went to the dugout? Another question, why did Baker use Felix Rodriguez?

2010. It was magical. The team was a bunch of guys, misfits, players from different teams last year, players released from their former teams that season, and rookies and veterans coming together to create instant team chemistry. The pep talk Edgar Renteria making everyone in the clubhouse cry was a great rally during the Chicago Cubs series. Rookie of the year Buster Posey led the way.

I listened to Games 1 and 2 of NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies on the radio because I had to study for two mid-terms. When Cody Ross hit a home run, I ran from my desk to the television to watch the home run. The FOX broadcast had a 7 second delay. I said my winning statement, "The San Francisco Giants are going to the World Series" when Brian Wilson struck out Ryan Howard in Game 6. I twittered the statement a minute later.

I watched Games 1-3 and most of Game 5 of the World Series on television. I attended a Halloween party on Game 4. I drove to my ballroom dance class during the last inning of Game 5 hearing Brian Wilson struck out Nelson Cruz. I honked my horn several times and said, "Woooorld Seeeeries!!!"

The Giants defeated the Texas Rangers 4-1 for their first World Championship in San Francisco franchise history.

2012. I listened to Game 7 of the NLCS on the radio and watched the game on the television. It was like hearing the game live on radio and watching replay on television.

I was on my phone's Twitter account on the top of the ninth inning ready to tweet my winning statement. I said "The San Francisco Giants are going to the World Series" and then pressed sent on my Twitter immediately after Marco Scutaro caught Matt Holiday's pop up for the final out.

The 2012 World Series starts tomorrow. Go Giants!