Do you wanna go see the GIANTS?

In 1962 I was 6 years old. I lived in Manteca California. It was (and still is) about 60 miles from Candlestick Park. I was a Giant fan at the age of 6. My father never missed a game. We either watched the rare KTVU telecast on our Black and White TV, or had it playing on my dad's "made in Japan" Sony AM Radio. The one that was 8X10 made of beige and blue plastic with a big round knob for tuning. Of course it had the 2.5 ft. antenna. At the age of 6 I knew what baseball was and I knew who the giants were;however I thought they were just a TV show or a Radio show.

When my father asked me if I wanted to go see the Giants this puzzled look came across my face. HUH?????

I knew what live baseball was because my dad use to take me to Stockton Ports games when we lived in Stockton. (Now home of the Oakland A's minor league club in the double A division) But the Giants were on TV. I even had baseball cards of a few Giants. They were crappy players but they were still in Giant uniforms. *I have never met a person who actually got a Willie Mays or Willie McCovey card in a Wax Pack. I thought you had to live in New York to get those. (if they even made them)

I was as excited as waking up on Christmas morning. I ran and told my brother that we were going to a real Giants game but he just yawned and said I've got plans I don't want to go. "YOU WHAT"? Who was this alian in a human body? So my dad and I packed up the Caddy and headed for South San Francisco.

Did you ever see the movie "City Slickers"? There's a scene where Billy Crystal is talking about his dad taking him to his first Yankee game. He talks about how he was shocked to see it in color because all they had was a Black and White TV. It was the exact experience for me. When my father opened the big doors at the top of the steps, the ones with the big opaqued glass windows, the outfield grass almost blinded me. This sounds corny but it was breath taking. The Giants were taking infield. You could still see the Bay and the ship yard in Daly City.

I can't remember who won. I remember rooting for the Giants and pestering my dad everytime the souviner guy came around. I just knew someday I would get a Bobble head. The only player I remember specifically was Willie Mays. I got to see Willie Mays.

48 years later I would actually meet Willie Mays in person, in private and all I could say to him was: "I love you Willie" and "Thank you"