David and Alan Speidel
Frank Sousa had made home openers a tradition. He’s not a season-ticket holder, but he navigated his way through the Oracle Park gates for every season since 2009 — except last year.
“It sucked,” Sousa said before he and his girlfriend headed to their seats for Friday’s home-opening matinee.
They’re back, and so are generations of Giants fans after a season that had to be watched on TV, fans barred from games through the coronavirus pandemic.
Oracle Park can be 22 percent filled, a capacity of just under 9,000, for the first game played in front of an audience since Bruce Bochy said his goodbye on Sept. 29, 2019.
Five hundred fifty-nine days later, there is a new manager, there is a changed team that just missed the expanded playoffs a season prior and there are more than half a million Americans lost to COVID-19. The Giants honored and thanked healthcare workers before the game, which represents a return of baseball to San Francisco and a semblance of normalcy at a time when fans must wear masks and be socially distanced in pods.
“We back.”
The San Francisco Giants have officially allowed fans back into Oracle Park for the first time since September 29, 2019 pic.twitter.com/xaLwy7Gacq
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 9, 2021
Alan Speidel, who has been fully vaccinated, felt comfortable being back, even if he was trying to figure out how to buy a hot dog through an app rather than in person. Things have changed, but it’s still Giants baseball.
“For me, walking across the Lefty O’Doul bridge — there were so many nights back in 2008, 2009 when you’re starting to think this might actually work,” Speidel remembered. “Walking across that bridge after a game the Giants won, just kind of getting that feeling of crowds all amped up, and then to get those three World Series.”
He remembers taking his son, David, to games at Candlestick growing up. The family was back at Oracle Park with David’s son now in tow, too, ready for new memories after 2020.
“It’s been a long time coming,” David said. “Watching on TV was fine last year, but getting out to the ball yard, seeing the whole thing, getting the boy out here and getting to spend some time in the open air. I’m excited to be amongst other people. We’re all pulling in the same direction.”
Renel Brooks-Moon welcomed fans back to “this beautiful ballpark by the Bay,” and Bryan Stow, who was attacked and beaten 10 years ago outside Dodger Stadium, threw the ceremonial first pitch to assistant coach Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to be a full-time coach in Major League Baseball.
Catching a ball in BP: Easy as ever pic.twitter.com/q5KCvOhjGK
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 9, 2021
Giants fans got a chance to cheer for the Woodland native, too, for the first time.
“This is a really exciting moment for a lot of people in the clubhouse right now, myself included,” said Gabe Kapler, who was set to manage his first home game in front of San Francisco fans. “I’m really looking forward to getting out there and having the support of the Giants fans.”