Adios Pelota, Goodbye Baseball





Members of the San Francisco Giants gather on the pitching mound
as they celebrate defeating the Rangers in Game 5 on Monday
night, clinching the World Series title.
(Brian Snyder / Reuters / November 2, 2010)



Adios Pelota.  Those words were uttered by ESPN radio announcer Jon Miller when the San Francisco Giant Edgar Renteria's homerun cleared the left field fence. That three run blast, which broke the scoreless tie against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of game five of the 2010 World Series, was against the opposing ace Cliff Lee.

So the drought is over, San Francisco can now celebrate their World Series victory, the first ever in the 56 year history of baseball in the City by the Bay. Who are the players who struggled for years in San Francisco, getting close in 1962, 1989, and 2002; only to lose to the NY Yankees, Oakland A’s, and Anaheim Angels respectively?

Here is a sample list of players, some Hall of Famers, some no namers; a couple of fathers and sons too.  A few were lucky enough to win a title either before or after their stay in San Francisco.  Hopefully the others can enjoy a bit of the warmth that a World Series title can spread.

Willie Mays
Mike McCormick
Red Schoendienst
Bill White
Jim Davenport
Orlando Cepeda
Willie McCovey
Juan Marichal
Don Blasingame
Matty Alou
Felipe Alou and son Moises Alou
Jesus Alou
Manny Mota
Jim Ray Hart
Tom Haller
Gaylord Perry
Joe Morgan
Dave Dravecky
Jose Uribe
Steve Finley
Will Clark
Matt Williams
Brett Butler
Bob Brenly
Jeff Kent
J.T. Snow
Rich Aurilia
Bobby Bonds and son Barry Bonds

What do they say, timing is everything; while the city of San Francisco was celebrating shortly after the last out Monday evening, their former hero and home run hitter Barry Bonds was getting a traffic ticket in Beverly Hills for talking on his cell phone while driving.