As a baseball fan since birth and a Giants fan since I could see, I risk losing impartiality when talking about this year’s World Series. In this unsung sports haven called the Bay Area, the Giants have either been on the verge for the last few generations, or purely terrible…with not much in between. Before I was born there was ‘62 and since, we’ve dealt with ‘89 and 2002. This of course doesn’t count the many playoff losses and near misses of getting into October in the first place.

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This week I am in the city covering the big election not only across the country, but here in California as well. Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana, had a big debate last night just down the street from AT&T Park, where game 1 captivated a city/metro area. As someone who knows this city well, walking from corner to corner and even wedged down alley’s, people peered in from virtually every angle. You could hear echoes of cheers and chants from China Town to the Sunset…and even taxi drivers who have immigrated from the far east had the game blaring from their hybrid taxis.

At the stadium itself, the site couldn’t have been more inundated with orange and beards. You can see from my pictures below that you could basically walk across McCovey Cove without ever touching the water. Outside the stadium people held transistor radios and leaned up against the brick walls, as if trying to soak-in the sights and sounds of a game that electrified this city sometimes known for its wackiness. Fans here did not disappoint, from the fake beards to match closer Brian Wilson, to wigs I never even knew existed, many were appropriately dressed for Halloween.

On the concourse inside the stadium, walking required patience. Standing room areas were four and five deep and the notorious places to normally catch a glimpse of the game, had no view at all. Despite some on the East Coast who don’t believe those west of the Hudson are die hards, many who spent more than a few innings at Candlestick Park walked the aisles of luxury between innings here at China Basin. Old caps that sported ‘Croix de Candlestick’ pins from foggy/empty nights in the early 80’s and pull over Giants jersey’s that harkened back to artificial turf in San Fran, spilled into seats…right along with the high tech folks in suits and ties.

Down on the field before the game, I had the chance to soak-in the energy from both teams as they ripped batting practice pitches into ‘triples alley’. My old minor league manager Dave Anderson came over to say hello and spoke of the fun this year has meant to the Dallas area and to the players on the Rangers roster, as their club gets its first taste of the World Series in 50 years. In fact both teams seemed a bit at ease, as the Giants haven’t won since the days of the Polo Grounds in New York…1954.

While some may not think that the World Series grabs nationwide interest when the Northeast isn’t involved, think again. Both of these teams have more than a few characters on their rosters, with a shot at history that will end the pain for one of these polar opposite cities. Who are you pulling for?