Giants honor players from World Series era

Five players from the Giants World Series era join the wall of fame at the ballpark. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

When Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval took to the field at Oracle Park magic happened.

If only history would repeat itself.

For a brief moment earlier this month the five returned to this San Francisco ballpark. All were being inducted into wall of fame. The nice thing about the plaques is they are outside the stadium so everyone can enjoy them without paying for a ticket.

Since the Giants started this tradition in 2008 more than 60 names have been immortalized this way. Peter Magowan, Mike Murphy and Bob Lurie are the non-players on the wall. Mike Krukow has a plaque for his days (1983-89) as a pitcher for the Giants.

The plaque on the wall facing King Street in part says: “Baseball’s modern age began at Seals Stadium on Opening Day, April 15, 1958, when the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-0, in the first Major League game played on the West Coast. Since that historic date, San Francisco fans have witnessed the daily exploits of some of the game’s finest players, and a special bond was created in the spirit of ‘Once a Giant, Forever a Giant’. In our 50th anniversary season in San Francisco, the Giants inaugurate this perpetual tribute to our greatest stars. The plaques along this wall recognize Giants players whose records stand highest among their teammates on the basis of longevity and achievements. Those honored have played a minimum of nine seasons for the San Francisco Giants, or at least five seasons with at least one All-Star selection as a Giant. As of Opening Day 2008, a group of 48 Giants legends qualified for this distinction, forming the charter class of honorees.”

Reading each inscription would take a while. Their individual accomplishments are impressive.

Looking at the lineup the Giants have today it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Logan Webb having his name up there.

But when this band of five started the same might have been said. After all, the Giants lost 90 games in 2008. Two years later they won the World Series. This year’s wall of fame induction is a reminder that one season doesn’t necessarily foretell what the next season will bring.

The Giants have a good chance of hitting that 90 game loss mark again. Maybe that means winning the World Series in 2028. A girl can dream.

Most of all, though, this tradition of bringing back past stars to give them and fans an opportunity to reconnect, remember and reminisce is pretty special.