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Everyone knows families in the Bay Area that are bound by baseball. We wanted to know more about the history and geography and geneaology that leads to such multi-generational magic. Here’s a sampling from those who were kind enough to share their stories:

THE LYNOTTS/MCCREADYS

Three generations of Giants fans

Grandma (Lavina McCready, now deceased, born 1919) and grandpa (Gilbert McCready, now deceased, born 1915); mom (Cindy McCready, age 68, retired in Amboy, Washington) and uncle (Dennis McCready, age 63, Petaluma); me (Jeffrey Lynott, age 34, Portland, Oregon) and wife (Sydney Lynott, 30); daughter (Madison Keen Lynott, 7 days old)

How they got hooked

My grandma and grandpa first introduced baseball to my mom and her brother by taking them to SF Seals games. When my mom was 10 or 11, the Giants moved to town and she remembers listening to games on the radio with her dad. The whole family was hooked at this point.

All-time favorite Giants

My grandpa was a Jim Davenport fan, and my mom liked Orlando Cepeda and Juan Marichal. My uncle was a Willie Mays and McCovey fan. As for me, I’m still partial to Will Clark. He was the first player I emulated: I copied his batting stance (even though I’m not a lefty), wore number 22 whenever I could, etc. As for our baby girl, Madison, she already has a Bumgarner jersey.

Most indelible Giants moments

Mom: Watching all three Alou brothers playing at the same time; catching the Giants express on 19th Avenue to take her brother to a game in the early 60s; and, finally, re-living all the Giants moments with me several years later. In regards to the last point, she remembers when I was first able to drive at 16 (back in late 90’s), and I took her to a Giants game for Mother’s Day (she remembers being excited to see JT Snow). Furthermore, being able to share in the excitement of winning our first, second and third WS in SF has been memorable for her.

Uncle: Two events stand out: as a teenager, he and a friend were driving around town when his car broke down near St. Francis Woods. They knocked on a door to use a phone, only for it to be Willie Mays’ house. Mays wasn’t home, but his wife was and helped them out. The other indelible moment for my uncle was being at the WS game in ’89 when the earthquake hit.

Me: General moments would be all the games at Candlestick (RIP); also, when the Giants were playing the Mets in the 2000 NLDS, JT Snow came up in the 9th inning with us behind…he hit a home run along the line in RF…didn’t know if it was fair or foul, but when it went out and was called fair — tying the game — the crowd went nuts…I hugged more strangers in that moment than I had in a lifetime before. … When the ’89 quake hit, I was in grade school. My mom worked, so I went to daycare after school. While playing kickball, I vividly remember the ground shaking and uttering these words: “Will Clark must have hit a home run.”

All generations been to a game together?

Unfortunately, no. As far as I can remember, only two at one time. With our daughter entering the mix, our goal is to get three generations together sooner than later.

Most memorable title

The first WS win in 2010 takes the cake — first WS win in SF, after years upon years of heartbreak, ups, downs and nearly-theres.

What keeps the tradition going

My mom shares a similar feeling about this: It isn’t just about the baseball, it’s about the tradition of the game, the team, and its place in San Francisco culture and history. We are proud of our San Francisco roots, and go back to my mother’s grandma (she was a kid during the fire and earthquake of 1906). The Giants bring us together as a family and ties our roots together.

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THE HAMBLENS/HUDSONS

Four generations of Giants fans

1st Generation: The original fans were Ben and Ruby Hamblen of Easton, CA.; 2nd Generation: Sheila Hudson — 62, Sanger, CA & Her husband Jack Hudson, 62, Sanger

Bobby Hamblen — 60, Easton, CA — Happily married to a Dodgers fan, Janice Hamblen, for 27 years; 3rd Generation: Vanessa Hudson — 37, of Sanger, CA, Melinda Schwamb — 36, of Sanger, CA & Her husband Scott Schwamb, 37, Fresno, Kristy Cagle (me) — 34, Fresno, CA — Married to JR Cagle 35, Diamondbacks fan, Bryan Hamblen — 32, Fresno, CA & His wife Stephanie Hamblen, 27, Fresno; 4th Generation: Anthony Schwamb, – 15, Sanger, Kayleigh Hudson — 13, Sanger, Audrey Hamblen, (somehow a Dodger’s fan) — 12, Fresno, Ben Hamblen — 10, Fresno, Adam Hudson — 7, Sanger, David Schwamb- 7, Sanger, Rylee Schwamb — 3, Sanger, Ava Hudson-Furgerson, 1, Sanger, Reagan Hamblen, 1, Fresno

Roots of the fandom

My grandparents, Ben and Ruby, started following the Giants when they came to California from New York. Baseball is something of an obsession in my family. I really don’t know anything different.

Favorite Giants

Vanessa, Kristy, Bryan, Melinda all said Will Clark; Stephanie’s favorite is Matt Cain; Kayleigh, Adam — Buster Posey; Bobby Hamblen — Willie McCovey; Ben Hamblen — Willie Mays (he also had a strange affinity for Charlie Hayes)

Most indelible moment

Bryan: Being at the game when they won the NL West in 1997. Bonds dancing on the dugout. We were listening to the Dodgers game on the way to SF the night before hoping they would lose so we could watch the Giants clinch the next day.

Kristy: The Brian Johnson home run. I was a senior in high school and I got out of school at 1:00 then. I was watching the game with my dad. I remember Rod Beck getting out of a bases-loaded, no-one-out jam, and then the Johnson walk-off. We went nuts.

Multiple generations at a game?

7/29/90 — My dad’s (Bobby) birthday. The only game my grandparents actually attended with us. My grandpa’s brother, Bob, was also there with his kids. We had three generations of Giants fans there. Scott Garrelts lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth. We’ve also had three generations at multiple Fresno Grizzlies games

Why the tradition continues

We are a very close family, and the Giants are something we do together. I was in college in 2002 when they blew Game 6…I had gone to my dad’s house to watch the game and I cried. I’ll never forget my dad telling me the Giants will always break your heart. I also talked to my Grandpa Ben that night and he said he just wanted to see them win a World Series in his lifetime.

Which title was the most special?

That’s really why I responded to this. I didn’t have to ask my family which title was the most special. I already know it’s 2010. My Grandma Ruby passed away in January 2010. Grandpa was strong for us but his health began to fail in September 2010. By the time the playoffs came he was in the hospital (and threatening to discharge himself if the games were not on TV in the hospital). As the playoffs went on he got worse. Eventually slipped into unconsciousness and was placed on life support. Per his wishes, we agreed to end life support on November 1st. This was the same day as Game 5 of the World Series. The doctors came in and removed his ventilator, telling us he would pass within minutes. But he didn’t. He started breathing. He was sedated but still with us when the game started. My entire family crowded into his room in ICU and we watched the game with him, telling him what was happening. It was appropriate that Lincecum was pitching that night, because my brother and I used to laugh that Grandpa never learned how to pronounce his name correctly. I remember the last out like it was yesterday. I looked at my sister in law, both of us had tears in our eyes. When Cruz struck out we screamed, hugged, and cried. Grandpa got to see the Giants win a World Series in his lifetime. He passed away the next morning, around 5:00 AM. At his funeral one of my cousins put a Giants cap on top of the casket instead of flowers. We were always passionate fans, but on that night the Giants became something more. It’s hard to explain, but there is a connection there. It bonds all of us together.

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THE CAMPINGS

Three generations of Giants/A’s fans

My love of baseball came from my Grandpa George who was a Giants fan. He passed away in 2004, but he lived in Modesto. My stepdad is also a Giants fan and his name is David, he’s 42 and he lives in Modesto. My other grandpa (Giants fan) is Dan and he’s 57 and lives in Stockton. My mom is an A’s fan and her name is Kristy (41) and she also lives in Modesto. Then there’s me, Rebecca. I’m 19 and live in San Francisco! (my brother Seth (14) also claims to be a split capper, but we always give him a hard time about it)

Origins of their split allegiances

My mom was born in the Bay Area and lived here for awhile and just gravitated toward the A’s. Her dad was a big A’s fan… And they won the World Series a couple weeks after she was born in 1973. For Grandpa, he chose the Giants because they came here first. And from that, the orange and black loving just kept on growing. I ended up siding with my grandpa and stepdad and followed the Giants. When you see somebody that’s a passionate fan and you grow up idolizing that person you can’t but help want to be a fan just like them.

Are there fights?

Of course we all joke around and have a good time about it. There are never full out brawls at the Christmas dinner table or anything. And we’re always up for a game of baseball or some baseball talk with each other no matter the team preference. If one team is playing better than the other, we like to tease and taunt (out of love of course) about it. It’s all in good fun.

Favorite Giants and A’s

Rebecca: Buster Posey: he’s an all around great baseball player. He’s been the leader for all of the World Series runs and really holds the team up on and off the field. He’s also with my generation of baseball, and while I admire and respect the likes of Willie Mays and Juan Marichal, etc., it’s quite different to actually experience and see him play every day.

David: Johnny LeMaster. “I identified with his play style. Like LeMaster I was all glove and no stick as a kid. I guess McCovey would be up there for me as well. I actually saw him play a few times. He was a living legend that tied back to the Mays era of Giants baseball. He was also the only player that played in Grandpa’s and my generational fandoms. He was a guy we both loved.”

Kristy: Walt Weiss because he was humble and low key, played hard every minute, and was amazing on defense.

George: Orlando Cepeda. When the Giants came West he was a rookie. He actually won the rookie of the year in ’58. Mays was very New York, but Orlando was a new Giant in a new city.

Dan: “Willie Mays because he was brave enough to leave the negro league and go pro, he was athletic and exciting to watch, he was a hero to most of the kids I grew up with. He was who we all wanted to be. He was very humble; also he would play stickball in New York with the kids in the neighborhood he grew up in. He was just the total package: talented, brave, thankful and humble.”

Most indelible moments

Rebecca: Madison Kyle Bumgarner. Game 7. Kansas City. Lights. Out. And a dynasty was born.

David: 2010 – it was a fun, magical, and torturous year!!

Kristy: Sweeping the Giants in the 1989 World Series.

George: When McCovey lined out to Bobby Richardson to end the 1962 World Series

Dan: “As a kid when I got to sit in the box seats directly behind the dugout. As an adult, being at the game when Bonds tied the home run record in Oakland.”

All generations at a game together?

When I was about 7 or 8, my mom and I went to a Giants game at AT&T Park and while we were there we ran into my Grandpa George without knowing he would be there! I will always remember that day. I can even remember the cap my grandpa was wearing!

Most memorable title

David: That’s kinda like picking your favorite kid – but 2010 is most special to me because it was the first. Or 2014 because we were not the best in the league and yet we still managed to find a way to beat the teams that were way better than us, and that is called good leadership – thank you Bruce Bochy.

Rebecca: My personal answer for this is that the last Giants’ World Series win was a special one for me because it was my first baseball season while living in San Francisco and the experience I had during the World Series can simply be described as euphoria. From going to the Civic Center to watch the games to the parade to just seeing everyone around town in their orange and black… it was just awesome and a once in a lifetime feeling.

What keeps the tradition going

Baseball in general creates a passion and a romanticism that doesn’t exist in a lot of other sports. I think you want to pass this love of the game onto your kids. For David, it was always such an important part of his relationship with his dad from a small child to a grown adult they could always talk baseball no matter what else was going on in their lives. And specifically to the Giants it was a long road of many losing seasons of frustrating players and bad players and I think maybe like the Cub fans it kind of brought the Giants fans together like “Hey, we’re all rooting for this crappy team but we love them!”

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THE DUNLOPS

Four generations of Giants/A’s fans

First gen is Grandpa Al (81) from Dublin. He is a Giants fan at heart but will humor the A’s since they are local. His brother, Harry Dunlop, actually coached in MLB for a long time with many teams. Second gen is my dad, Tom (54), and he is also a Giants fan who grew up in Dublin. He brought my brothers and I (Nicholas) up to love baseball, and not necessarily the Giants. My brothers, sister, and I are from San Lorenzo and Livermore. Jimi (31), Heather (27), and I (33) are all Giants fans. I initially was an A’s fan until I was about 7. The more I learned about baseball the less I liked the American League DH. I was a pitcher my whole time in little league so I hated the idea of only playing half the time and not being able to bat. So I decided to root for the Giants starting in 1989. My other brother, Zac (29), really hangs on to the A’s as the hometown team. We also have uncles and cousins who are A’s fans to balance the family out. I have two kids (Dexter 6, Camden 8) of my own and they are Giants fans so far. They have grown up watching the Giants dominate so they have had a strong impression.

Are there fights?

We get into heated debates all the time. For years it was always thrown in my face that the Giants have no rings in SF, and that it had been 60+ years. But now the A’s fans have nothing to say other than try and put us in the Yankees/Red Sox category with payroll. The arguments have definitely swayed the Giants’ way for the last few years.

Favorite Giants and A’s

My Grandfather would say Mays or Clark, as would my dad. They especially loved the Hum Baby era. My favorite Giant would have to be Cain, he is such a workhorse and doesn’t seem to get all the credit he deserves. Heather is a huge Romo fan, buying socks and hats. She really likes his personality. My boys haven’t really identified a favorite yet other than Sandoval, but that was mostly because of his nickname. Zac’s favorite would be McGwire or Byrnes. They represent the best offense and defensive flair they have had as long as he has been watching.

Most indelible moments

For me it is one of two games. Game 1 2010 playoffs vs. Atlanta, I was front row bleachers for Timmy’s gem. And I don’t remember the date, but I was there a few rows behind home for Bumgarner’s debut. I remember I was amped to watch Timmy pitch but he got scratched. I knew Bumgarner’s name from all the prospect talk so I made it a point to upgrade my seats for the game. Zac was with me on that one. For Zac, has to be the final three-game series to sweep the Rangers for the AL West title a few years ago. He has never seen so much energy in the Coliseum. We both share a moment too. This was while I was still an A’s fan. We snuck down and were able to sit in the seats that come to a point right alongside the Oakland dugout. McGwire had been dealing with a back injury, and I remember he took a ball square in the back during a plate appearance. After the game he was walking off the field into the dugout and tossed us his batting gloves. We were both really young so it stuck with us like he was a rock star.

All generations at a game together?

We have never had all four, but have had three several times. We generally go to the Bay Bridge series in Oakland since it is cheaper. We have to sit in the bleachers to accommodate the level of trash talking between us. It always starts out going both ways and can get ugly once fortunes turn. We are ruthless.

Most memorable title

For all of us Giants fans it was the 2010 WS title for obvious reasons. It was the first time in any of our lives that they had won it all. For Zac it is the West title that they won on the last day against the Rangers.

What keeps the tradition going

We support our hometown teams and nothing will change that. We are close enough to piss each other off with trash talk, then completely change subjects like nothing ever happened. Baseball is in our blood

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THE PIROFSKIS

Three generations of Giants fans

Florence Pirofski, 88, lives in Palo Alto; Liise-anne Pirofski, 60, lives in New York; Sarah Langs, 21, lives in New York and has gone to college for the last four years in Chicago

The original fan of these three generations of female fans is Liise-anne. Her fandom was inherited from her father, Harvey Pirofsky, Florence’s husband. Harvey, who would be 94 if he were alive today, grew up in the Bronx yet he was a diehard Giants fan. Harvey had an exciting path to the West Coast, where he arrived after being in the Navy in WWII, going to City College in New York, medical school in Switzerland, training in New York, and heading West, with the Giants, to work as a psychiatrist in 1958. Liise-anne inherited Harvey’s love of all sports, but baseball and the Giants were always special. Liise-anne and Harvey were at the first game at Candlestick Park. Liise-anne has many great memories of starting to sing ‘Take me out to the ballgame’ on a Sunday morning to entice her father to take her to a game. He always complied, but if they could not go, they listened on the radio to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons and that is how Liise-anne really learned the game. Sports, especially baseball, was something Liise-anne shared with her father. Their bond is something that helped Liise-anne be herself and resist many of the pitfalls that befell others her age in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Favorite Giants

For Liise-anne, Willie Mays was the greatest man on earth. He was a great player and — though not much was known about the players those days — he seemed like a great, humble, and playful man. He always seemed on an even keel. He personified the Giants.

For Florence, Hunter Pence, for his energy, good humor, and the way he relates to others in a very friendly, open way. He has almost direct eye contact when he’s talking to someone and has a looseness. He seems very agile, and seems like he would be a good friend.

For Sarah, Bumgarner, but long before his postseason dominance in 2014. It begins with the stories that circulated prior to his 2010 call-up, that he’d been tossed from a minor league game the week beforehand and was called up later as a result. That tenacity and energy was exciting in a prospect. In 2010, Sarah and Liise-anne attended a Giants/Cardinals game in late August in St. Louis, and Bumgarner pitched masterfully. Later that evening, we ran into Bumgarner in the team hotel and Sarah got the chance to take a photo with him. From then on, Florence referred to him as “Sarah’s pitcher,” but he became America’s, too, this past postseason.

Most indelible moments

Liise-anne: Though many heartbreaking times remain indelible — such as Willie McCovey’s line drive and the 2002 World Series meltdown — the most indelible moment was watching Game 3 of the 2012 World Series in a hotel room in Chicago with Sarah. We did not move the entire game. Time stood still even though a hurricane was bearing down on NYC and Liise-anne had to leave early the next morning to try to beat the storm. As luck would have it, her flight was one of last to land at La Guardia before air travel was severely curtailed in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.

Florence: When we went to spring training in 2014, and managed to sit close enough to the field to be in earshot of Bochy, sitting behind the plate. He turned and talked with Sarah throughout the game, asked for our names as well as hers, and even got Buster Posey to throw her a baseball. It was a game against the Royals, with Yordano Ventura pitching, and Bochy was noticeably impressed with Ventura’s velocity.

Sarah: Watching the final game of the 2010 World Series at home with Liise-anne. We have this tendency to get very quiet when we are sports nervous and sports superstitious. When Brian Wilson completed the strikeout and he and Buster went in for the hug, we just sort of jumped up and down and hugged, too. I don’t remember us saying anything for a few minutes, it was so hard to fathom.

All generations at a game together?

Many times. We have attended spring training in Scottsdale as a three-generation family of women every year since 2010. This year will be our sixth year. We have also attended many games at AT&T Park, including ‘spring training’/exhibition games against the A’s and regular season games at least three times a season. These games require great coordination because Sarah comes from Chicago and Liise-anne comes from New York. The spring training game when Sarah ended up chatting with Bruce Bochy during the game. When we went to the exhibition game against the A’s the next week at AT&T Park, Mr. Bochy remembered her! He used her name, saying “How are you doing, Sarah?” and asked where I (Liise-anne) and my mother were, since we were back at the seats.

We’ve witnessed some fascinating games, including Yusmeiro Petit’s 84-pitch complete game on September 9 last year against Arizona. Liise-anne and Sarah were also at a game between the Diamondbacks and Giants two years ago that featured a double rainbow over the outfield.

Most memorable title

Group consensus: 2010 has to be the most special because it was the first. However, 2012 was special for the memory above and 2014 was special for the ups and downs and another two games watched in the same Chicago hotel, the brutal loss of Game 3 and the uplifting win of Game 4. Of course there was more to come.

Sarah: I remember sending Florence the link to Ashkon’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ Youtube video celebrating the Giants’ division title in 2010, filmed outside the park before Game 1 of the division series against Atlanta. I sent it to Florence, told her to turn on the sound, and when I spoke to her later that day, she said to me “There’s no way they can lose with a song like that.” With the superstition we have, my mother and I didn’t talk about it much. But those words ended up prescient.

What keeps the tradition going

The reason the tradition has continued is that the Giants are part of the glue of our family. Florence was not much of a fan before Sarah came along. Sadly, Harvey had passed away, though he did live to see AT&T Park the week before it opened. Sarah spent summers in Palo Alto with Florence and taught her the joys of baseball and being a fan. Florence grew to love the Giants, their broadcast team, and going to games as part of her relationship with Sarah. It is a very special bond they share — not unlike the bond Liise-anne had with her father. The timelessness and enduring beauty, mystery, and excitement of baseball are a field of dreams for the family that lets them celebrate their time together despite the three cities and many miles they are usually apart. It is a conversation piece and the Giants are the most lovable team, with the most lovable players and coaches and manager one could imagine.

There’s something so captivating about the Giants, so permanent. Having lived in two other cities, Sarah can attest to the fact that nothing else compares to the way the Giants fans see their team — long before 2010.

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THE MATHERONS

Three generations of Giants fans

(Great-grandfather) Frank Matheron – (b.1895 – d.1963), lived in Martinez; (Great Aunt) Ila Matheron Arendtson- (b.1920 – d.2008), lived in Concord; (Dad) Jim Matheron, 64 years old, lives in Vacaville; (me) Jaime Matheron, 33 years old, lives in Alameda

Roots of the fandom

My great-grandfather Frank got hooked when the Giants came to SF in 1958. He would listen to games on the radio, which got my dad, Jim, interested in baseball as a young boy. Frank lived just long enough to see the Giants make it to the World Series in 1962, but he died the next year. My dad, Jim, who was 11 years old in 1962, remembers a teacher letting the kids listen to the World Series on a transistor radio during class.

Favorite Giants

Willie Mays was the favorite all-time Giant for Frank, Ila, and Jim, who all enjoyed the Giants in the 1960’s. But, in her later years, Great-Aunt Ila was a big fan of Barry Bonds. She strongly believed in his innocence, and once told me, “He’s a good young man – he would never do anything wrong” 🙂

For me, Jaime, my favorite all-time Giant is Buster Posey. His arrival in the big leagues over Memorial Day weekend, 2010 is what intensified my interest in the Giants, and I’ve hardly missed watching or listening to a game since.

Most indelible moments

For Frank, it was the Giants moving to SF; For Jim and Jaime, it was the 2010 World Series victory.

All generations at a game?

Unfortunately no, but my dad and I have gone to many games together, and we’ve enjoyed all three championship parades together.

Most memorable title

2010 for the two of us generations who lived to see it!

I had always known that my dad had been a fan since he was a young boy, but had never gotten to see them win it all. His first words after Brian Wilson struck out Nelson Cruz, were “I can die now!” When the Giants won again in 2012, I said “Aren’t you glad you didn’t?!”

Why the tradition continues

My dad says that for the generations of our family who watched in the 1960’s, it was exciting to have baseball in the Bay Area, but especially because they had such exciting players to watch. They knew how special it was to have Mays, McCovey, Marichal, Cepeda, and Perry all on one team. My dad loves how the current regime does such a great job on honoring the history of the team. For me, as the youngest generation, even though I never got to see those guys play, the way that they are still involved with the team, and honored throughout AT&T Park, provides a connection with my family’s love of the Giants during their early years in SF. My dad also noted that the Giants broadcasters have always been so excellent, that it makes listening/watching the Giants at home almost as good as being there in person. Giants broadcasts are the soundtrack to our summertime family events. I love how baseball has brought my family together and made my dad and I so close.

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THE LEALS

Three generations of Giants fans

Guadalupe and Maria Leal. Ages 92 and 90. Both living in San Jose; Damian and Susan Leal. Ages 59 and 58. Both Living in Vista Ca. (San Diego Area); Robert, Jeremy, John and Nick Leal. 30, 26, 23 and 22. All living in Vista Ca.

Roots of the fandom

My mother was the original fan. She loved listening to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons on KSFO. I got my love of the Giants from her.

Favorite Giants

Maria’s is Willie Mays, Guadalupe’s is Juan Marichal, Damian’s is Willie Mays, Susan’s is Buster Posey, Robert’s is Barry Bonds, Jeremy’s is JT Snow, John’s is Buster Posey, Nick’s is The Panda (Pablo Sandoval) or Tim Lincecum

Most indelible moment

For all of us it’s the first WS win in 2010; Matt Cain’s perfect game (Damian); Bonds’ 715 homer … we were there.; Lincecum no-hitter and Cy Youngs; Bobby Bonds’ grand slam to beat the Dodgers

All generations at a game together?

No, but we have all been to spring training games together

Most memorable title

Most of us say the first, but this last one was special because of how they did it.

Why the tradition continues

Because it ties us together as a family. It has created a bond from grandma to grandkids. Our memories are built around the Giants. Good and bad. There is not a day goes by in our family that we don’t discuss the Giants. We plan our year around spring training in March and then plan our trips to see the Giants play. My mother started this tradition and I keep it alive.

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THE HELLERS

Three generations of Giants fans

Rabbi Meyer Heller, age 93, Ashland Oregon (formerly of Beverly Hills and Los

Angeles; San Francisco; and Brooklyn, NY) “Rabbi Mike”; Joel Heller, age 63, Ashland Oregon, son of Mike; Soleil, age 15, daughter of Joel; Judy Heller, age 59, Redwood City, CA, daughter of Mike; Brenner Gerry (27) and Benjamin Gerry (25), San Francisco, sons of Judy; Daniel Heller, age 53, San Anselmo, CA, son of Mike

How the tradition got started

Unfortunately this is a little lost to the mists of time. Perhaps it has to do with Mike attending Yeshiva University in Washington Heights, NY; and the Giants playing in the Polo Grounds on the West Side of Manhattan. At any rate, despite being a Brooklynite and a Los Angeleno for years and years, he was never a fan of Dem Bums.

When Rabbi Mike turned 65, his congregation in Beverly Hills asked him if he wanted to receive the traditional trip to Israel as retirement thank you gift. No, my father said, what I really want is to attend Giants’ Fantasy Camp in Arizona. It was one of his fondest memories and for years after, when he met someone, instead of giving them his business card he’d give them his baseball card (He didn’t retire for another 5-10 years.) One of his proudest moments from the camp was hitting a solid single off Mike McCormick in the game they played at the end. We still have a photo somewhere of Willie Mays in the locker room there!

Favorite Giants

Rabbi Mike: Probably Willie Mays, with whom he played basketball at

the downtown SF Concordia Club after the team moved West.; Joel: Willie Mays. Of course.; Soleil: Hunter Pence; Judy: Willie Mays and Buster Posey; Brenner: Willie Mays; Benjie: Madison Bumgarner; Daniel: Willie Mays — because my older siblings inculcated adoration of Say Hey Kid. And Kevin Mitchell, for being Kevin Mitchell.

Most indelible moments

Mike: Shot heard round the world; Joel: listening to a record (LP) of “The Shot Heard Round the World”, one of only five records our family owned at that time. Being at Hebrew School and listening to the Giants beat the Dodgers to win the ’62 pennant — didn’t a Dodger walk in the winning run? Soleil?; Judy — 2010 World Series Win; Brenner — 2012 World Series Win, because he was living across the street from AT&T Park; Daniel: Edgar Renteria hitting home run in 5th game of 2010 World Series

Most memorable title

Daniel: 2010. End of drought. All family enjoyed this and were texting each other constantly through series.

Why the tradition continues

Once it’s in your blood you can’t change it. Willie Mays; 1987-2002 run of success; Joel: going to Seals Stadium game, age 9 (1960) collecting broken bats of Felipe Alou; Also really special that our father was a fan in NYC and then after he moved here, the Giants did as well. Current run of success has definitely amped up Giants fever in our family. Judy and Benjie have been to two World Series parades (2012 and 2014) and Brenner went in 2012.

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THE STEPHENS/MOODYS

Three generations of Giants fans

Our mother was an avid Indians fan and loved baseball. She moved to SF in her early 20s. Although there are four in our family — Pat (63), me (Geoff, 61), and our younger twin brothers (59) — Pat and I are the real baseball fans, but all of our children love the game. Pat has two boys, Stephen and Tom who are in their early 30s and late 20s, both diehard A’s fans. I have two girls Kelly, 26, and Katy, 23, both diehard Giants fans. My brother Tim has twin girls age 20 and they are Giants fans. Our other brother David has one boy Sean, 13. He’s a lost cause and follows his mother’s team the Phillies. My wife Gina and I live in Truckee, Kelly lives in Hawaii and Katy lives in Reno.

I am not an anti-A’s fan, in fact I thought the team the won the three series in the early 70’s was one of the greatest teams ever. I’m a true Giants fan but not an A’s hater.

All-time favorite Giants

I myself was a Willie Mays guy. My daughter Kelly a Will Clark fan and Katy is Buster Posey. We all have other favorites but they are the main ones.

All generations been to a game together?

We’ve never has three generations at one game but my daughters have been to a Giants game every year up until last year since they were in their mother’s belly.

Most indelible Giants moments

I was at the earthquake game and had come over the Bay Bridge that morning. In fact it was my birthday. My favorite World Series was the 2010 but they all have been nice.

I saw many games at Candlestick. Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, Marichal, Perry, Bonds (Bobby). I saw Frank Robison charge the mound against either McCormick or O’Dell. I was there when May reached his 2,000th hit. I was there when Morgan homered and knocked the Dodgers out of the race. Cold nights, extra innings. McCovey HR’s into the parking lot and it rolls forever. Tailgates and the kids.

What keeps the tradition going

The memories are many and meaningful for me and my family, even when the Giants were awful in the middle to late 70’s we still went to the games.

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THE BOAKS

Family history

Although Jim Ferris died in 1998, our family’s passion for baseball and the San Francisco Giants started with him. His backyard was not filled with lovely landscaping but rather with the base paths his children and all the neighborhood children had worn into the grass. Every summer Sacramento night a baseball game was played in that yard. Jim grew up in San Francisco, so in the 1940’s and 1950’s, he and his children — Frank (now 73), Pat (70), Carolyn (69), Joan (67), John (65) and Bill (59) — were big Yankees fans because that was Joe DiMaggio’s team. However, as soon as San Francisco got its major league team, we were all strong Giants fans. Jim’s favorite player was “the greatest I ever saw” (Willie Mays, of course) and his signature moment was attending game 7 of the 1962 World Series, that signature yet shattering moment of a caught Willie McCovey liner. All of Jim’s children, their children and their grandchildren are staunch Giants fans, but this tome will concentrate on Carolyn, her daughter Jenny (now 43) and Jenny’s daughter Johanna (now 12). Carolyn was born in San Francisco, grew up in Sacramento and lived in the bay area, until 1998. Her second marriage was to Tom, a man living in Texas, but she continues living and working as a nurse in Mountain View part-time, with her schedule during baseball season allowing her California time to include as many home games as possible. Jenny grew up and lives in Los Altos and Johanna likewise lives there.

Whereas Jim and Carolyn loved the Giants immediately upon their arrival, Jenny remarks that “We would have the Giants games on regularly when I was young but I really fell in love with them in my late high school and college years when I did a lot of long distance running. I would coordinate my runs around the games and loved listening to Hank Greenwald. It was also the time when Kruk and Kuip started and I loved listening to them too. I learned a lot about baseball then because I was listening on the radio so really had to pay attention to what was going on and the announcers were very good at teaching. She and her soon to be husband Greg became totally enthralled in 1993 when they drove down to the climactic, yet heartbreaking series in Los Angeles.

Carolyn, Jenny, Greg and Jenny’s siblings, Andy and Dawn, were able to afford partial season tickets in 1996 and Jenny and Greg bought two season ticket licenses for the first row of the upper deck (right above home plate) at the new park. The whole family has shared these tickets since, sometimes trading with nearby fans to get 4 or 6 tickets for certain games. Johanna’s first games were as a baby in 2002 and she was actually at the game when the Giants beat the Cardinals to go to the World Series. At age 2, Johanna was featured on a Giants TV broadcast when Daddy Greg caught a ball, gave it to Jo and she promptly did what one does with a ball — she threw it. However, her Aunt Dawn caught the ball right before it went over the railing. Jo also went to sleep summer nights asking to “listen to the wrap” as her lullaby. Johanna now says she became most totally enthralled this last season when she got to attend games, meet some of the players, and especially when she got to attend both the NLDS clincher with her dad and the NLCS clinching game with her mom.

Favorite Giants

Jim’s favorite Giant was Willie Mays. Carolyn chooses Sergio Romo for his effervescent personality. She also lauded his nerve for throwing a fastball right down the middle to strike out baseball’s most feared hitter and clinch the 2012 World Series. Jenny states she doesn’t have favorites because “I love them all. But I would say Hunter Pence for the amazing example he is to people young and old. But others are Pagan for entertainment and Javy Lopez for being my ‘boyfriend’ as my husband likes to call him?” Johanna’s favorite Giant has varied, because, as she explained, “I like them all for different reasons — it’s like I’m the mom and they are my kids so I can’t pick just one . . .”

Most indelible moments

Carolyn’s most indelible moment was either Cody Ross jumping in the air at home plate in 2010 after Renteria’s historic home run or Barry Zito’s bunt in the critical win in the 2012 NLCS game 5 or Madbum’s embraces of Posey and Hudson after he calmly popped up the last Royal to win the 2014 World Series. Jenny states “so many so I will focus on the two oldest. One was the Brian Johnson game (1997). I actually got to attend that game for work as a guest of a bunch of Dodgers fans! My favorite part of that game though was not the homer. It was when Beck got himself out of the bases-loaded, no-outs situation that he had gotten himself into — I actually cried. That double play may be my most memorable moment. Another moment — years earlier I went to a game with a bunch of swim team co-workers (instructors) and my future husband. It was a night game in the middle of summer. We had upper deck seats in the Candlestick outfield. Coldest I have ever been at a sporting event. To this day we always bring a blanket to the games. Johanna said she vividly remembers when she was 8 and the SF Giants won their first World Series and everyone was banging pots and pans — “I ran around screaming the police are coming!”

Most memorable title

Johanna’s favorite World Series Championship was 2014, because she got to meet some of the players and she had learned all the players’ numbers and birthdates. Carolyn agrees with Jenny who said: “Well, 2010 of course because of 2002 and everything before that. But then 2012 with all the comebacks. But then 2014 because we kept saying we were playing with house money and we kept winning and the team was just so lovable and the kids were really into it more than in other years. They are all special. I was always so annoyed at the Red Sox fans for acting so happy when they’d won their second then third World Series. It was annoying, like give me a break — you have three in a short time. Now I get it.

Why the tradition continues

The Giants tradition has continued in such a way for our family partly because Jenny and her husband Greg splurged and bought charter seat licenses for the new park. We all share the tickets and frequently trade games with people seated near us so that we can have more than two tickets. Our seats above home plate in the first row of the upper deck are ideal for small children as they can see easily — in addition to Jenny’s three, Dawn’s Annie and Joseph love going to the games as does Joan’s grandson Henry. As a family we were very lucky to have Jenny, Andy and Carolyn together at both Sanchez’s no-hitter and at Cain’s perfect game. (Carolyn’s sister Joan joined us at the perfect game.)

However, during a particular series, Andy or Dawn and Carolyn might be at one game, while for the next game, Carolyn babysits for Jenny and Greg’s three children so their parents can attend.

Generations attend games together?

Occasionally we are together. Otherwise, whoever is not at the game is watching at home. Jenny and Greg make sure their family members get to share in the postseason tickets. Jenny and Greg saw the first WS win in 2010 while Carolyn and Jenny helped pull on the field flag in the next one. Andy and Carolyn got to go to Sandoval’s heroic game in 2012, with Andy actually predicting the second homer. Dawn and her husband Joe got to see the 11-4 win this year. In 2014, Johanna got to see the NLDS clincher with her Dad and the NLCS clinching game with her mom. Meanwhile, during the regular season and postseason, family members cook together and watch the games together. Due to the broadcasting of all the games, the individual Giants players become like family as we watch their quirks, their triumphs, and their Carolyn’s siblings share the Giants passion. Frank and Bill live in Sacramento and Reno and watch every game on TV. Pat does needlepoint and is calm on the surface as she watches on TV; living in the East Bay she is able to attend various games each year. Joan and her husband eat dinner in their Sacramento den each game night and their young grandson Henry ran around before age 2 chanting “Timmy, Timmy, Timmy,” and insists his dog will be named Pablo even though he is no longer a Giant. John has lived in Europe for more than 15 years and watches every game on MLB.tv. Jenny’s other children (James and Leigh) are fans and James got to attend opening day in 2011 with his grandmother. Dawn’s 5 year old Annie has a definite favorite — Hunter Pence — although she thinks his name should be “Underpants”!

Carolyn’s daughter Dawn picked the first World Series title as the best “to finally have won one! It erased the pain from 1993 and 2002.” Her best moment was getting called by Carolyn for a last minute ticket to the first opening day at the new park and her favorite Giant is Madison Bumgarner for his “hard working, no nonsense, no frills, don’t mess with me attitude.” She loved the story about fixing the team bus himself and having to buy a suit to wear for the Sportsman of the Year award. While favorite moments varied within the extended family, several picked the moment John described eloquently: “Madison Bumgarner coming from the bullpen, Game seven, World Series 2014. Not his pitching; just the entry of the John Wayne figure, and as he took the walk, it was game over and everyone in the stadium knew it.”