With spring training in full effect, NorCal residents yearn to watch the San Francisco Giants take the field once again. True fanatics strategically pick their seats at AT&T Park to increase their chances of catching that memorable home run.
Wake Me Up In San Francisco
According to ArriveSF, the Giants got their start in 1883 and are one of the most successful MLB clubs to play in two different home cities. The Cali-based squad originated in New York and operated under the alias “New York Gothams” until 1885 when the team’s nickname – the Giants – stuck. Between the Big Apple and the Golden City, the Giants have achieved a total of eight World Series championships, along with 23 league pennants.
As the season opener draws near, AT&T Park awaits the return of fan favorites like Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and Brandon Crawford.
Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge and the elegant Victorian-styled houses, one will find AT&T Park nestled on the edge of downtown, overlooking the sparkling San Francisco Bay. Featuring breathtaking views, a classic urban design, and the latest amenities, AT&T Park comes ready with all the essentials needed to let loose at the ballgame.
While the Pittsburgh Pirates are located across the country, some Giants fans can still be found walking the plank as they attempt to catch the dingers launched into McCovey Cove (named after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey). Home runs are coined “splash hits” every time a Giant sinks one dozens of feet beyond the ballpark, right into the surface of the Bay. Baseball legend Barry Bonds holds the title for the most home runs landing in the Cove, making up 35 of the 107 splashdowns that have occurred since the Giants moved to the stadium in 2000. Just be careful not to go overboard!
To give you a head start on the upcoming season, the home run hotheads at Fanatics decided to map all historical home run landing locations. Read on to ensure you get the best seat in the house!
Hitting Bombs by the Bay
Let’s be real here – it’s every fan’s dream to catch a dinger at the convenience of their selected seat. Although the odds of catching a home run is never truly in your favor, our heat maps indicate that sitting alongside the fence line will increase your chances of snagging that scoreboard-adding hit.
You’ll have the most luck catching a homer by situating yourself in sections 102,105,128, or 140. If you’re feeling adventurous, or like a pirate, you can wait patiently onboard a boat in McCovey Cove in hopes of catching a ball.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLBa4kSAZDC/?taken-by=sfgiants&hl=en
AT&T Park witnessed a whopping 119 home runs over the past season, with Cincinnati Reds fielder Adam Duvall slamming the longest long ball a distance of 447 feet. It goes without saying that these stats are impressive, but the numbers pale in comparison to Bonds’ record-setting homer, which propelled approximately 499 feet.
Heading over to AT&T Park to support the Giants? Be sure to showcase your fandom by rockin’ the latest gear in the game. Fanatics has got you covered for all of your orange and black essentials, including fan gear and memorabilia.
Sources
- http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/
- http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/history/timeline.jsp
- http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/att-park/
- http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/san-francisco-giants-mccovey-cove-home-run-infographic-barry-bonds-040716
- http://baseballhotcorner.com/baseballs-longest-home-runs-by-park/
- http://www.hittrackeronline.com/detail.php?id=2016_3442&type=ballpark
