Major League Baseball All Star game & week in San Francisco (7/07)

The most beautiful city has the prettiest ballpark and all eyes were on them for the 2007 All-star week. There was a real N.Y. flavor that ran thru the entire event. The Giants organization embraces their N.Y. roots, from the pre-game Willie Mays emotional entrance from centerfield under a huge photo of his classic over the shoulder catch at the Polo Grounds in the 1954 World Series, to the millions of dollars that was raised from Home run Derby tickets sales and was donated in Willie Mays name to the Hunters Point Boys and Girls Club. Photos of Mays from 1954 playing stickball in Harlem with local kids after a Giants day-game were used to illustrate Willie’s life long devotion to kids. The all-star program featured articles on Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, a history of the Giants in N.Y. Thompson’s shot heard round the world, along with a piece on local S.F. legend Joe DiMaggio who started his Career with the S.F. Seals, then was bought by the Yankees.

I stayed at the wonderful and very reasonable Handlery Hotel, one block from the Cable Car, could hear that wonderful clanging bell from my room, which is still the best $3 thrill ride you’ll ever experience. Next door to the hotel was Lefty O’Doul’s restaurant, filled with Yankee photos. See Lefty was a baseball star in the 30’s, many photos of him and the Babe, Gehrig too, then Lefty became DiMaggio’s Manager with the S.F. Seals. Two blocks away was Fanfest, held in a huge hall, with thirty or so exhibits. Hall of Fame had on hand a Ruth and Gehrig Yankees uniform. An auction saw writer George Will pay $2,000 for a 1955 Yankees/Dodgers WS program, a Gehrig signed ball went for $44,000. Best of all the bat Babe Ruth used to hit a home run in game 6 (clinching game) of the 1923 WS, first WS win in Bombers history, and first year of Yankee Stadium. After the game Ruth signed and dated the bat “to my friend Art Nehf from Babe Ruth” Nehf was the Giants pitcher Ruth hit the homer off . Bat went for over $200,000…that and dozens of other items were all on display.

 At the press conference I had a chance to chat with David Wright and Derek Jeter where the subject came up of next years All-Star game, the last ever at Yankee Stadium. Jeter smiled, “I would give up all the future All-Star games for the rest of my career just to play in that one next year, it’s going to be very special.” Wright, “ I love when the Mets play there, there is so much tradition in that ballpark, you feel it. All-star games are always special but that one, wow” A –Rod talked about how cool it was that the Yankees and Mets owned the left side of the starting All-Star infield, “to start next to your teammate in this game is special.” It was interesting that with 3 Japanese players, many Latin players, English was spoken during the press conference at most by half the players. Baseball is truly our international sport.

 Surprisingly this was not an outrageously expensive event to attend. Fan fest tickets were $22. The Sunday Futures Game (minor league stars, followed by Legends & Celebrity softball, with the likes of Jerry rice, Wade Boggs, James Denton (Desperate Housewives) tickets were easily had for cost, $20-60 depending on where you wanted to sit. Monday’s Home Run Derby, even without fan favorites like Bonds and Griffey, was a hoot to watch, I saw decent tickets at cost $60-150 were again easily found in the days and hours before game time right across the street from the ballpark at a great watering hole known as MO MO’s.

Tue. All-Star game tickets in lower left field, nice seats with face value of $200 were going for $350 the night before gameday. Next year at Yankee St. that $200 left field ticket will start at $1,000. Start saving up now. MLB put on two gala parties, out by the pier, Monday night after HR Derby, Macy Gray performed, Tue. afternoon before All-Star game, saw Counting Crows, each party had four tents showing off S.F amazing cuisine. A great city, a great ballpark, equaled a great time at 2007 All-Star week.