FanFest

The All-Star game went off without a hitch last Tuesday. The American League won for the tenth year in a row, but the Nationals made it exciting by loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth before falling, 5-4. Ichiro hit the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star history and won the MVP.

Security was tight near AT&T Park and traffic was accordingly terrible, but it wasn’t any worse than the monthly Critical Mass clogfest, when temperatures inside and outside motorized vehicles become heated.

Speaking of fests, the youngster and I went to baseball’s FanFest at Moscone Center last weekend. We lingered over relics on loan from Cooperstown: the black-and-white photos of unfamiliar city-name pairings (Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Dodgers), the antique uniforms and diminutive gloves.

Willie Mays' New York Giants uniform.

We watched would-be Nolan Ryans nearly blow out their arms trying to move the speed gun a few extra MPH and aspiring Alex (and Alexandra) Rodriquez’ take their licks in the batting cages.

Baseball is a game that is as much about the past as the future. The youngster asked a collectibles merchant whether he had baseballs signed by former Giants. Who, specifically? the teen was asked. "Bobby Thomson", whose climactic homerun beat the Dodgers and won the pennant for the Giants in 1951. The ball cost $45, so we passed. But I was proud of him; the kid knew his history.

The Hall of the Fame has 280 members, averaging four inductees per year.

© 2007 Stephen Yuen