SAN FRANCISCO -- It's a big weekend for the Giants' younger fans.
The Giants are observing Play Ball Weekend, a Major League-wide effort to encourage youth involvement in baseball and softball. Activities began Friday at Monroe Elementary School, where former Giants left-handers Jeremy Affeldt and Noah Lowry, along with Giants mascot Lou Seal, participated in a pickup game with students and distributed plastic balls and bats. In all, 10,000 plastic balls and bats are being given to kids at the AT&T Park gates and 13 local elementary schools.
• Complete Youth Baseball coverage
Additionally, the Giants conducted their annual Junior Giants glove drive Saturday, in which fans donated a new or relatively fresh fielder's glove. More than 15,000 children who play Junior Giants baseball do not own their own glove. Fans participating in the Glove Drive received a Brandon Crawford pin for donating a new or lightly used glove, or by making a $10 contribution.