Giants to celebrate City Hall's 100th birthday
Club will partner with City of San Francisco on June 19 for special event
SAN FRANCISCO -- Picture them as a pair of icons who cross paths only occasionally but figuratively exchange a warm and familiar handshake when they join forces, aware of each other's greatness.
One is San Francisco City Hall, looming in mute grandeur apart from downtown's skyscrapers, occupying its own unique space.
The other is the San Francisco Giants, the ballclub that ranks as one of the crown-jewel Major League franchises and commands widespread loyalty.
The former is the heart of this city's Civic Center; the latter is a civic institution.
They'll join forces again on June 19, when a public celebration will be held at Civic Center Plaza to observe City Hall's 100th birthday. The Giants and Giants Enterprises are major sponsors of the event, and they are helping to promote and operate the Centennial festivities.
"Giants Enterprises is honored to partner with the City of San Francisco and the Centennial planning committee to host this truly historic event," said Stephen Revetria, senior vice president of Giants Enterprises. "We're using our firsthand knowledge and experience from planning three World Series celebrations over the past five years here at City Hall to design an exciting, family-friendly and memorable event for all of San Francisco to enjoy."
Tweets saluting City Hall and promoting the event have been sent by the Giants, catcher Buster Posey and left-hander Jeremy Affeldt.
Food trucks, live music and a laser light show will enhance the public celebration, which will be held from 6-10 p.m. PT. For more information, visit sfcityhall100.com.
"City Hall holds a special place in the heart of all San Franciscans given its storied history and importance to our City," said Larry Baer, Giants president and CEO. "The City Hall Centennial will provide our community with the perfect occasion to celebrate this magnificent milestone and we are excited to have the opportunity to play a role in the planning process."
Distinguished by its ornate dome and Beaux Arts architecture, City Hall has been linked to baseball through the years. Hall of Fame center fielder Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe waited briefly outside the city clerk's office when they got married in 1954. After the Giants moved to San Francisco preceding the '58 season, Mayor George Christopher, who pushed hard to bring Major League baseball west, welcomed the team for various rallies on the City Hall steps.
Video: Giants, fans gather at City Hall to celebrate title
City Hall has literally reflected the Giants' recent success. During their postseason surges to World Series titles in 2010, '12 and '14, the building was bathed in orange light to match the team's dominant color. After the Giants sealed those Series triumphs, each parade that followed wound through downtown and ended at City Hall, where players and club officials delivered victory speeches, thanked fans and displayed championship trophies before hundreds of thousands of zealots congregated outside the ornate structure.