Opened in 2000, Oracle Park is known as one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country, thanks to its stunning views of the San Francisco Bay and its quirky features. The stadium, which was previously known as Pacific Bell Park, SBC Park and AT&T Park, has also witnessed quite a bit of history since coming into existence.
Here’s a look at eight of the best moments at the Giants’ waterfront home over the years, in chronological order:
Oct. 14, 2002: Kenny Lofton punches World Series ticket with walk-off single
The Giants won Game 5 of the 2002 NLCS in dramatic fashion, stunning the Cardinals with an improbable two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth. David Bell and Shawon Dunston reached on back-to-back singles to bring up Lofton, who snapped a 1-1 tie by lining a walk-off single to right field, sending San Francisco to the World Series for the first time since 1989.
July 10, 2007: The Midsummer Classic comes to San Francisco
When the Giants hosted their third All-Star Game since moving to San Francisco, they used the occasion to pay tribute to the greatest player in franchise history: Willie Mays. The Say Hey Kid, accompanied by his godson, Barry Bonds, was honored during a special pregame ceremony, and he kicked off the festivities by throwing out the first pitch to Mets shortstop José Reyes. The American League went on to defeat the National League, 5-4, with Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki winning MVP honors after delivering the first inside-the-park homer in All-Star Game history.
Aug. 7, 2007: Bonds hits No. 756
Bonds became Major League Baseball’s all-time home run king after crushing a fastball from the Nationals’ Mike Bacsik out to right-center field for his 756th career home run, breaking Hank Aaron’s 31-year-old record. Bonds immediately threw his arms in the air, inspiring a memorable call from longtime Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper.
“756! Bonds stands alone,” Kuiper declared.
July 10, 2009: Jonathan Sánchez’s no-hitter
Sánchez was an unlikely candidate to throw the first no-hitter by a Giant in 33 years. He entered the game 2-8 with a 5.30 ERA and was making his first start since a brief demotion to the bullpen. Nevertheless, the left-hander delivered a monumental performance against the Padres, striking out 11 and issuing no walks in the Giants’ 8-0 win at China Basin. San Diego’s lone baserunner was Chase Headley, who reached on an error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth inning.
Remarkably, Sánchez’s father, Sigfredo, happened to be in the stands for the milestone outing after flying in from Puerto Rico.
“I’m so proud that he was here with me,” the younger Sánchez said afterward.
June 13, 2012: Matt Cain’s perfect game
Cain occupies a singular place in Giants history, as he’s the only pitcher in the franchise history to throw a perfect game. He struck out 14 and threw 125 pitches while retiring all 27 Astros he faced on that magical night in San Francisco. Cain received an assist from right fielder Gregor Blanco, who made a spectacular diving catch on a drive by Jordan Schafer to keep the perfect game intact in the seventh inning.
Oct. 24, 2012: Pablo Sandoval’s three-homer game
Sandoval set the tone for the Giants’ four-game sweep of the Tigers in the 2012 World Series with his jaw-dropping three-homer performance in Game 1 at AT&T Park. Sandoval crushed three home runs in his first three at-bats, becoming only the fourth player to hit three homers in a World Series game. Fittingly, the Panda took home MVP honors after going 8-for-16 with three homers and four RBIs during the Fall Classic.
June 25, 2014: Tim Lincecum’s second no-hitter
Lincecum no-hit the Padres for the second straight year in 2014, needing a mere 113 pitches to complete the masterful performance. He struck out six, issued only one walk to Headley in the second inning and helped his cause by singling twice in the Giants’ 4-0 victory. The Freak joined Hall of Fame right-hander Christy Mathewson as the only pitchers to throw two no-hitters for the Giants.
“It wasn’t a ‘stuff’ day,” Lincecum said afterward. “It’s where I was able to put it.”
Oct. 16, 2014: Travis Ishikawa’s pennant-clinching walk-off
Ishikawa sent the Giants to their third World Series in five years after launching a three-run home run off Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2014 NL Championship Series. Ishikawa crushed a 2-0 fastball from Wacha out to right field to lift San Francisco to a dramatic 6-3 win, becoming the fourth player to clinch an LCS with a walk-off homer, after Magglio Ordonez of the Tigers and Aaron Boone and Chris Chambliss of the Yankees. He also became the second Giant to clinch a pennant with a walk-off homer, joining Bobby Thomson, who hit the famous “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” off the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca in 1951.
