Dear Editor,
We enjoyed the picture of a father and daughter posing with the San Francisco Giants TWO World Series trophies which recently appeared in the Dispatch. However, not enough was said.
I’m sure we are not the only ones who did not realize that Gilroy has a Junior Giants program – the main stipulation in procuring the trophy tour stop in our city. What an exciting experience awaited the hundreds who stood in line for several hours in order to see the trophies and be photographed with them.
I heard several comment that it was “the thrill of a lifetime”. So imagine if your lifetime spanned 95 years! I was determined to get my mother to this event. She’s been a Giants fan since she was 12 years old (yes, they were still in New York) and her love of Willie Mays has now spread to every Timmy, Sergio, Buster, Pablo and Brandon on the team. She was like a kid, sitting in a borrowed wheelchair with her walking cane ready, just waiting to be let into MACSA gym on that Saturday afternoon.
And we have a beautiful photo to prove that we made it.
But that’s were the story needs to be enhanced. It was the members of our local Junior Giants organization that made the memories happen for all who attended. We were escorted to the front by Christiana, who despite being a lifelong A’s fan, is dedicated to her job with the Junior Giants. She headed a group of volunteers who set up the MACSA gym to accommodate the long lines, and who carefully planned the where and how to display the trophies.
There were other VIP tour personal and a multitude of photo and technology gurus, but the local people were the standouts.
We were introduced to Mario, the Coach of the Year for the Junior Giants and a local product of South Valley Jr. High, who told us of being honored by Willie McCovey. Our two minutes of “fame” in front of the camera, flanked by the trophies, was nothing compared to the two hours of meeting and connecting with the people who work year-round to provide the baseball experience to kids who might otherwise never get a chance to play.
We should be proud of the Junior Giants organization in our community. A huge thank you from my 95-year-old Mom and me for all the work that went into hosting the trophies. Above that, you deserve the grateful appreciation of a community for the time and caring that goes into inspiring our youth.
Suzann Muccigrosso-Rocha, Gilroy
Editor’s note: Thanks for the heartfelt letter. We, too, were thrilled that the trophy made a Gilroy stop, so much so that we published a lengthy story on the Junior Giants program here. Anyone who missed it, can read it on our site at www.gilroydispatch.com.
