I still remember McCovey's stunning first game and, a soon after that, surreptitiously listening in bed to my radio as Juan Marichal made his Giants debut, yielding a single hit, thus pitching a "Juan hitter."

When they played poorly my Dad called them the Midgets. I heard nearly every game, sometimes with my bedside radio tuned low, from our backyard speaker, the car radio on family trips or on my transistor radio while riding my bicycle delivering newspapers. Play-by-play announcers Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons cheered Giants' homers with, "Bye, Bye Baby!" and "You can tell it Goodbye!" and made even woeful games fun with their banter.

The Giants came close, but never won it all. I was in high school watching television in the locker room when McCovey lasered a line drive that found the mitt of Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson to end the 1962 World Series with the tying and winning runs on base in Game 7. There was the humiliating 1989 Series when the A's swept the Giants in the Earthquake Series. And there was manager Dusty Baker's controversial pitching change that led to the Giants falling in seven games to the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

When the Giants entered the 2010 post-season, expectations were low. But they survived a torturous season, then thumped the Atlanta Braves, surprised the Philadelphia Phillies and, with their crew of misfits, advanced to the World Series against the favored Texas Rangers. When they won in the decisive fifth game I experienced a thrill I never really expected in my lifetime - a World Series championship. When Brian Wilson struck out the final batter, I celebrated quietly, dazed, stunned and slightly damp-eyed.

The game against the Atlanta Braves was unremarkable, even with two-time Cy Young Award pitcher Tim Lincecum throwing for the Giants. His control was erratic, the Giants were sloppy in the field and they wasted scoring opportunities at the plate. The final: 5-2 bad guys.

Damn.

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Unlike Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park, the Giants' longtime home until moving in 2000, AT&T Park is an attraction. Located along San Francisco's waterfront, it pays homage to Giants past, with statues outside the park of Mays, Marichal, Cepeda and, at McCovey Cove, Willie Mac. Less known is the Seal Statue, behind the park at the Marina Gate.

Bill and I lingered after the game, savoring the atmosphere and checking out the sights. Bronze plaques decorate the Giants Wall of Fame on King Street. So far, 46 Giants have been honored, including Mays, Marichal, McCovey and Cepeda along with Felipe Alou, Bobby Bonds, Rod Beck, Will Clark, Gaylord Perry, Tom Haller, Mike McCormick, Robby Thompson and Matt Williams.

Outside the park, beyond the right field wall, are another collection of plaques. One commemorates opening day at what was then Pacific Bell Park. Others celebrate the 2000 and 2002 National League West Division Championships, the 2003 100-win season, Rob Nenn's 300th save, Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter, the 2007 All-Star Game and other highlights. Several honor Barry Bonds: his 500th, 600th, 660th (which tied Mays), 700th, record-setting 715th and career ending 756th home runs. The most creative is Bond's 500th homer plaque, with the slugger's hand-prints and autograph pressed into the surrounding concrete. But the best celebrates the 2010 World Series championship.