SAN FRANCISCO – Hundreds of followers fashioned sprawling strains round Oracle Park hours earlier than the Giants confronted the floundering Braves on Sunday afternoon.
Many have been hoping for a sweep after the Giants gained the primary two video games of the collection in walk-offs, however virtually all have been braving the large crowds in hopes of being one of many first 15,000 followers to obtain a particular Whats up Kitty jersey.
Whats up Kitty is a Japanese cat mascot that has turn out to be widespread each in different Asian international locations and all over the world, and its merchandise was actually coveted earlier than the Giants sport that was anticipated to promote out the stadium with a capability of 42,300.
A couple of hours earlier than first pitch — which was thrown out by the life-sized Whats up Kitty mascot — the most affordable ticket on the ticketing app SeatGeek would price a buyer over $100.
Tickets for the subsequent dwelling sport, a June 17 showdown with Cleveland, have been listed for simply $19.
Whats up Kitty throws out the ceremonial first pitch earlier than their MLB sport at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Amongst these packed collectively like passengers on a rush-hour prepare on the eastbound yellow BART line was Hung Pham and two of his kids. Pham, a Sacramento resident, left the state capital at 7 a.m. with a view to arrive in time.
“It kind of got hectic by the end of it, but once they started ushering people in, it was clear,” Pham stated of the road to get in.
It was all value it after the household made it by means of the mass of humanity and was in a position to nab the pink-and-white giveaway jersey.
“I really like it,” Pham’s younger daughter, Emily, stated whereas sporting the promotional merchandise.
The Whats up Kitty model didn’t simply enchantment to younger kids.
Adriana Gomez and her boyfriend Andy Vasquez made the trek from San Mateo to get pleasure from Whats up Kitty Day.
“We lined up about two hours before the gates opened, but we’d say it was worth it,” stated Vasquez, who was sporting a custom-made bracelet that spelled out ‘Giants’, “and it did get a little bit crazy, but spending time together is nice.”
Hearth at Oracle Park
Stadium work crews take away a kitchen equipment that caught fireplace earlier than the MLB sport at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. A grease fireplace close to part 118 pressured gamers to evacuate onto the sector till it was cleared by officers. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Giants gamers needed to briefly evacuate the stadium simply earlier than 11 a.m. after a meals cart caught fireplace within the concourse behind dwelling plate.
The gamers briefly stayed on the sector in the course of the evacuation, however the fireplace was put out after a couple of minutes and the sport was unaffected.
We thank the incredible employees and followers for his or her cooperation in the course of the evacuation on the path of park employees and fireplace personnel,” town’s fireplace division wrote on social media. “We have been in a position to shortly assess the state of affairs and ensure that the hearth had been extinguished.
Initially Printed: June 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM PDT
