SF Giants: 3 most memorable Opening Days of the last 20 years

SF Giants Opening Day 2015: Madison Bumgarner rides a horse

Each of the Giants’ Championship celebrations could qualify as a memorable moment, but the raising of the 2014 World Series banner may have been the most unusual of the three.

Earning a starring role in the festivities of the Giants home opener in 2015 was pitcher Madison Bumgarner. His performance out of the bullpen against the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 World Series — a five-inning, two-hit save — led the San Francisco Giants to raise their third Championship banner in six years.

Having completed a dominant and unique outing to win the title, it was only appropriate the Giants raise the flag in the way of Bumgarner’s choosing. And his decision was very… Bumgarner-esque.

With his intro song of “Fire on the Mountain” by the Marshall Tucker Band playing throughout the stadium, Bumgarner took their reins of one of SFPD’s horses and rode the banner over to Triples Alley where he delivered the banner to awaiting teammates.

Giants fans have always known about Bumgarner’s affinity for country life being a North Carolina-born kid, the story of gifting his wife a cow, and now his professional riding career, but seeing it on the outfield warning track was something new for everyone watching.