SF Giants 2014 World Series reunion allows a chance for reflection

The SF Giants celebrated the 2014 World Series championship team today. It was great to see so many familiar faces that were such a huge part of that title. It also allows a chance for reflection on life and the current state of the Giants.

SF Giants World Series reunion allows chance for reflection

The Giants won their most recent World Series 10 years ago. It feels weird writing that because it simultaneously feels like much longer than that and like it just happened yesterday.

The memories are still just as visceral. The moment that Travis Ishikawa hit the 3-run homer over the arcade to send the Giants to the World Series will forever be etched into my brain. Hugging/tackling my mom on the couch when Pablo Sandoval secured the last out in Game 7 after Madison Bumgarner gave a performance for the ages.

I was 14 when the Giants won the 2014 World Series. I had been spoiled with the privilege of seeing my favorite team win 3 World Series championships before I turned 15. On some level I knew how lucky I was. I had my parents to remind me of the horrors of 2002 and 1989, and even my grandpa to tell me about 1962.

But it is amazing to remember that this was back in a time when I really expected the Giants to win. It just seemed like they were able to flip a switch and play great baseball in the postseason back then. Bruce Bochy just has a way of getting the most out of his team when it matters most.

10 years later, I do not expect the Giants to lose, but I know fully understand how rare that level of success is in professional sports, let alone baseball. Those 5 years almost seem like a dream that still doesn't quite feel real all these years later.

Perhaps this 2024 Giants team, even though no members of the 2014 team are on it, can take some measure of inspiration from the 2014 team. That team barely sqeaked into the postseason by grabbing a Wild Card spot and got hot at the right time to take home another title.

It is not impossible for the Giants to do the same thing this year, but they are going to have to play some inspired baseball coming down the stretch. Maybe Saturday's reunion will provide the inspiration that they need.