Cardinals spoil Giants ring party

Then the Cardinals went out and let their bats speak for them: That they, not the Giants, should have been the team to play in the Fall Classic.

Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, and Carlos Beltran each had two RBIs in a nine-run fourth inning as the Cardinals destroyed the Giants 14-3 to ruin the party on Sunday afternoon.

The Giants franchise is enjoying its greatest success ever. For the longest time, 1954 was the team’s last World Series victory, despite nearly winning it all in 1962 and 2002. After the surprising season in 2010 with the team’s first West Coast title, the Giants had an even better encore in 2012.

As a result, the organization spared no expense celebrating this title. Before the game, an elaborate ceremony was held to award the team with their World Series rings. The event began with a motorized Cable Car making its way into the ballpark along the left field line while an orchestra played music during the proceedings.

Upon arrival, a group of gripmen delivered the rings to the platform on the infield. Then, Giants President and CEO Larry Baer presented each member of the team with a ring.

Seated nearby were Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Willie Mays, and Willie McCovey and they each were given rings as well. The only Hall of Famer absent was 94-year old Monte Irvin.

During the game, Tom O’Rourke, the Vice President of Tiffany and Co. brought Bruce Bochy’s ring to the press box so the media could get a first hand look at this eye-catching gem.

The face of the white gold championship ring features the San Francisco “SF” logo in 52 round melee diamonds. A bezel reading “World Champions” is highlighted on both the top and bottom of the ring. Seven round diamonds, on both sides, represent the seven world championships (Five in New York, two in San Francisco).

While one of the rings’ shanks features the player’s name and uniform number and an iconic San Francisco cable car design, the second shank celebrates the franchise’s 2012 postseason victories that led to the championship, a 4-0 sweep of the Detroit Tigers ending on October 28, 2012.

After the tough loss, the players reflected on the ceremonies and what it meant to them.

Giants pitcher Sergio Romo

“All in all, it’s still a World Series ring…just to be a part of that incredible ride. For me personally it means I’ve done something. I was able to in my eyes, weasel my way into a position to where I could be a part of something special.”

Although it was the single worst outing by Matt Cain in his career giving up nine earned runs in 3-2/3 innings, he talked at length on the significance of receiving his second World Series ring.

Giants pitcher Matt Cain

“It’s something that you’re going to cherish for a long time down the road, of thinking about the guys that we played with. You’ll remember everybody that was in that clubhouse when everything went down. We just had so much fun together. It was just a fun postseason. An exciting one with a lot of roller coasters of emotions up and down. That’s always going to stick out in your mind anytime you look at it.”

Notes

The nine earned runs runs allowed by Cain in the fourth inning matched the Giants franchise record set back in on September 27, 1902 when New York Giants pitcher John Cronin gave up nine earned runs to the Brooklyn Superbas, (better known today as the Los Angeles Dodgers), in game two of a doubleheader. … Infielder Nick Noonan recorded his first Major League hit in the bottom of the 9th. … Monday night, the Giants host the Colorado Rockies for a three-game series. Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 0.00) opposes Colorado’s Jorge De La Rosa (0-0, 8.31). First pitch is at 7:15 PM.