Posted 11:59pm, Thursday, September 18, 2003

There are a lot of great baseball memories in my life.

1979: My first baseball game. I see the Giants take on the Braves at Candlestick Park, courtesy of the San Francisco Parks Department.

1982: I'm watching a TV broadcast. Joe Morgan hits the two-run homer on the last weekend of the season to help the Giants knock the Dodgers out of contention for the pennant.

1980-something: Listening to a Giants radio broadcast. Giants down by two. Bruce Suiter pitching for the Cardinals. Jack Clark at the plate. My grandfather, a Red Sox fan, telling me it's all over. Clark hits a homer to win the game.... "in your face, Grandpa!"

2000: I hit a weekday day game with my buddy Adam. Giants, one game out, playing the first-place Dodgers. It goes extra innings. San Francisco's Rod Beck, a hit or miss relief man loads the bases in the top of the 11th with no outs. Miraculously, he pitches his way out of the jam. Bottom of the 11th, journeyman catcher Brian Johnson hits a game-ending homer to put the Giants in first. The turning point of the season. They win the division.

2003, last night: I watch Giants take on the lowly Padres in San Francisco. I bought the tickets three weeks ago.

In L.A. the second-place Dodgers take on the third-place Diamondbacks. The magic number is 2. The Giants come from behind to beat the Pads.

Meanwhile, in L.A., Arizona is three outs away from beating the Dodgers. The Giants await the final score. The L.A./Arizona game plays on the Diamondvision. A one-two-three inning. Diamondbacks 2, Dodgers, zip.

Pac Bell Park erupts. Fireworks. I go hoarse from screaming. I high-five everyone within my radius. The Giants win the NL West.

Onto the division series.

-Ron