San Francisco, CA
Pride Day at the Ballpark – San Francisco Bay Times
By John Chen–
During Pride month, our local Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Oakland Athletics (A’s) and the San Francisco Giants, hosted their Pride Day at their respective ballparks in celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility and equality for all marginalized peoples. Since the A’s have a foot out of the Bay Area, I thought it would be sentimental to attend the more likely than not final Pride Day for the last remaining professional sports team based in Oakland. It is very unfortunate and disappointing that, despite all the rich history as an integral part of Oakland, winning pedigree, and tremendous fan support, the A’s organization felt they needed to move to Las Vegas just like the Raiders.
Like many Bay Area baseball fans, I am thankful we will still have the Giants for years to come. So, I did a true daily double (for you Jeopardy! fans) and also partook in the Pride Day across the bridge at Oracle Park. Despite a challenging start to the 2024 season, the Giants are in strong contention for a coveted playoff spot so every game counts. The team needs our unwavering support more than ever!

Over the years, I’ve attended many professional and college baseball, football, and basketball games. In my opinion, there is a certain rarified air beaming with excitement and anticipation the moment we entered the gates on Pride Day. The sky looks clearer and bluer. The smell and sight of hot dogs entice your tastebuds like no other. Everywhere you look, there are signs, billboards, and flags offering and symbolizing positive and supportive messages of love, pride, acceptance, inclusion and equality.
On Pride Day, milling about the stands, the walkways, and the aisles, there is gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, non-binary, trans, queer, and any and all self-identification proudly sporting a plethora of rainbow colors and expressive patterns. But beyond the differences, there’s us: a collective of human beings cheering together, clutching our pearls together, eating, drinking, and laughing together, cursing together, and most importantly, celebrating together.
Although Pride Day 2024 at the ballpark took place last month, you can always plan ahead for 2025 or partake in the many upcoming themed or special giveaway events celebrating our multi-cultural heritage, catering to our superhero (Marvel) and childhood (Mickey Mouse) obsessions, and honoring true heroes such as those serving in the military, those who protect us (police officers and firefighters), and those who nurture and care for us (teachers and nurses). And just maybe, in a few years, another MLB team will want to call Oakland or even San Jose home. Then, we will once again have two Pride Days at the ballpark.
Oakland A’s Glenn Burke Pride Day
At the entry gate, we received an authentic Oakland A’s Pride Jersey and a rainbow belt fanny pack. Although they were a tad tight and nearly cut off our life-supporting blood flow, the jerseys we received were proudly worn throughout the unfortunate losing effort from the home team. It was a relief to see a handful of fans also nearly popping a few jersey buttons as they breathed out. We are not alone!
The A’s honored and paid tribute to one of their own, Glenn Burke, a former player in the late 70s who was the first professional baseball player to come out, but only after he retired. Burke was famously credited with the invention of the high five with teammate Dusty Baker in 1977 when he was a Los Angeles Dodger. After being traded to the A’s, unfortunately, at the time, the team and its management did little to welcome and support a player who was known to be gay. In fact, the A’s leadership systematically discriminated against Burke until he retired at the young age of 27 due to emotional and psychological stress. One of the most memorable quotes from Burke was, “They can’t ever say now a gay man can’t play in the majors, because I am gay, and I made it.”

Burke continued to compete in different sports as an amateur after his retirement and was a proud member of the San Francisco Gay Softball League (SFGSL) for many years. In 2013, Burke was inducted as one of the first members into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.
After the tribute, the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus sang harmoniously both the Canadian (because the A’s opponent was the Toronto Blue Jays) and the American
Anthems. Then, it was time to play ball!
San Francisco Giants Pride Day
Upon entering the gate, we received a Giants long-sleeved Pride Hoodie, which was even tighter than the A’s Pride Jersey, if that’s even possible. The mostly rainbow-wearing and supporting crowd of 40,000+ buzzed with excitement in celebrating the city’s tireless trailblazing and championing efforts on LGBTQ+ issues, rights, and equality. We sat with members of SFGSL who were not just invested in the festivities but are also die-hard Giants fans.
Giants Pride Day began with a historical video montage on the Jumbotron of San Francisco and the LGBTQ+ community, followed by representatives of various queer community groups carrying and displaying a giant Giants LGBTQ+ flag on the field honoring the fight for acceptance, inclusion, love, and equality.
Then, in celebrating the 20th year anniversary of the monumental decision by then Mayor Gavin Newsom to issue gay marriage licenses in the City of San Francisco, eight LGBTQ+ couples either renewed their vows or actually got married for the first time next to home plate. The pre-game Pride celebration ended with Jason Brock, an X Factor finalist, belting out the national anthem putting extra emphasis on the word “proudly.” After a standing ovation, it was time to play ball!
We had a great time at both games. Standing tall and proud. Cheering extra loudly and booing with added gusto. And eating way more than we should, stretching the jersey and hoodie to their absolute limits. Although both of the home teams lost on Pride Day, my good friend Abel Reyna summed up the celebrations perfectly: “We lost the games, but won the day!”
John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball, and football teams.
Published on July 11, 2024
San Francisco, CA
Giants Reach Franchise Milestone Never Before Seen in San Francisco
The San Francisco Giants have been around for more than 125 years. It’s hard to find something they haven’t done before.
It’s not quite as hard to find something they haven’t done since the team moved from New York to San Francisco before the 1958 season. But, on Saturday, the Giants managed it.
San Francisco lost to the Miami Marlins, 6-3, in the sloppiest game the Giants have played this season. That sloppiness was defined by two things. San Francisco pitchers hit four batters. San Francisco fielders committed four errors.
Per Justice delos Santos of the San Jose Mercury-News (subscription required), the Giants had never done that since they moved from New York. It was just the third time in franchise history, dating back to 1883 that the franchise had ever done that.
What Happened in Miami?
Rafael Devers committed a fielding error, which was his fifth of the season. Pitcher Trevor McDonald committed his second error of the season on a missed catch. Catcher Eric Haase had it worse. He had two errors, one on catcher’s interference and another on a throw.
As for hitting batters, McDonald dominated there. He hit three of them — Kyle Stowers, Leo Jimenez and Esteury Ruiz. Matt Gage also hit Jimenez.
Much of that action came in the fourth inning, when the Giants gave up four runs in game in which they were tied with the Marlins. Ruiz was hit by a pitch, stole second and then went to third on Haase’s throwing error. He scored on a single by Jakob Marsee.
Otto Lopez singled and that ended the day for McDonald, who took the loss. Gage walked Stowers to load the bases. Gage then got Xavier Edwards to ground into a double play, which scored a run but got the Giants two outs. It didn’t help.
Heriberto Herandez homered off Gage, making it 6-2. Gage allowed a single to Owen Caissie and then hit Jimenez with a pitch before San Francisco went to JT Brubaker. He got the final out, inducing a flyout by Joe Mack.
Only four of the six runs the Giants gave up were earned.
Now 14 games under .500, the Giants (31-45) will return home after Sunday’s finale with the Marlins and get a day off. After that, San Francisco renews its rivalry with the Athletics from Tuesday-Thursday, followed by a three-game series with the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.
San Francisco is moving toward July and likely determining which players it wants to put on the trade market to either trim payroll or arrange its roster to try and turn things around in 2027.
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San Francisco, CA
San Francisco celebrates Black freedom at weekend Juneteenth parade: ‘We’re all people’
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Under bright blue skies, large crowds gathered Saturday to celebrate Juneteenth in San Francisco, dancing, cheering and waving flags in a day of joy marking the end of slavery in the United States.
The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Texas and announced that enslaved Black people were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Some view Juneteenth as America’s second Independence Day.
“I think for the greater community to see that Juneteenth is a national holiday and that we represent it, everyone can understand what it means to African American people, what it means the day we were freed from slavery,” said Tamara Walker, an event coordinator.
Now recognized as a federal holiday for the past five years, Juneteenth also represents a broader pursuit of justice.
“I had the pride and honor of voting for this Juneteenth holiday in Congress,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, speaker emerita.
MORE: What is Juneteenth and why is it celebrated? What to know for 2026
Festivities included a parade and performances, with participants celebrating community and culture.
Rev. Ishmael Burch of Glide Memorial Church said he has marked the occasion for decades.
“Juneteenth, I’ve been doing it for 35 years: the parade and the festivals. We need Juneteenth. It’s growing in Oakland, Richmond, San Jose — all around,” Burch said.
Organizers and participants emphasized that the holiday also highlights ongoing efforts for equity and opportunity.
“Juneteenth represents us being here, us growing small businesses, us kids having access to safe places to be in the future, being able to have the same access to good schools,” Walker said.
Eighteen-year-old Mekai Smith, the parade’s grand marshal, called the day meaningful.
“It’s truly a blessing to be here. I feel part of my culture is part of Juneteenth,” Smith said.
For attendees like Emeryville resident Trey Green, the celebration was also a chance to share history across generations.
“I just explained to him yesterday what the meaning of Juneteenth is about: for me and him and how it’s a part of our history and now he gets to experience it first-hand,” Green said of his young son.
As the festivities continued, many reflected on the holiday’s importance as both a historical milestone and a moment of unity.
“We’re all people. Doesn’t matter what color we are. We all experience different things. But at the end of the day, we’re all people,” Green said.
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San Francisco, CA
MLB Rumors: Latest Intel on Potential Matt Chapman Trade for San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball this season, prompting the front office to explore operating as sellers this summer. Amid a flurry of MLB trade rumors this week about a potential firesale, there is now more buzz regarding the future of Matt Chapman with the team.
MLB insider Robert Murray spoke to executives around the league who said that Chapman is “the most appealing” trade target of the group that also includes Rafael Devers and Willy Adames.
Matt Chapman Trade Landing Spots
- Matt Chapman contract (Spotrac): $25.166 million AAV (2026-2030)
It’s no surprise that Chapman is the most coveted player among the highly-paid trio. He is a Gold Glove Award winner at third base who can still provide well above-average fielding at the hot corner as a 33-year-old. On top of that, he is also outproduced Adames by a wide margin this season and offers far greater positional value than Devers.
However, there is a complicating factor. Chapman has played 10 seasons in the majors and has a full no-trade clause. He also made it clear to reporters this week that he prefers to remain in San Francisco, especially since he is a California native.
Rafael Devers Trade Landing Spots
- Matt Chapman stats (2026): .252/.337/.400, .737 OPS, 7 home runs, 41 RBI in 309 plate appearances
As a result, per Murray, San Francisco is not expected to move him this offseason. That makes it even more likely that the club’s highest-paid players remain with the team for the remainder of the season, with president of baseball operations Buster Posey expected to pursue alternative options.
More than likely, the Giants will instead be trading the likes of Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle, and Luis Arraez. All three veterans are on expiring contracts, so San Francisco will attempt to get whatever it can for them on the trade market next month.
Willy Adames Trade Landing Spots
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