The Champion Giants Connect with Their New York Roots

Baseball's reigning champions made a joyous and sentimental journey on Saturday. The San Francisco Giants brought stars new and vintage, along with their 2014 World Series trophy back to New York for a special breakfast in association with the Polo Grounds Preservation Society.
That's second baseman Joe Panik -- the suburban New York native, whose flip play started that vital double-play in game seven -- sharing a dais with the greatest Giant to play in both New York and San Francisco, the beloved Willie Mays.
Reconnecting with fans who cheered him at the Polo Grounds (and cried when the team moved west), Willie was animated and enthusiastic while taking questions from the audience at the New York Palace Hotel. 57 years after the Giants moved west, not only are there still loyal fans here devoted to team, but it's impressive seeing how the team embraces its ancestral roots. This marks the third time in five years that the Giants have brought the World Series trophy to New York.
Later, Joe and Willie were joined by team president Larry Baer. Below, thanks to Jamie Rupert, the granddaughter of former owner Horace Stoneham, I had the chance to hold and photograph a World Champions ring from the 1954 club that swept the Indians to win the Giants final New York title. Its modesty symbolizes a time when baseball wasn't a billion dollar industry and players were our neighbors and in Willie's case, even played ball with the kids living on his block -- one of many reasons why Willie remains a hero here.

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