SAN FRANCISCO — At the beginning of Saturday’s Wall of Fame ceremony, it was revealed that the Giants have changed the qualifications for the honor. If you won three rings, you are now eligible, which opens the door for members of the Core Four who helped the Giants get through all those Octobers.
The three who stood in front of the ballpark on Saturday got there the old way, but they have plenty of rings, too. Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Brian Wilson went in together in an afternoon ceremony that was emotional at times for the players but also turned into a bit of a roast.
The three, along with several other speakers, spent an hour telling stories about pranks and memorable moments from their playing days. Vogelsong said Cain used to fill his locker with spare hangers, and earlier this year he received an unmarked Amazon package at his home and opened it to find a bunch of hangers, courtesy of Cain. Wilson remembered Cain running him over while shagging fly balls together for the first time. Buster Posey fondly remembered running out to greet Wilson after the Giants clinched the division in 2010, only to have the first Buster Hug delayed because Wilson turned his back to his catcher for his signature celebration. Bruce Bochy remembered calling Wilson into his office to yell at him about being late, only to seriously injure his thumb while trying to angrily slam a door.
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Of course, because this happens anytime a bunch of Giants are gathered together, Jeremy Affeldt was roasted, too.
“Look at Jeremy there,” former pitching coach Dave Righetti said. “He thinks they’re going to have a Scud Hall of Fame.”
During his speech, Righetti revealed that the Giants were going to make Cain or Tim Lincecum the closer because they were having so many issues late in games. Wilson emerged and changed that plan, and on Saturday he continued his comeback with the organization after several rocky years. Wilson threw out the first pitch at the home opener and spent much of his speech thanking the fans.
“This is giving me a baseball home, in a sense,” he said.
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Wilson, now clean-shaven, knows a thing or two about homes. He’s spending retirement developing them in Southern California, while also “eating a lot” and watching MTV’s “The Challenge.” Cain and Vogelsong both have spent much of their time playing golf. Vogelsong has done some work with Giants minor leaguers and Wilson said he hopes to be in camp down the line, but Cain wasn’t sure about his future in baseball.
“It’s hard to tell you one way or the other and say yes or no,” he said when asked if he’ll rejoin the organization in some respect. “Time will tell.”
Not much time has passed since Cain last took the mound for the Giants, but the organization was eager to honor three players who helped lead them to titles. Their plaques went up alongside a Barry Bonds plaque that went up last year, and could set off a flood of ceremonies. Affeldt and Javier Lopez should go on the Wall of Fame soon, and Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla are now locks once their playing careers are over, along with several members of the current club.
The Giants won those titles on pitching, and the man who oversaw it all said this was an important day for the organization.
“The one thing you always forget to do is shake their hands and say thank you,” Righetti said. “Today we’re here to give thanks.”