Saturday has been a busy day for the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Not solely are they enjoying a doubleheader in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks, they honored legendary infielder Jeff Kent by retiring his quantity in between the 2 video games.
Kent, 58, will change into the fifteenth participant to be honored in such a method by the Giants, regardless that his quantity 21 might be simply the thirteenth quantity formally retired by the group. Each Christy Mathewson and John McGraw performed in an period earlier than gamers wore numbers, in consequence, they had been honored however didn’t take away a quantity from circulation merely.
Corridor of Fame Profession
Kent spent 17 seasons within the Main Leagues, six of which had been spent in San Francisco. Throughout his time as a Large, Kent earned a substantial quantity of {hardware}, together with the one MVP award of his profession. He was named the Nationwide League’s Most Invaluable Participant following the 2000 season, when he had a career-high .334 batting common, 1.021 OPS, and 33 dwelling runs.
Throughout Kent’s time within the Bay Space, he additionally gained three of his 4 profession Silver Slugger awards and was an All-Star choice 3 times. As a Large, Kent appeared in 900 video games, hit 175 dwelling runs, 689 RBIs, and completed with a .290 batting common.
All through his profession, Kent additionally hung out with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, and retired as a member of the Giants’ rival Los Angeles Dodgers. He presently holds the file for many homeruns by a second baseman in MLB historical past with 377 and has the third-most RBIs in his place with 1,518.
Becoming a member of an Unique Membership
Kent joins fairly a powerful listing of gamers to have been honored by the Giants. Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, Will Clark, Barry Bonds, Willie McCovey, and Orlando Cepeda are just some of the legends who’ve been honored on this style beforehand.
The ceremony began with phrases from legendary Giants broadcaster Jon Miller as he recalled a few of his favourite recollections of the Corridor of Famer which included the primary walk-off dwelling run within the historical past of Oracle Park, which was then known as Pacific Bell Park.
Giants legends akin to Dusty Baker, Juan Marichal, Barry Bonds, Will Clark and the present Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey, amongst others, joined Jeff Kent’s household on the sector as a part of the festivities.
Then, after a video package deal on the Jumbotron, Kent emerged from the dugout to AC/DC’s “Again in Black” to thunderous applause from the gang. Instantly, Kent made his approach to Bonds and embraced his former teammate, regardless of their tendency to conflict at instances throughout their enjoying days.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Kent threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which was caught by his father, Alan Kent and excited the sector in a truck, being chased by Giants mascot Lou Seal.
As Dusty Baker famous, now Kent will endlessly stay alongside gamers akin to Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry as members of Giants royalty and no different Large will ever take the sector with the quantity 21 on their again.
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