SAN JOSE GIANTS
In Search of Back-to-Back California League Crowns

The San Jose Giants celebrate the 2009 California League Championship, their third victory in the last five seasons.
photo: Barry Colla

The 2009 season was a year to remember for the San Jose Giants as the club finished atop the California League after a record-setting regular season and a Championship Series sweep of the High Desert Mavericks. San Jose won both the first- and second-half titles in the North Division en route to a 93-47 regular season before edging Bakersfield in the opening-round playoff series and then sweeping the Mavericks to claim the title. The championship was San Jose's second in the last three years and fifth dating back to 1998.

Off the field, San Jose experienced a successful season for the fourth consecutive year, breaking the all-time attendance and revenue records. The Giants completed the regular season with a total attendance figure of 211,054, an average of 3,015 fans per game. The 2009 season marked the first time in franchise history the total-attendance mark eclipsed 200,000.

Now in its 23rd season as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, San Jose embarks on a new journey in 2010 as the team looks to claim back-to-back California League championships for the first time in franchise history.

The Giants welcome a new manager this year as former major-leaguer Brian Harper takes over the reins. Harper played 16 seasons in the big leagues for seven different teams, most notably as a catcher on the 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins. He spent the last two seasons as the roving minor-league catching instructor for the San Francisco Giants after a seven-year stint as a manager in the Angels farm system.

Top prospects that could be headed to San Jose this season include outfielders Francisco Peguero and Wendell Fairley and pitcher Eric Surkamp. Peguero, the MVP of last year's California League Championship Series, led the Low-A Augusta GreenJackets with a .340 batting average in 2009 before joining San Jose for the playoffs. Fairley, who is expected to start in left field this year, is a former first-round draft pick, while Surkamp is coming off a season in which he led the entire San Francisco minor-league system in strikeouts.

For more than 20 years, the San Jose Giants have been providing fun, affordable family entertainment in a traditional baseball environment at Municipal Stadium. Fans enjoy some of the best food in baseball at Turkey Mike's BBQ while being close to the on-field action. Kids and kids at heart have a ball at the Family Fun Zone's bounce house, speed-pitch, t-ball, inflatable slide and batting cage, while adults enjoy drinks on the Beverage Deck and Martinelli's VIP Deck.

The San Jose Giants will feature several promotions throughout the season, including KRTY Country Thursdays, KFOX Family Fridays, MIX 106.5 Saturdays in the Park, KBAY's Giant Sundays and Alliance Credit Union Kids Eat Free Sundays with a coupon from the Mercury News. Fans can also enjoy the return of popular theme nights such as A Giant Luau, Italian Night and Japanese Heritage Night. Additionally, the Giants have continued their partnership with Comcast to present Free Movie Nights, when classic family films can be watched on the video board from the outfield. And be sure to catch Giants baseball action on television this season as 24 games will be aired live throughout most Northern California regions on Comcast Hometown Network, digital Channel 104.

Join the San Jose Giants tradition at Municipal Stadium this summer. Tickets start at just $7 for children and seniors, and $10 for adults. Or bring your group out to the ballpark for "Baseball and BBQ," where they'll receive one ticket, drink and mouth-watering food from Turkey Mike's BBQ (groups of 15 to 2,000, prices $14 to $25 per person).

Be sure to keep up on all the latest San Jose Giants news and promotions. Visit www.sjgiants.com or call (408) 297-1435.