San Francisco Giants’ Metallica Day A Winner Again

The San Francisco Giants’ Metallica day has become an annual event that usually leads to plenty of fun had by all. The band was formed in San Francisco, and the Giants have gone out of their way the last three years to pay homage to the group. This time around, the team unveiled an all black jersey that was meant to symbolize Metallica. As an added bonus to the fans, the team also won the game, beating the Los Angeles Angels 5-4.

As has been the custom for the San Francisco Giants’ Metallica day, the band played “The Star Spangled Banner” to open the game. While this is the third year in a row that the franchise has had Metallica day, it’s the first since it won the 2014 World Series. Just how deep are the ties between Metallica and the San Francisco Giants? The band event got its own Metallica themed float in the World Series victory parade.

While the members of Metallica are on hand in order to participate in the festivities, there are also some rather cool giveaways that make it worth the fans’ while. Perhaps the most special part of Saturday’s Metallica day was when James Hetfield served as the public-address announcer for the reading the team lineup, referring to the San Francisco Giants’ No. 2 hitter as Joe “No” Panik. Metallica’s biggest-selling album remains their 1991 self-titled release, typically referred to as the Black Album.

This is hardly the first time the Giants have had a famous singer come to San Francisco and spur them onto victory. Last year, Steve Perry made a surprise appearance, where he sang “Don’t Stop Believing” at a game. Of course, the victory is the thing when it comes to Major League Baseball and it’s a safe bet that a loss would have dampened everyone’s spirits for Metallica Day.

Luckily, Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford both homered, and Tim Hudson was able to pitch into the ninth inning in the 5-4 victory. The team is trying to do away with a pattern that has emerged where they seemingly have trouble winning ball games during even numbered years. During odd numbered years the team tends to be one to beat and usually win the World Series, at least in the 2000’s. While they are still officially struggling this year, the San Francisco Giants hope the win on Metallica Day can spur them onto success moving forward.

[Photo courtesy Harry How/Getty Images]