After all the torture of 2010, the high-stakes drama of the postseason and San Francisco’s first World Series championship, only one thing was left: the ring.
Shrouded in secrecy until the ceremony before Saturday night’s Giants-St. Louis Cardinals game at AT&T Park, the diamond-encrusted white-gold ring is marked by a large “SF” logo in the middle, with the Golden Gate Bridge depicted on one shank and the recipient’s name and the World Series trophy on the other side.
For more photos from the Giants' World Series ring ceremony, click on the photo to the right.
Atop the trophy is one orange jewel representing the San Francisco championship and the base of the trophy are five diamonds that represent the previous five championships the franchise won in New York.
Everyone on the field, even the cameramen, was wearing tuxedos with orange bowties. Players were also decked out in gold-lettered hats and uniforms, perhaps a continued reminder to visiting St. Louis that until November, or maybe longer, they are champs.
A motorcade of police on motorcycles and horses, followed by vintage cars, made its way across around the outfield warning track toward a standing orchestra of San Francisco Symphony members.
Designed by Tiffany and Co., the rings were held at the jeweler’s downtown San Francisco location until Saturday morning, when they were transported to a vault at AT&T Park, according to Giants event planners. Once on the field, the rings were laid out in little black boxes on a silver trays as each player was announced.
“Forever, for the rest of their lives, if someone asks them about that ring, they will tell them the story of 2010,” emcee Mike Krukow said.
That’s a story manager Bruce Bochy doesn’t want to forget. He, for one, is going to regularly wear that ring on his hefty size-14 finger, he said.
“I’ve been to the Series a couple of times and didn’t quite get it,” Bochy said before the game. “That’s why this one means so much.”
Although he had not seen it in its full glory before the Saturday night ceremony, Bochy said the team took input from the players and managers.
“It’s not going to be too blingy,” Bochy said. “It’s a ring you would be comfortable wearing.” Center fielder Andres Torres said during batting practice he will wear it, too, but maybe not as often as Bochy.
“Sometimes it’s not the time,” Torres said, smiling. “You have to be careful with it, too.”
Crown jewel
Designer and producer: Tiffany and Co.
Inspired by: 1933 Giants World Series ring
Features: Made primarily from white gold. Ring top holds “SF” logo set with round diamonds by a bezel of yellow gold, flanked by two round diamonds. One shank has 2010 flanking a yellow-gold tower symbolic of the Golden Gate Bridge. The other shank has the recipient’s name in a ribbon over the World Series trophy. Within the top of the trophy is one mandarin-orange spessartite, representing the San Francisco championship. At the base of the trophy are five diamonds representing the five New York championships.
Ring raffle: A ring identical to the ones issued to players and coaches was donated by Tiffany to be raffled off. For more info, visit sfgiants.com/ringraffle.
Source: Giants
