Giants' World Series Parade Draws Estimated Crowd Of More Than 1 Million

Yesterday's parade in downtown S.F. to honor the Giants' World Series victory was attended by an “estimated 1 million-plus people," according to Bulwa, Fagan, Berton & Tucker of the S.F. CHRONICLE. In some places along the parade route, fans “stood 20 to 50 deep to catch a glimpse of their baseball heroes.” Giants and S.F. Police officials said that the crowd was “slightly more” than the number that attended the team’s ’10 parade. City officials reported “little trouble beyond 22 arrests -- mostly for drunk and disorderly offenses -- and the rain staying away until evening.” If there was “any complaint to be made, it was that the players rode in cars this time instead of the faux cable cars used in 2010” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/1). In N.Y., Jason Turbow writes the “show of force by Giants fans was no less impressive than the last time such a party was thrown -- after the team’s equally surprising 2010 championship” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/1). MLB.com’s John Schlegel noted S.F. Mayor Ed Lee “took it a step further, also presenting the team with the ‘broom to the city,’ symbolic of the Giants' sweep of the Tigers in four games.” Schlegel wrote, “From a performance of ‘Gangnam Style’ and the dance that goes with it to a live rendition of ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ by Tony Bennett, the Giants' celebration covered a lot of ground.” The parade “included more of the mutual love that has blossomed” between the Giants and the 49ers, with QB Alex Smith driving the convertible for Giants P Matt Cain and coach Jim Harbaugh driving 1B Brandon Belt (MLB.com, 10/31). In Sacramento, Matt Kawahara writes, “The civic pride was infectious.” The “outrageousness of 2010, when [former Giants 1B] Aubrey Huff produced his red ‘rally thong’ on stage, was mostly missing” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/1).

POLITICAL STATEMENT? In L.A., Maria La Ganga notes Giants P Sergio Romo, who is of Mexican descent, “eschewed the Giants' championship attire in favor of a navy blue T-shirt that read: ‘I JUST LOOK ILLEGAL.’” Giants Spanish-language broadcaster Tito Fuentes said to the crowd on hand, “I told Sergio, that T-shirt, I really love it. And I came prepared. I might look illegal, but I got my card.” Fuentes' comments came "as he waved what appeared to be his green card" (L.A. TIMES, 11/1). In San Jose, Matt O'Brien reports, "Within hours, an obscure Los Angeles T-shirt company was taking dozens of orders for the shirt." Wicky Tees Founder Jack Chan said that he sold "only about 40 of the shirts since they were designed two years ago." He added that he "was surprised to sell more than 100 Wednesday afternoon at $12 each" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/1).

THE COST OF SUCCESS: Lee said that he “expected the cost to be similar to city expenses for the 2010 championship parade.” In S.F., Cote & Knight ask, “So how much was that?” Lee’s Communications Dir Christine Falvey yesterday said that she “didn't know the amount.” Falvey: “I'm not going to have a number for you today." But she “promised to have a number in the next few days.” The Giants are “picking up production costs of the parade, which they calculated to be about” $1M. The city is “responsible for public safety, cleanup and other city functions” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/1).