Banter and bragging rights. They surround the greatest of rivalries. But when tragedy strikes, even Major League Baseball’s biggest rivalries are set aside for the greater good.
For fans of the defending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants and the current NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers, however, there has been more than banter.
Back on Opening Day 2011, Bryan Stow was visiting Chavez Ravine to see his team, the Giants, take on the Dodgers. But what happened to him was nothing he expected. Bryan was brutally beaten and hospitalized simply for being a Giants fan.
Despite such a disheartening event that would seemingly add more disdain for a rival team, Giants fans are greeted with the following signage when walking through the 2nd Street Gate at AT&T Park:
Those eight words are pretty simplistic at first glance, but the meaning is pretty powerful. Containing powerful words, fans are reminded that rivalries should be set aside for the greater good, and that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves–even Dodgers fans.
No doubt there is implicit reference here to what happened to Bryan Stow, who is still facing a long road of physical rehabilitation, along with medical bills and needless challenges because of the poor choices others made.
After two years in the hospital and a rehabilitation center, Bryan is finally home. Through all of this, the San Francisco Giants organization continues to show support for Bryan and the Stow family.
With the 2013 season coming to a close, the Giants will face the Dodgers one last time as they open up their final home stand next Tuesday. Recently announced via their Facebook and Twitter accounts, $10 from every ticket sold for the Tuesday, September 24th game vs. the Dodgers will go directly back to the Bryan Stow fund.
From the Giants events calendar page:
Over two years ago, dedicated Giants fan and father of two, Bryan Stow, was brutally attacked while leaving a Giants away game. The Giants organization and its fans continue to offer support to Bryan and his family. Your special event ticket package includes a View Reserve Infield ticket to the Tuesday evening game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and a “Mystery Item” from past Giants Special Events you may have missed out on! Most importantly, $10 out from every ticket sold goes directly back to The Bryan Stow Fund. Please Note: One (1) Special event item per mystery bag. Mystery bag distribution is final; no exchanges or returns once the mystery bag has been delivered to guest.
Leveraging social media, the Giants announced this fundraising event via their Facebook and Twitter profiles.
From their Twitter profile:
Bryan Stow Fundraiser #SFGiants vs #Dodgers Tues 9/24 | $10 of every ticket goes to the Bryan Stow Fund http://t.co/LO0aD6pgHO
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) September 12, 2013
The Giants and their fans have risen above this rivalry by posting sentiments of encouragement to Bryan and the Stow family, along with their support and a willingness to give back. From one coast to the next, another long standing rivalry was laid aside shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, just weeks after Opening Day earlier this year. While our great nation was still trying to make sense of what was going on, in a very classy way, the New York Yankees tweeted a small gesture of solidarity to their AL East rivals in Boston.
We stand united with the @RedSox: pic.twitter.com/RgMKEOxRmR — New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 16, 2013
The original tweet has now been retweeted over 14,400 times, favorited over 6,100 times, and the comments from fans on both sides of the rivalry were positive and uplifting given the circumstances. And just as classy was the response from the Red Sox to the Yankees:
Bigger than the game. Thank you! RT @yankees We stand united with the @RedSox: pic.twitter.com/o9LG4NEqTT — Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) April 16, 2013
Since the bombings, the #BostonStrong hashtag has been tweeted over 446,100 times and there has been continual support for the city of Boston throughout Major League Baseball. Teams–including the Yankees–have played Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” in their own stadiums, though it’s a song the Red Sox play during home games at Fenway Park. Other teams, including the Kansas City Royals during Boston’s first home series after the bombings, have worn a “B Strong” patch on their jerseys, something the Red Sox have on their home jerseys. Most recently, when the Red Sox visited AT&T Park in August for Interleague Play, the San Francisco Giants also dawned the “B Strong” patch on their home jerseys and had a pre-game ceremony to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
#SFGiants will wear #BostonStrong patches during tonight’s game.
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) August 20, 2013
These are just two examples of MLB rivalries being set aside for a time to express support, unity, and brotherly love toward others during difficult times. What other examples of this, either in MLB or in sports as a whole, have you seen or experienced personally?
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