San Franciscans celebrate first World Series victory since Giants moved West in 1958

The taxis honked and the cable car bells clanged along California Street in San Francisco’s storied Nob Hill neighborhood. And the crowd at Zeki’s Bar erupted.

 The Giants had just won their first World Series since 1954 -– and the first one since the team moved west in 1958.

 The crowd went wild at the Civic Center Plaza, where a giant projection screen had been erected for clinch night.

 But Zeki’s has been hanging with the Giants for years. And it all depends on how you feel about slightly tipsy, joyous, off-key voices, but the sweaty, cheek-to-jowl crowd at the neighborhood pub was crooning along to the flat-screen television sets -– loudly -– at the end of the ninth inning when the team beat the Texas Rangers by a score of 3-1.

 “Don’t stop believing!” they sang.

 If you can call that singing. Because they hadn’t stopped believing.

 Locals called it the season of “Torture.” So did their T-shirts. The team has recently been cast as a group of “castoffs” and “misfits.” The lineup barely resembles the team that appeared on opening day.

 It was a team without superstars, but everyone was a hero. Zeki's owners Maho Yalcin and Nick Rothman have been showcasing the games religiously. And the neighborhood has been watching.

 And on Monday night, patrons held up their cellphones to take pictures of the celebrating Giants on the flat-screen televisions. The chanted, “Let’s Go Giants!” and “Fear the beard!” a nod to closer Brian Wilson and his oh-so-dyed facial hair.

 They sang and they drank and they cheered and they laughed. And as the night deepened, and the cable car bells clanged on, they continued. “Let’s Go Giants!”

 -- Maria L. La Ganga in San Francisco

Top Photo: Giants fans celebrate in the Civic Center Plaza after their team defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1 in Game 5 to win the World Series. Credit: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times

Bottom Photo: San Francisco Giants fans celebrate the team's World Series win Monday night in front of AT&T Park. Credit: Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[TheBigPicture]

It looks like Brown has one foot in the grave...

[Charlie C.]

Good for California! Great for S.F.
Very happy for you guys up there.

[laincop]

make me puke!!

[Ginny]

I am so HAPPY and PROUD of the SF GIANTS!!! Congratulations!!! You played awesome.. This group reminded me a bit of the 2004 Red Sox. Thanks for being the World Champions of Baseball, and making California proud!!!! You guys kicked butt!!!!! Thanks.

[kgoddess]

Congratulations Giants & thanks for bringing the title back to California.

[Captain Ugatz]

The Giants did to the Rangers what the Rangers did to the Yankees. Tremendous victory for San Francisco, and with that young pitching staff it looks like more to come....