Giants Shortstop Brandon Crawford Thrills Kids At Ball Field

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford thrilled kids and their families Friday when he spoke at a ceremony celebrating the renovation of Gilman Playground Baseball Field in San Francisco, in the Bayview District near Candlestick Point.

Crawford posed for photos and signed autographs in addition to speaking to the crowd.

The Bay Area native also had his family on hand.

The renovation includes brand-new dugouts, benches, and grass surfaces in both the infield and outfield. It's now a safe, state-of-the-art field for under-resourced children and families in San Francisco.

The Giants Community Fund, the Good Tidings Foundation and San Francisco Recreation and Parks department collaborated on the project.

“The refurbishment of Gilman Field is everything we hope to be as the Giants Community Fund — keeping our focus on the kids, on tangible improvements to their playing fields, on keeping our goals on better things ahead. We can’t thank Brandon Crawford, Good Tidings and Rec & Park enough for their commitment to this project. And to the kids of the Bayview, we say the two best words we know: Play ball!” said Giants Community Fund Board Co-Chairs Kelly Larkan Coover and Brian Murphy.

More than two dozen youth baseball fields have now been revitalized by the Giants Fund, with the Good Tidings Foundation a frequent partner.

“The Good Tidings Foundation has been committed to providing environments and opportunities for young people to live their dreams since our founding in 1995,” said Good Tidings Board Member Dave Flemming. “We know the difference a world class facility can make in a community and we are grateful and honored to collaborate once again with the Giants Community Fund and all of our incredible partners to make Gilman Park a field fit for the next generation of all-stars.”

Also in attendance Friday were Giants Mascot Lou Seal; Giants Public Address Announcer Renel Brooks-Moon; Giants Broadcaster Dave Flemming, who is also a Good Tidings Foundation Board Member; Mayor London Breed, who wore Giants orange; State Senator Scott Wiener; Assemblymember David Chiu; SF Recreation Commissioner Annie Jupiter-Jones; and Giants President & CEO Larry Baer.