Looking back (2026): Reading this one back is interesting, because it's peak Giants superfan me. And honestly? That guy has mellowed. As I've gotten older, the fanatic thing has faded. I used to live and die with the Niners and the Giants, and somewhere along the way I realized how ridiculous being a fanatic really is.
These days I care way more about the players and the sport itself than any one team's wins and losses. Following the arc of a player's career, the matchups, the game itself, that's the fun part now. But none of that changes what this era meant to us. 2010 and 2012 (and 2014 too) aren't really about baseball for me. They're about meeting Amy, our first house, and Gage arriving in the middle of it all. That part never mellows.
Living Through 2010 & 2012
Oracle Park, what used to be AT&T Park and before that Pacific Bell Park, etc. has a lot of memories for Amy and I. We met in 2010 during the first World Series Run and were both working in San Francisco at the time. Those days, the train rides into the city, fans 2-3 beers deep at 7:00 am, the energy was ridiculous.
And, we were just leaving San Francisco in 2012 during the second World Series Run on our way to Scottsdale, AZ. Barry Bonds, Matt Williams, The Freak Tim Lincecum, Buster Posey and the latest MadBum (Madison Bumgarner). It's been quite a ride and Amy and I are so blessed to have lived just south of San Francisco for 2 of the 3 world series championships.
The First Holbrook House & Stacks
Six years earlier, we had left our home in San Mateo, CA. It was Amy's and my first home and it was a good one. Small, but right on the water and surrounded by friends. But, about the time that Amy and I settled into our home and joined lives, our friends started to move away and Amy and I wanted to start a family. The house was amazing, but, not amazing for kids. Smaller, right on the water and no yard. Plus, I had promised Amy that when we had kids we'd move closer to her family. So we left to Scottsdale, AZ.
On the way from Grandma Holbrook's house up to AT&T park, now Oracle Park, we stopped to play at our little old park and of course, took some obnoxious selfies in front of our old house. This was the first time Amy and Gage had been back here. And, it was the first time ever visiting for Claire. Really fun experience.
Looking back (2026): I'll be honest about something I didn't expect. This was the first house I ever owned, the first house Amy and I lived in together, and Gage's first house. So much of our story started there. And yet standing in front of it that day felt strangely foreign. It wasn't warm. I thought I'd feel this rush of nostalgia and instead it felt like looking at someone else's house, which I guess by then it was. Interesting how that works. Maybe if we'd never sold it, it would feel different. Either way, I'm glad we stopped. The selfies were fun and the kids got to see where it all began.
And, of course, we need to load up on food before going to eat more food at Oracle Park! So, we swung by an old favorite of ours in Burlingame, CA, Stacks. And, had some cousin fun with cousin Lily and Auntie Rosanna and Uncle Brian.
Buster Hugs & Memories
Getting back to see the Giants and Oracle Park (still struggle with calling it this) was awesome. We have such amazing memories of the Giants in 2010 & 2012. My son Gage was born in Burlingame in 2012 and was just a baby during the second championship run. So, getting back to this park was really fun. And the day we picked to go was absolutely perfect. There are not too many places in the world as beautiful as San Francisco on a nice day.
We did the usual things. Get to the seats, check! Get a lemon ice, check! Then wandered around to do all the fun touristy stuff. And, to top off this awesome day? A dual bobble head day! We got one of the coolest bobble head combos ever created. Buster Posey catching Brian Wilson for the final out of the 2010 World Series.
Looking back (2026): The "Buster Hugs" bobbleheads, and yes, that's the official name. It commemorates that classic baseball moment when the catcher sprints out to hug the pitcher after the final out and everyone piles on. The fun twist was that it came in two halves. Each fan through the gate got either the Posey or the Wilson, and you had to piece a full set together. With four of us there, we walked out with two complete sets, and both kids still have theirs on display to this day. One of the coolest giveaways we've ever gotten at any ballpark, and a frozen little piece of the era this whole post is about.