The San Francisco Giants take on the Arizona Diamondback Tuesday afternoon for their home opener at AT&T Park and fans are more than ready.
"Everybody's starting off like, 'hey it's our year.' So everybody's feeling good except the Diamondbacks," fan Mike Corbitt said laughing.
Corbitt, like many others, paid a pre-opening day visit to the Giants dugout store, where a new orange replica jersey will set fans back $225.
"They're going crazy with the new jackets this year and I have to get one because as a loyal Giants fan you have to get all the new stuff," Neil Dellacava said.
Tuesday's home opener will be Florian Neumann's first baseball game. He is visiting the Bay Area from Germany.
"I'm a Giants fan and watching baseball on TV and now it's my first visit here," he said.
Fans are expected to come by land and gather around the Willie Mays statue, while fans like Sean Greene and his boat, the Torture Towel, will fill McCovey Cove.
"Opening day means camaraderie among the Giants fans," Greene said. "It's all about the San Francisco Giants. The love. The support. Team spirit."
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Giants President Larry Baer will also continue his opening-day ritual of walking the bases before anyone is around.
"It's a day everybody feels a sort of renewal," Baer said. "It's the baseball season, it's springtime."
The Giants will kick off their home opener after a successful 5-2 road trip, winning both series in Arizona and Los Angeles. Starting pitcher Tim Hudson gets the call for a 1:35 p.m. first pitch. Giants spokeswoman Shana Daum said in terms of security, all fans will be hand wanded and all bags checked as they enter the park for Tuesday's game. Metal detectors will be phased in throughout the season.
NBC Bay Area's Today in the Bay newscast will have exclusive on-field access beginning at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.
