SAN JOSE GANTS
'07 San Jose Giants Setting New League Records

By Casey Amundson

San Jose Giants

2006 was a record breaking year for the San Jose Giants both on and off the field. RHP Brian Anderson set a new California League record for most saves in a season (37), and San Jose posted several team records, including most wins by a team manager (393), and the highest attendance record in franchise history, with over 160,000 fans!

Even before the 2007 season begins, this year's San Jose Giants already hold a new California League record: the longest-running affiliation with a major league club. In 1988, the unaffiliated San Jose Bees became the San Francisco Giants' class A advanced affiliate and now begin their 20th year as the San Jose Giants. In celebrating their 20th Anniversary Season, San Jose has stepped up to the plate with a returning field staff, stellar roster, and refurbished ballpark.

Manager Lenn Sakata returns for his sixth season with San Jose and brings back his entire field staff, including pitching coach Jim Bennett, hitting coach Garrett Nago and trainer Yukiya Oba. In his 11-year major league career, Sakata was the first Japanese-American position player in the AL with the 1977 Brewers, and was a member of the 1983 World Champion Baltimore Orioles. Last year, Sakata became the Giants' winningest manager in franchise history with 393 wins, and led the team into the post-season for the fifth year.

Lenn Sakata and the 2007 San Jose Giants are sure to have another winning season with the introduction of first round draft pick Emmanuel Burriss at shortstop. In Salem last summer, Burriss batted .307 and had 35 stolen bases in just 65 games. On the wheels of prospective outfielders Antoan Richardson, Ben Copeland, and Michael Mooney, who had nearly 150 combined stolen bases in Augusta, the San Jose Giants are likely to be one of the fastest teams in all of Minor League Baseball.

For two decades the San Jose Giants have been providing fun, affordable family entertainment in a traditional baseball environment at historic Municipal Stadium. Fans enjoy some of the best food in baseball at Turkey Mikes BBQ while being close to the on-field action. Kids and kids-at-heart have a ball at the Family Fun Zone's Bounce House, Speed-Pitch, T-ball, Inflatable Slide, and Batting Cage while adults enjoy drinks on the Beverage Deck and Martinelli's VIP Deck.

In 2006, the Giants introduced a brand new video board, The Clubhouse merchandise store, and welcomed the Giants new mascot, Gigante. This season fans of all ages can look forward to new developments at "Muni," including a brand new kids' batting cage, children's inflatable T-ball machine, enlarged VIP Deck, new reserved seats behind the plate, and a remodeled outfield wall and bullpen.

The San Jose Giants will feature promotions throughout the season, including KRTY Country Thursdays, KFOX Family Fridays, and Alliance Credit Union "Kids Eat Free" Sundays. This year, the Giants and Comcast are proud to introduce Comcast Movie Nights, where classic family films can be watched on the video board from the field.

Join the San Jose Giants tradition at Municipal Stadium this summer! Tickets start at just $6 for children and seniors, and $9 for adults. Or bring your group out to the ballpark for "Baseball and BBQ," where they'll receive one ticket, drink, and of course mouth-watering food from Turkey Mike's BBQ (groups of 15 to 1,000; prices $13-$21 per person). Be sure to keep up on all the latest San Jose Giants news and promotions by visiting www.sjgiants.com or call (408) 297-1435.