Cal Baseball Fanfest 2012.02.11 Photo Essay

by MR.F. on Feb 12, 2012 4:38 PM PST

Cal Baseball is alive and kicking! 400 Golden Bears and Golden Bear Cubs made it to Evans Diamond to hang out with the team, celebrate the 2011 season, and kick off 2012. Baseball activities for all! Scrimmage with guaranteed Cal victory! Oh my! Go Bears! More pics after the jump.

There was quite a bit to do, and all run by the Cal team. But the chance to do stuff as cranky adults meant kicking out kids, and look at them having so much fun:

Hitting baseballs:

Throwing baseballs:

Getting to 1st base:

The Cal team was everywhere, without any closed doors, though occasionally behind batting cage fences.

We couldn't stay on the field forever, though; there was baseball to be played. And we got a surprise visit from the band!

California Marching Band at Cal Baseball FanFest 2.11.2012 (via GoldenBlogs)

The turnout from the band was quite good. Lift your skinny trombones like antennae to heaven!

I actually don't have much of a narrative to the game. I mean, Blue team, Gold team, it's hard to keep track who's who when they're all Bears! So here's a bunch of pictures of the game. Tony Renda leads off for Gold.

Stealin' third.

Some players were working on their juggling skills, but not everyone was interested. This lucky kid got to spend the entire game in the Blue dugout.

The season hasn't even started and the Bears are already showing more hustle and grit than their uniforms can handle.

The Bears have their fundamentals down. Routine grounder, indeed.

Mitch Delfino knows how to celebrate a home run with his teammates.

Danny Oh also knows how to celebrate a home run with his teammates.

Post-pitching arm ice.

Get that ball back to the infield!

Yer out!

Catchin' with style. Cal style.

Foul!

Warming up in the pen.

Ryan Sandler's sidearm motion. His family was there to see him pitch. Very cool.

It was cloudy in the morning, but it didn't take long to turn into a beautiful day for a ballgame.

Nice swing. Blue team had no problem with Gold team sneaking into their dugout to admire the view.

Checking the runner at 1st.

Tony Renda: Pac-10 Player of the Year and Heartthrob

Blue and gold and baseball. The perfect combination.

And Cal wins!

And that's it for Fanfest. All in all, nothing less than a lovely day. Looking forward to the 2012 season. GO BEARS!

The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.

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Comments

HEADER

Great photos, Mr. F. Your photos are far superior to mine. I’ll post a few here, though.

Here are some bats and jerseys. You could take a photo in the jersey with a bat.

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:43 PM PST reply actions

Speaking of which, who took the picture of us decked out in our (borrowed) Cal’s best?

California Golden Blogs: Ethnic food → pizza and chili → boboli → boobies.

by golden oso on Feb 12, 2012 5:24 PM PST up reply actions

I’ve got one, so if you want a copy send me an e-mail

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Feb 12, 2012 6:00 PM PST up reply actions

Header - To hide photos, click here

The Batting Cages!

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
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by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:44 PM PST reply actions

Players throwing BP to the kids

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
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by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:44 PM PST reply actions

Several players, including former Cal QB Ryan Wertenberger, signing autographs

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
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by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:45 PM PST reply actions

This water fountain did not work - remember you can hide photos by clicking on the headers

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
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by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:46 PM PST reply actions

Is there a story behind this one?

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Feb 13, 2012 6:20 AM PST up reply actions

I have no idea. It was a water fountain that didn’t work. Maybe it didn;‘t work bc somebody went all Brian Wilson on it! Maybe it wasn’t plugged in. No idea.

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Feb 13, 2012 7:25 AM PST up reply actions

Amazing turnout by the band

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:46 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

so mad I missed this. My two favorite Cal things in the same place at the same time!

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Feb 13, 2012 6:21 AM PST up reply actions

Esquer talking to the team after the scrimmage

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
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by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:47 PM PST reply actions

The first games of the season are this upcoming weekend.

130 on Friday at Evans
1 on Sunday at Evans

Both are against Pacific. The Saturday game is also against Pacific, but in Stockton, but if you live out there go and support the Bears!

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Feb 12, 2012 4:48 PM PST reply actions

Wow, great photos - and great to meet you Mr. F!

I thought it was a wonderful event – there were a ton of kids and they were all having a great time. Being the shy internet nerd I am, I didn’t have a ton of interactions with the players, but I got to chat very briefly with Kyle Porter, Chadd Krist and Matt Flemer, who were all very friendly dudes.

It’s really great to see the excitement for baseball this year – it’s going to be a fun year.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Feb 12, 2012 4:57 PM PST reply actions

Awesome photos!

It was good to meet you guys too, and enjoy the basketball victory over UCLA!

I learned that Chad Bunting is an applied math major with an emphasis in physics. He also took a sabermetrics DeCal class a semester before I did, taught by a friend of my friend. Smart, athletic, and has a pretty autograph to boot.

by GeoFreak on Feb 12, 2012 5:44 PM PST reply actions

He also took a sabermetrics DeCal class a semester before I did, taught by a friend of my friend

Oh man, if this class was available when I was an undergrad I would’ve been all over it . . . except I probably don’t have the requisite math background!

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Feb 12, 2012 6:29 PM PST up reply actions

Ditto.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Feb 12, 2012 8:34 PM PST up reply actions

Also, he should apply his sabermetrics knowledge to the Cal baseball team. :)

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Feb 12, 2012 8:35 PM PST up reply actions

I wouldn’t mind seeing more walks this year!

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Feb 12, 2012 9:04 PM PST up reply actions

I remember distinctly two years ago when he was asked to bunt with no outs and guys in scoring position! Man he must have been mad!

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Feb 13, 2012 6:22 AM PST up reply actions

Well, Esquer is batting Renda leadoff in an attempt to get him more at-bats per game…

by GeoFreak on Feb 12, 2012 10:38 PM PST up reply actions

That’s a step at least.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Feb 12, 2012 11:08 PM PST up reply actions

There were some formulas presented in class, but we didn’t need to know them; no quizzes or tests. The math was there to add more information if you understood it. We just needed to grasp the overarching concepts of using sabermetrics to evaluate players.

The only assignments we had were some short essays and a presentation at the end of the semester, so it was really chill. The instructors are students too, so they don’t want to do much work either!

by GeoFreak on Feb 12, 2012 10:38 PM PST up reply actions

go bears!

by j.lee on Feb 12, 2012 7:30 PM PST via Android app up reply actions

Is this friend of a friend Japanese?

TROLL ON YOU BEARS. - atoms
even if it does snow, we’ve got plenty of laker championship banners to keep us warm! - raptorapocalypse

by cldpc on Feb 13, 2012 12:57 AM PST up reply actions

Yes, and he has a twin too. They both taught the class together.

by GeoFreak on Feb 13, 2012 11:29 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks! Good to meet you, too!

Brave as a troll with a heart rare and true!

by MR.F. on Feb 13, 2012 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

Sweet looking photos, thanks for sharing

that’s quite a large block C logo on the front of the warm ups…interesting look

by LEastCoastBears on Feb 12, 2012 6:13 PM PST reply actions

I like that BIG block C a lot.

by fiatlux on Feb 13, 2012 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

For sure. I still need to get a block C cap.

by unclesam22 on Feb 16, 2012 7:38 AM PST up reply actions

Nicely done, Mr. F.

I’m really impressed by the quality of your photos. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!

Old Toothwrangler

by Kodiak on Feb 12, 2012 6:27 PM PST reply actions

Awesome photos! Pants cannot hope to contain Bears!

by Yes We Cannon on Feb 12, 2012 7:24 PM PST reply actions

This.

"Sometimes you get it, and sometimes you get got."

by TheBuckeyeBear on Feb 12, 2012 8:03 PM PST up reply actions

Awesome pictures, guys! (Except for the water fountain. That was kind of gross.) GO BEARS!

"Sometimes you get it, and sometimes you get got."

by TheBuckeyeBear on Feb 12, 2012 8:01 PM PST reply actions

That block C nike Cal baseball hat. I must own it.

by LeonPowe on Feb 12, 2012 9:45 PM PST reply actions

it’s a great hat…i love mine.

by j.lee on Feb 12, 2012 10:36 PM PST up reply actions

Ditto!

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Feb 12, 2012 11:08 PM PST up reply actions

and I as well.

California Golden Blogs: Ethnic food → pizza and chili → boboli → boobies.

by golden oso on Feb 15, 2012 8:53 PM PST up reply actions

Anyone know where to get it?

by unclesam22 on Feb 16, 2012 7:44 AM PST up reply actions

http://www.calbearsshop.com/xpcal41250911.html

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Feb 16, 2012 9:13 AM PST up reply actions

oohh...

http://www.calbearsshop.com/gdcal64251112.html

by j.lee on Feb 16, 2012 11:02 PM PST up reply actions

They’re pretty sweet.

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Feb 13, 2012 6:23 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, it’s awesome. Make sure you don’t get the old one made by The Game, though. The logo on that one is often crooked, and the material isn’t as good. I can’t believe they used that crappy one as the official on-field cap. Good thing they switched to Nike this year.

by GeoFreak on Feb 13, 2012 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

I like my The Game hat just fine.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Feb 16, 2012 9:11 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks MR. F! Great pics! (I bet you have a nice and BIG lens on that camera of yours)

"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"

by CruzinBears on Feb 12, 2012 10:34 PM PST reply actions

Great pics Mr. F! You certainly know your way around a camera!

FUTBALL IZ SRS BUSINESS GUYZ // ONLY HAVE FUN WHEN ROZ BWL
--Thoroughbred

by sec119 on Feb 12, 2012 11:09 PM PST reply actions

thanks for posting everyone

and sorry I missed.

The above comment is not affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, is not based on a secret source of team information, and may contain personal opinion.

"I'll never forget San Francisco and all those beautiful moments."- Andres Torres

by natteringnabob on Feb 13, 2012 6:24 AM PST reply actions

GREAT PHOTOS!!

Thanks guys.

by fiatlux on Feb 13, 2012 8:59 AM PST reply actions

Thanks everyone!

I’m just happy to contribute.

Brave as a troll with a heart rare and true!

by MR.F. on Feb 13, 2012 10:32 AM PST reply actions

Repeating...

…everyone else. Great pics! Thanks so much for posting these.

by unclesam22 on Feb 16, 2012 7:45 AM PST reply actions

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