© Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
When former Giants closer Brian Wilson threw out the first pitch during Giants Opening Day on Tuesday, it became public that he and the Giants had reconciled. Ever since he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, which lasted for two seasons, and retired in 2014, there had seemingly been little contact between him and the Giants.
That all changed recently, when retired MLB pitcher Dallas Braden exchanged messages with KNBR’s Kruk and Kuip. Braden had been in touch with Wilson, who wanted to return to AT&T Park. Word spread to the Giants, like Braden and Wilson had hoped. Giants CEO Larry Baer and Wilson subsequently had a ‘great chat,’ as Baer called it, and planned the former closer’s return.
Tuesday afternoon was a long time coming.
“We have wanted to reunite with Brian, just discussion around here in the office, for lots of reasons,” Baer told KNBR on Thursday. “I know everybody is going to say he was rude and everything. The reality is, No. 1, he is an extraordinarily smart person. No. 2, he was a great teammate and a great Giant. No. 3, and this isn’t necessarily all in order of importance, he was on the mound when the San Francisco Giants won their first World Series, ever.”
Baer praised the way Wilson conducted himself after the 2010 World Series win. After the victory, Wilson gave the winning ball to the Giants to display at the ballpark. Baer recounted stories of Wilson visiting Lucca Deli on Chestnut St., where he bought customers sandwiches and posed for pictures.
The same congenial Wilson returned on Tuesday, which won’t be his last appearance.
“He will be back at the ballpark for a couple other occasions this year,” Baer said.
“I haven’t felt these jitters in awhile.” — Brian Wilson#ForeverGiant | #SFGOpeningDay pic.twitter.com/qmaK6WoW5O
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) April 4, 2018
Listen to the full interview below. For Baer on Wilson, start at 13:29.