Despite Rain, Hundreds of Thousands Turn Out for Giants Victory Parade

Under gray skies where a steady drizzle mixed with clouds of orange and black-and-white confetti shot from sidewalk cannons, players waved, snapped photos and mugged for the roaring crowds from the top of double-decker buses during the San Francisco Giants Victory Parade -- a change from the classic convertibles and cable cars on wheels that had transported them along their now-familiar route in 2010 and 2012.

And in good news for fans, Pablo Sandoval insists he wants to play the rest of his career for the San Francisco Giants, and for moments just like this. He's not naming his price, not now.

"I want to wear that jersey for the rest of my career," Sandoval said. "I'm going to go from what my heart tells me."

While other players doubled up on the buses, the day's undisputed giant among Giants, pitching ace Madison Bumgarner, was given his own flatbed truck to ride. It was adorned with a sign indicating his Most Valuable Player honors from both the World Series and the National League championship.

Dignitaries such as Giants legend Willie Mays, team president Larry Baer, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Ed Lee and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was San Francisco's mayor when the Giants won the Series in 2010, rode in convertibles.

Hall of Famer Willie McCovey took a break from his hospital-based rehab to attend the victory parade Friday from behind the scenes, thanking all the fans and well-wishers for the support and love through his recent health ordeal.

"I feel great," McCovey said with a smile.

The 76-year-old McCovey said he continues to recover from an infection that hospitalized him in September for about a month, and watching the Giants' third World Series championship run in five years helped his cause.

"It was touch and go for a while," McCovey said. "They pulled me through, and I've come a long way."

The parade also featured Giants' legends Juan Marichal. Barry Bonds rode in a convertible, holding an umbrella and smiling broadly.

The fans greeted him loudly and warmly with chants of "Barry! Barry! Barry!"

Sidewalk cannons shot clouds of confetti into the air as a giant panda hovered overhead in honor of third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

KNBR's Marty Lurie joined KQED NEWSROOM's Scott Shafer Friday night after the parade, to talk about the Giants' "group of warriors."

Original Post:

Thousands of Giants fans are already lined up along Market Street in San Francisco for the World Series Victory Parade at noon. It's the third time in five years the Giants have won the World Series, so officials said they're mostly prepared.

KQED's Isabel Angell says people are getting impatient for the parade to start. Some people have come prepared with ladders, chairs and stepstools; others have just put down newspaper and are hoping for the best.

Iris Gomez, 37, arrived at the parade route with sandwiches, juice and plenty of rain gear more than 5 ½ hours before the start of the noontime event.

"I love the Giants," she said. "I've been going to the Giants games since the tickets were $8. I wouldn't miss this."

Kristin J. Bender of the Associated Press, Isabel Angell, James Tensuan and Jeremy Raff contributed to this report.