S.F. Giants trophy tour coming to Valley in February

The Giants are coming to Stanislaus and Merced counties this winter as part of their world championship victory tour.

Featuring all three of San Francisco’s championship trophies, the tour leads up to the 2015 season. Besides stops in Modesto, Merced and Los Banos, the tour will also visit other Valley cities, including Stockton, Tracy and Fresno.

The tour kicks off Jan. 7 and concludes on Opening Day in San Francisco on April 13.

The trophies will be at the Merced County Fairgrounds on Feb. 18, Los Banos Community Center on Feb. 23, , Modesto Center Plaza on Feb. 17 and Chukchansi Park in Fresno on Feb. 24, all from 5 to 7 p.m.

Fans can see the trophies in person at each stop on a first-come, first-served basis. The viewings are free but have a suggested donation of $2 per person. Proceeds benefit Junior Giants youth baseball leagues.

That’s good news for the hundreds involved in the Merced County Junior Giants program, said Kelly Thomas, an assistant commissioner.

“The kids are just going to love it because they won’t get to see it any other way,” Thomas said, adding that kids enrolled in the program will have a special line for easier access to seeing the trophies. “Because of the time of day, people coming to Merced to see it will probably stop at the local restaurants, so it’s good for the businesses, too.”

Exact numbers were not available, but Thomas said “at least a couple of thousand” Merced County children play baseball in the local Junior Giants leagues.

The Giants also announced their annual Fan Fest for Feb. 7 at AT&T Park.

San Francisco Giants World Championship Trophy Tour schedule:

▪ Jan. 9, Willits, Willits Community Center, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Jan. 10, Santa Rosa, Finley Community Center, 1-3 p.m.

▪ Jan. 12, Concord, Todo Santos Plaza, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Jan. 16, Mt. Shasta, College of Siskiyous Gym, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Jan. 20, Vallejo, Dan Foley Community Center, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Jan. 28, Daly City, City Hall Rotunda, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Jan. 29, Hayward, Hayward City Hall, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Feb. 2, San Mateo, San Mateo Elks Lodge, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Feb. 3, San Jose Municipal Stadium, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Feb. 4, Richmond Civic Center, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Feb. 7, San Francisco (Fan Fest), AT&T Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

▪ Feb. 9, Santa Clara, City Hall Council Chambers, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Feb. 11, Lodi, Hutchins Street Square, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Feb. 12, Stockton, Stockton Civic Auditorium, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Feb. 17, Modesto, Modesto Center Plaza, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Feb. 18, Merced, Merced County Fairgrounds, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Feb. 19, Gilroy, Wheeler Community Center, 3-5 p.m.

▪ Feb. 20, Salinas, Salinas PAL, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Feb. 21, Marina, Marina Airport Hanger, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

▪ Feb. 21, Santa Cruz/Watsonville, Monte Vista Christian High, 4-6 p.m.

▪ Feb. 23, Los Banos, Los Banos Community Center, 5-7 p.m.

▪ Feb. 24, Fresno, Chukchansi Park, 5-7 p.m.

▪ March 3, Tracy, Tracy City Hall, 4-6 p.m.

This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 9:15 PM with the headline "S.F. Giants trophy tour coming to Valley in February."