About five years ago, Frank Winston called the San Francisco Giants to ask if the team would put his group’s name on the scoreboard if he bought 25 tickets in advance.
“They said, ‘What’s the name of your organization?’ and I told them it was the Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame,” Winston said. “Then they said, ‘Can you come down here tomorrow?’ Tomorrow!? Whoa, I didn’t have the 25 people yet.”
What the Giants really wanted was to consult with Winston about organizing the first Jewish Heritage Night. He ended up lending a big hand that first year, and he has continued to help the event flourish ever since.
For his behind-the-scenes work, Winston is going to be honored during a special tailgate party before this year’s Jewish Heritage Night game at AT&T Park on Monday, Aug. 25, when the Giants play the Colorado Rockies at 7:15 p.m.
The free party, which includes complimentary hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and He’Brew beer for Jewish Heritage Night ticket holders, will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in parking lot D.
“We thought it was appropriate to honor Frank since he was the one who founded Jewish Heritage Night,” said Rabbi Yosef Langer, the spiritual leader of Chabad of S.F. now more famously known as the Rally Rabbi.
“He’s an out-of-the-box guy who brings a lot to the Jewish community and beyond,” Langer added. “He deserves the notoriety.”
The Giants, following the lead of teams such as the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, launched Jewish Heritage Night in 2005, selling about 1,300 tickets. The ticket totals increased to 1,700 in 2006 and about 2,800 last year, with this year expected to hit about 2,500. The fans sit together in assigned view-level sections.
Winston, a Pacifica resident, is the founder and commissioner of the Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and he was the president of the B’nai B’rith Bay Area chapter in 2006-07, as well as being active in the Bay Area Council for Soviet Jewry for many years. (On a side note, he led a group of about 300 lawyers to the Soviet Union in 1972 to observe the Soviet court system and meet with Moscow lawyers. Their tour guide: Natan Sharansky.)
Winston remembers that the Giants set aside 500 tickets for the first Jewish Heritage Night, and thanks in part to his diligent work in the community, ended up selling nearly three times that many.
“They were amazed and impressed,” Winston said of the Giants’ ticket managers. “That game outdid one of their heritage nights [for another ethnic group] that had been running for several years. They called me shortly thereafter and said, ‘We want to do it again.'”
Jewish Heritage Night traditionally features Jewish-themed activities such as shofar blowing during the game, a giveaway item (this year, it’s a scarf that says “Go Giants”) and tributes to the community. When the event started to pick up steam a few years ago, the Golden State Warriors took notice, calling the Giants and asking whom to contact about starting their own Jewish event.
“You’ve got to get ahold of Frank Winston,” was the Giants’ reply.
Thus, the Warriors’ Jewish Heritage Night was born in 2007, marking the first heritage night of any kind for the Warriors, Winston said. During the upcoming season, which starts in late October, the Warriors’ third annual Jewish Heritage Night will be March 1, 2009, a Sunday night game against the Utah Jazz, Winston said.
“I’m proud of the way Jewish Heritage Night has really grown,” said Winston. “At the Giants game, people will be asking me, ‘When’s the Warriors game?'”
The Giants’ Jewish Heritage Night is at AT&T Park on Monday, Aug. 25. The tailgate party in parking lot D begins at 4:30 p.m., and the game begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets: $20.
For tickets, call (415) 972-2298 or visit www.sfgiants.com/specialevents.