Party in San Francisco to celebrate Giants’ World Series win (w/video)

Halloween and the San Francisco Giants World Series victory parade came together in a profusion of orange and black on a gray, rainy Friday in the city.

Hundreds of thousands of people lined the Market Street parade route sidewalks up to 10 deep and filled Civic Center Plaza for a joyous bevy of speeches by Mayor Ed Lee, Giants officials and, most emotionally, the players who won an exhilarating seven-game series, bringing the team and city their third championship in five years.

“This is what we all play for. This is unbelievable,” pitcher Madison Bumgarner said in his now-familiar North Carolina drawl.

As Bumgarner was introduced at the Civic Center, and as he rode down the parade route in - what else - a large Ryder rental truck, the masses chanted, “MVP, MVP,” acknowledging his most valuable player award after he made baseball history with two wins and a five-inning save in beating the Kansas City Royals.

Relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, the first player to speak, said he was “proud to stand next to three trophies” on the orange-carpeted stage in front of City Hall. “And I’m proud to stand up here with all these gentlemen who played their hearts out.”

“THIS NEVER GETS OLD,” read a homemade sign in orange with black block letters that Jessica Atup of Daly City brought to the parade, wrapped in plastic to ward off the rain that fell intermittently during the procession.

Atup, who attended the series victory parades in 2010 and 2012, said Friday’s event was “just as exciting - even when it’s raining.” The seven-game series, she said, was “more nerve-wracking. It was very emotional. We were all clinging to each other.”

Hours before the noon parade, Market Street was a mass party scene lined with orange and black banners and balloons, TV trucks and hard rock music blaring from loudspeakers.

Some of the street’s normal decorum was suspended. In front of the exclusive Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Dennis Hunt, the facilities manager, photographed fans standing on the building’s front windowsills about 3 feet off the sidewalk.

“Today it’s OK,” said Hunt, wearing a gray suit, white shirt and tie. “All of our members and tenants are fans.”

Residents with windows overlooking Market Street would have a great view, he admitted. “Ideally, it’s nice to be down in the crowd. All that energy.”

Ghastly red flaps of simulated skin hung from Trinity Perez’s face as the girl from Sacramento awaited the parade. “I wanted to dress up (for Halloween) and I wanted to go to the parade,” said Trinity, 11. She showed up as a “zombie fan,” with makeup worthy of “The Walking Dead.”

“We’re saying that watching the game (seven on Wednesday night) killed her,” said her mother, Tracey Perez.

Her father, Santiago, said the hit and error that allowed Kansas City’s Alex Gordon to reach third base in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday gave him a pre-Halloween fright. “I just felt like we had to pull it off,” he said. “We needed some mojo.”

One batter later, Bumgarner got Salvador Perez to pop up in foul territory, the ball landing in Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s glove for the final out.

Farther down Market Street, Todd Grimm of Los Altos was radiant in a bright orange suit, purchased for the occasion, with a black shirt, orange bow tie and goggles lined with orange fuzz.

Grimm, 20, said he’d been at all three parades. The best one? “It’s the one I’m at now,” he said, drinking a can of beer. “It’s the best that’s ever been.”

At Civic Center Plaza, accolades for the Giants filled the air, with many spectators enjoying an up-close view on a huge video screen.

On stage were a host of former Giants superstars, including Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Barry Bonds, whose name prompted a “Barr-y, Barr-y” chant.

Joining Mayor Lee, who presented the team with the key to the city, were House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and former mayors Gavin Newsom and Willie Brown.

“I’m proud to be a Giant,” Giants General Manager Brian Sabean told the crowd.

Noting that the Giants have been described as a dynasty, Sabean said, “It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks, we’re our own dynasty.”

Manager Bruce Bochy told the crowd his squad represents “the best postseason team in this era.”

Bochy recalled playfully labeling the 2010 champs as “misfits,” and the “never say die” motto of the 2012 Giants. This year, “I call them warriors,” said Bochy, who is now considered a lock for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Pitcher Tim Hudson, who started his career with the East Bay rival Oakland A’s before spending eight years with the Atlanta Braves, recounted joining the Giants almost a year ago. “This is how I dreamed this year would unfold,” said the 39-year-old right-hander, who earned his first World Series ring. “One of the best years of my life. I’ve waited a long damn time for this.”

Bumgarner, whose two wins this series and Game 7 save established him as one of the best post season pitchers of all time, appeared uncharacteristically awestruck.

“It’s been awesome. Thank you so much,” he said.

Right fielder Hunter Pence, known for his inspirational speeches to the team, had a little fun at the start of his moment addressing the crowd.

“I got a microphone! Sweet! Sweet!” he said. “I can’t believe they’re giving this to me!”

He then turned reflective. “Standing here right now is quite the dream,” Pence said.

Former pitcher Mike Krukow, part of the Giants broadcasting team, recalled being traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Giants in 1982. A teammate at the time told him: “Congratulations, you’re going to the land of the believers.”

In a loud voice, Krukow belted out, “We are the Giants! We are San Francisco, and we are world champions!”