Giants’ home opener a time of celebration at AT&T Park

The celebration of a new baseball season comes to San Francisco today when the Giants open their 2018 home schedule at 1:35 p.m. against the Seattle Mariners.

Celebration will be the theme of the day with the Giants beginning their 60th season in San Francisco, their 136th in franchise history and 19th season at AT&T Park. The Giants’ home opener traditionally has been much more than just nine innings of baseball. It starts with the pregame ceremonies, eagerly awaited by fans and today’s players.

The Giants will welcome back many of the team’s former players who spanned the decades of big-league baseball in San Francisco beginning with the first game at Seals Stadium on April 15, 1958.

Former Giants expected to participate in the pregame precession include Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, as well as Vida Blue, Felipe Alou, Chris Speier, Joe Amalfitano, Dave Dravecky, Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow, Jeffrey Leonard, Kevin Mitchell, Robby Thompson, Marvin Benard, Robb Nen, Travis Ishikawa, Brian Johnson, Cody Ross, Jeremy Affeldt, Dusty Baker and Barry Bonds.

The Giants come to their home opener after splitting their opening series against the Dodgers at Los Angeles, although scoring only two runs in the four-game series - in back-to-back 1-0 victories - might have lessened the good vibe.

The Giants’ mission for 2018 is to rebound from a disappointing 2017 campaign that saw them finish last in the National League West with a 64-98 record, the second-most losses by a Giants team in San Francisco.

Ty Blach, who outdueled Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in Thursday’s season opener, is scheduled to take the mound for the Giants. He will be opposed by Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales, who will be making his second career appearance against the Giants. He lost to San Francisco in the second start of his career in 2014. Blach will be facing the Mariners for the first time.

Matchups to watch include the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval against Gonzales - he has a home run and two RBIs in two career at-bats against the Mariners lefty - and Seattle’s Dee Gordon against Blach - Gordon is hitting .750 with an RBI in four at-bats against Blach.

“Last year was a really big learning experience for a lot of us,” said Blach after filling in for injured Madison Bumgarner in the opening day assignment. “We learned it takes 25 guys to win and you can’t just rely on one guy. Even though it’s nice to have Bum opening day, over the course of the year you’re going to have injuries and you have to work through it.”

Fans are advised to be in their seats by 12:45 p.m. to fully enjoy the opening ceremonies.

Chris Isaak will perform the national anthem.

Also, the Giants will honor late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who died unexpectedly in December. Past and present San Francisco mayors - Art Agnos, Frank Jordan, Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom, London Breed and Mark Farrell - will join Lee’s wife, Anita, for a tribute.