SAN FRANCISCO — It was one season 10 years ago, but Giants fans haven’t forgiven A.J. Pierzynski for — well, for being A.J. Pierzynski.
The Cardinals catcher filled in for Yadier Molina in Game 3 of the NLCS on Tuesday after Molina strained his left oblique in Game 2 back in St. Louis. As his name was announced before the start of the game, the crowd at AT&T Park booed Pierzynski with a fervor typically reserved for the likes of Brian Wilson.
Giants fans: Light applause for Mike Matheny (former SF catcher); rain of boos for A.J. Pierzynski (former SF catcher)
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) October 14, 2014As expected, Giants fans boo AJ Pierzynski like he’s the guy who celebrated Earth Day by setting a tire fire.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 14, 2014I wonder if Pierzynski sees a counselor after a season of getting booed in every stadium.
— STLCardinalBaseball (@STLCardinals01) October 14, 2014MORE: Amazing NLCS photos | Short game produces victory | Bullpen comes up big | Wind-blown double key | Molina to remain active | NLCS schedule
When asked about that reception, Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong laughed and said, “I’ve seen that at a lot of different fields. I guess A.J.’s loved everywhere.”
Pierzynski is used to being the guy everyone loves to hate. His one season in San Francisco, in 2004, didn’t do much to endear him to the fans or his teammates. He was acquired from the Twins in the offseason for three pitchers: Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser. The trade is widely considered to be one of the worst in Giants history. A fellow Giant that year called him a “clubhouse cancer.”
Pierzynski said Tuesday felt quite familiar.
“I felt like I was still playing here,” he said after the game, a 5-4 Cardinals loss in 10 innings. “I mean, that was about the same reception I got when I was a Giant. It made me feel right at home.”
Over the years Pierzynski has been named the Most Hated Player in Baseball several times by publications such as Men’s Journal, and it’s clear the fans love to loathe him. When the Cardinals announced their lineup for Game 3, the responses started pouring in.
You know, an interesting thing about AJ Pierzynski is that even his family hates him. Because his family is part of "everybody."
— Sexy Jeb Lund (@Mobute) October 14, 2014If Neshek pitches to Pierzynski, do you root for a Neshek strikeout, or for the ballpark to fall into the sea?
— Jim Souhan (@SouhanStrib) October 14, 2014As a Cubs fan I hope the Cardinals don't make the world series. As a fan of humanity, I hope AJ Pierzynski doesn't make the world series.
— Joe Wagstaff (@Joe_Wagstaff) October 14, 2014Much of the hatred for Pierzynski comes from stories of his bad behavior that he claims are just that — stories. Fans before the game regaled each other with the tales:
"Remember the time he kicked the trainer in the crotch?" (This one seems to be purely fiction, as Pierzynski and former Giants trainer Stan Conte have both denied it.)
"How about the time he told the ump to give him a new ball — one he could see?" (That one’s true. It got him ejected from a game.)
"Or what about how he used to flip off Giants fans when he played for the team?" (The jury’s out on that one.)
“A whole lot of them have been proven to not be true,” Pierzynski said. “But fiction’s always better than the truth. Nobody wants to hear the truth. It doesn’t sell newspapers or gets hits online.”
True or false, Pierzynski seemed comfortable with the reception. Before the game, he told reporters he expected and was “looking forward” to the boos. And while Giants fans happily complied, it wasn’t all boos for the veteran villain. Pierzynski went 0-for-4 in the game, and he received exuberant rounds of applause after each out.
Erin Faulk is a documentary filmmaker and writer based in the Los Angeles area, best known for a unique brand of storytelling on Twitter. Examples of her work have appeared on Slate, Gawker, Jezebel and other sites.