KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pandas are considered by many to be a symbol of good luck and happiness. The Giants certainly have had a lot of luck with theirs. And four fans who often sit on the field level wearing panda heads in support of third baseman Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval are hoping their presence at Kauffman Stadium brings a third World Series win for the franchise.
I spoke to a few of the fans who wear the panda heads. I was surprised to learn it’s not always the same people. “We’re longtime Giants fans,” Michael Jessen said, “brought together by the wonderful World Series runs the Giants have in 2010 and 2012 and now 2014. Big fans, obviously, of Pablo Sandoval. He’s the inspiration, and we’re happy to be part of the lore and mystique of the Giants playoffs runs.”
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They are definitely part of Giants lore. As they make their way to their seats before games, the group often poses for pictures and interviews, high-fiving fans and bringing general cheer to the festivities. They even let me wear the panda head. My respect for them increased tenfold when I realized how uncomfortable it was.
“We only wear it when Pablo is on deck, batting or on base,” Jessen said. “They can be a little hot and sweaty so you have to make sure you pace yourself.”
Jessen, along with friends Bianca Ruiz, Jimmy Wong and Steve Hsieh, have been traveling to away games this postseason. When asked if they ever get any flak for the enormous view obstructers, Wong replied, “We’re actually pretty polite. We try not to block the fans. We only wear it when Pablo’s out there.”
He did say they’re a little more careful about wearing them at away games.
“I was in Texas in 2010 when they won the World Series,” Wong said. “I got attacked by a fan. I thought ‘You’re not supposed to hit a panda bear, what’s wrong with you?!’ But he apologized later.”
Despite the occasional incident, the response is mostly positive. "It brings a lot of color to the game," Wong said. "People love it."
With three World Series appearances in five years, it seems to be working.
UPDATE: It did work; the Giants won, Panda caught the final out in the ninth inning, and he even donned a panda head during the postgame celebration.
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.