“Giant” Homecoming for NJ Man in NLCS

Vineland man suits up for the other team in Phillies-Giants playoff series

This Saturday’s Game 1 of the NLCS will unite thousands of local baseball fans against a common enemy: The Giants. But one local man with be standing on the other side, or we should say, on the other team.

Vineland, N.J. native Darren Ford plays center field for the San Francisco Giants.

The 2004 Vineland High School graduate got his call to the bigs on Sept. 1st to help fill the team’s 43-man roster, reports the Courier Post. He now finds himself in the midst of his first major league playoff run.

 "It has been amazing, and obviously I've never seen or been through anything like this before,” Ford told the Courier Post.  “I'm just glad that I'm getting the chance to learn this early."
 
Since his debut Ford has two stolen bases and scored the game-winning run during his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies. 

"I'll never forget when coach called my name to enter the game; I was a little nervous," Ford told the Courier Post. "I said a little prayer, ran onto the field and all of a sudden I was in the spotlight.”

Ford was originally drafted in the 18th round of the 2004 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers before being traded to the Giants in 2008.

Ford’s first game was also significant for another reason: It helped his team stay in the thick of things during its push towards the playoffs.

"You never know, things could have happened differently,” Ford told the Courier Post. “We could have lost that game and never caught San Diego. So that night really sticks out for me. I feel like I helped the team get to where we are."

And where they landed is right in Ford’s backyard for this weekend’s NLCS.

Even though Ford didn’t make the 25-man roster he will be suited up and in the Giants dugout to cheer on his team.

Saturday’s series opener should prove to be a gem as the Phils send their ace pitcher Roy Halladay up against “The Freak” Tim Lincecum live from Citizen’s Bank Ballpark at 7:57 PM.

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