On August 28th and September 13th, I went to Oracle Park to watch baseball games, and they were much more exciting than I expected. Watching a Major League Baseball game was one of the things on my bucket list, so I was really happy to have that dream come true so soon.
The first game was against the Chicago Cubs, and the second one was against the Los Angeles Dodgers. I mainly support Japanese baseball teams and didn’t know much about MLB, but I was thrilled to see two famous Japanese players, Seiya Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani. The last time I saw them play in Japan was about 4 years ago and 9 years ago, respectively, so it was really special to see them again here in San Francisco.
I bought tickets a week before the games using the Ballpark app. I paid $28 for the Cubs game and $90 for the Dodgers game. Sometimes ticket prices go down as the game date approaches, but that wasn’t the case for the Dodgers game, perhaps because Dodgers are so popular, even in San Francisco. On game day, I took the M train from the nearest station and transferred at Van Ness station. Then the N train took me directly to the stadium. Overall, it took about an hour to get there from SFSU. 2nd & King Station, where I got off, is right in front of Oracle Park, so it’s very easy to find your way there.
I arrived at the stadium 45 minutes before the game started. Walking around the concourse, I saw many stores selling Giants goods, food and drinks. On the big screen, they were doing a fan cam, zooming in on people dancing or waving, and the crowd loved it. There were also short interviews with special guests on the screen. When the players came out to warm up, I heard little bursts of cheering from different parts of the stadium. And right before the game began, everyone stood up for the national anthem. The whole place went quiet, and it felt kind of powerful.
During the game, I saw a lot of home runs and people screaming with excitement. I’d heard that home runs are usually rare at Oracle Park because the sea breeze tends to push the ball back, but batters just kept hitting them one after another. In Japan, home runs aren’t as common, and teams often rely on small-ball tactics like bunts and steals to score runs. In the U.S., however, games tend to feature more hits and home runs, making the overall pace feel more intense and dynamic.
I also noticed differences in how fans cheer during games. In Japan, supporters sing individual players’ fight songs during play, and special “chance themes” when the team has an opportunity to score. In contrast, fans in the U.S. mostly cheer by clapping along, without the structured chants. People call out phrases like “Let’s go Giants!” spontaneously, and those around them respond. In Japan, some people feel that you need to know the cheer songs to fully enjoy the game. But in the U.S., even without knowing any specific chants, you can still have fun cheering along. It gave me a very welcoming impression. Near my seat, passionate Giants and Dodgers fans were cheering competitively for their teams, and I could sense their enthusiasm for the games.
Between innings, many people went to grab some food, and staff members tossed Giants merchandise into the crowd as giveaways. Before the start of the seventh inning, everyone in the stands stood up and sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” What struck me most was how everyone joined in the singing, regardless of which team they were cheering for. When I went to a game for the first time, I had no idea what was going on. But the second time, I was able to sing along and enjoy it with my friends. I’m glad that I got to experience the tradition of Major League Baseball firsthand.
Since I expected the N train to be extremely crowded after the game, I left the stadium right after the bottom of the eighth inning. I actually wanted to stay until the very end, but since it was already late, I decided to head home early. Even so, the N train heading toward my university was quite packed. I remember most of the passengers were talking about the game as they rode home. On the way back, I transferred to the M train at Embarcadero. I left the stadium a little after 9 p.m., and since it was nighttime and trains were less frequent, it ended up taking me nearly an hour and a half to get home.
If you're studying at SF State and thinking about attending a baseball game, download the Ballpark app to check ticket options. Some go for as little as $6.
If you want to enjoy views of the ocean or see the iconic Coca-Cola sculpture, infield seats are your best bet, especially at night when everything is beautifully lit. Outfield seats tend to attract more passionate fans, and if you're lucky, you might even catch a home run ball. For daytime games, bring sunglasses; for night games, a jacket is a good idea since the ocean breeze can get chilly. The stadium offers plenty of food, drinks, and goods, so there's lots to enjoy beyond the game.
If you get the chance, definitely go experience a baseball game! It’s a fun and memorable part of life in San Francisco.
I’m planning to attend one more baseball game before the season ends. The season wraps up at the end of September, but if I get the chance, I’d love to go again sometime next season. The style of baseball in the U.S. is quite different from what I’m used to in Japan, and that contrast has been really interesting to experience. While I'm staying in San Francisco, I’d like to watch not only baseball but also other sports and hopefully discover a new hobby.