Reviewing the fantastic SF Giants portraits drawn by pediatric cancer patients
For the second season in a row, the SF Giants turned over the player portraits shown on the scoreboard to children battling pediatric cancer. This is a lovely tribute to the kids, but also some truly fantastic art. The drawings were provided by Kids & Art, Family House, Camp Okizu, and the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital.
Of course, this is not simply a cheerleading fan site for the Giants, but a highly professional, analytical news organization. Therefore, we present an art critique of all the player portraits from Friday night's game, accompanied by, like all true criticism, a numerical score out of ten.
(Thanks to Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle for capturing the amazing art.)
Mitch Haniger: Haniger's quizzical expression here says it all. Does his .214 average and meager measure of power mark the tragic downfall of a once-powerful career? Likely not, but from this vantage point, the hero's return seems so far off as to be unreachable. Journeying back from this trial of self-doubt will be no small task, but if he can, the tales that will be told of it will be all the more glorious. 10/10.
Blake Sabol: The impressionistic "SF" cap is a symbol of Sabol's tenuous status on the roster as a Rule V claim. Is he a catcher? Is he an outfielder? But the artist resolves this question by sidestepping it entirely and focusing on Sabol's rock-solid neck. What is Blake Sabol? He is a pillar of the team. 12/10.
Paul DeJong: The outlines of DeJong's Giants career have been drawn, but the foundation of the story he will write is still so uncharacteristically light. His debut game heroics set a tremendous tone, but more will be needed before his figure stands amongst Giants legends. Will the shape of DeJong's time in San Francisco be marked alongside past heroes like Cody Ross and Travis Ishikawa, or will he fade into obscurity like so many others? 11/10.
Luis Matos: This portrait of the Giants' rookie center fielder absolutely leaps off the scoreboard. Matos can't be contained by the frame, the outsized ears representing his outsized talent, that was too much to be contained by any minor league this season. While Matos was sent down to work on his power, the power of this image, from Matos' piercing gaze to the giant hat brim (because Matos is brimming with talent) is undeniable. 14/10.
Wilmer Flores: Every time Wilmer Flores steps to the plate, his presence is felt. Powerful and unafraid, his impact on the team is perhaps more undeniable than any other. So too has this artist chosen to depict him, with lines that blot out any uncertainty where they meet paper. Where there is orange and black, there is Wilmer Flores. Without him, without that bold and beautiful color, the canvas is left wanting. 13/10.
Brandon Crawford: The viewer's eye is drawn initially to the piercing blue eyes of the longtime Giants shortstop. While Crawford's career might be coming to an end, his eyes remain bright, reflecting both the blue of the waters of McCovey Cove and the blue ribbon of victory. And the lips suggest both Crawford's winning smile and the pre-napkin remnants of a Cheese Steak Shop lunch, achieving a Warholian ideal of a commercial and artistic whole. 13/10.
Casey Schmitt: The picture of Schmitt's role on the Giants is so tantalizing; the hard-swinging, hard-throwing defensive whiz that can lock down the corner infield for a decade to come. But alas, how that picture comes into focus is as-of-yet unclear. This artist has perfectly represented the potential of one of the Giants' many promising youngsters, and with it, an important reminder that one cannot be satisfied with potential alone. 14/10.
Joc Pederson: We see a morose, stripped-down depiction of the normally ebullient Pederson. While Joc often hides behind his goofiness, his pearly necklaces, or his fantasy football beefs, here we see the artifice stripped away, like an Andrew Wyeth portrait. Here you can see the fears inherent in Joc's soul: impending free agency, wind-blown fly balls, facing a lefty specialist with runners on in the late innings. A work as powerful as Pederson himself in the first half of 2022. 15/10.
LaMonte Wade Jr.: True to form, Wade's depiction here is full of the heart and personality that make him the emotional center of the team. There's a layer of artifice that comes with acting as a public figure, but the artist strips it away by breaking from the austere "team photo" tone with a casual, laid-back view. Here, Wade is shown as if slyly laughing, perfectly comfortable and in his element. It's a level of authenticity that makes it easy for fans and colleagues alike to root for him. 12/10.
Joey Bart: A stunning portrait of the Giants one-time super-prospect, this has the ethereal feel of mid-period Renoir. It's a dream-like depiction of Bart, making the viewer question if he truly ever was an All-Star in the making. The artist captures a Bart who seems to always exist in the past or the hypothetical present, and his sideways expression suggests Bart might feel the same about himself. Breathtaking. 13/10.
Mike Yastrzemski: The eyes are the window to the soul, and this depiction of Yaz shows why even in an injury-ridden season, he remains the soul of this Giants team. Tellingly, this Yaz lacks ears, as he's not listening to the critics, and remains smiling, with his large, Margaret Keane-esque eyes taking in all. (He also has an excellent batting eye.) Is it any surprise that Yaz is 6-for-7 since this masterwork appeared on the scoreboard? 14/10.
J.D. Davis: The craftsmanship here is nothing less than phenomenal. The attention to detail bleeds through every inch of this picture. The way the top right of the 'S' in the logo curves to match the typeface, the subtle shading on the ears and cheeks, all the way down to the glint in Davis' eyes. The good, the bad, and the ugly; the artist channels George Miller's Fury Road by presenting everything front and center, baring Davis' soul and season, transforming it into a work of awe. 15/10.
