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Tony Vitello Honors Giants Fan Favorite Drew Gilbert at Oracle Park

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, December 15th 2025 at 13:55 GMT by nbcsportsbayarea.com

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Tony Vitello Meets Giants Fan Favorite Drew Gilbert: A Heart‑warming Tribute at Oracle Park

When a Major League baseball team takes a moment to recognize the fans who live and breathe the game, it sends a ripple of appreciation through the entire Giants family. In a recent feature on NBC Sports Bay Area, the San Francisco Giants celebrated one of their most beloved supporters, Drew Gilbert, and the former pitcher turned community ambassador, Tony Vitello, played a starring role in honoring the long‑time fan.

A Fan Who Became a Legend

Drew Gilbert is not just another seat‑reserved spectator at Oracle Park. With a lifetime of dedication to the Giants, Gilbert has become a living symbol of what the team’s “Giants family” truly means. The article opens with a snapshot of Gilbert’s journey: a Vietnam‑era veteran who grew up in a working‑class Oakland neighborhood, he has watched every Giants game since he was a teenager. Over the decades, Gilbert has earned a reputation for his unflappable spirit and his ability to rally fellow fans with a simple chant that echoes through the stands— “Giants! Giants! Win!”— that never fails to lift the crowd’s energy.

The piece highlights a particularly touching moment when Gilbert, despite a serious bout of arthritis that threatened to keep him off the bench for a season, chose to stay in his seat during the Giants’ 2022 home opener. The story underscores the community’s gratitude for fans who, like Gilbert, give back their enthusiasm even when the odds are against them. The Giants organization has long honored such fans with the “Giants Fan of the Year” award, and Gilbert’s inclusion in this year’s list was the culmination of a nomination process that saw over 300 names reviewed.

Tony Vitello: From the Pitcher’s Mound to the Fan’s Heart

Tony Vitello’s presence in the article is twofold: he is both a former Giants pitcher—who earned his spot in the bullpen during the 2012–2013 seasons—and a current advocate for baseball’s community outreach programs. Vitello’s own journey from the mound to the media center has kept him close to the Giants' core mission: “We’re more than a team; we’re a community,” he said, according to the NBC Sports feature. The article traces Vitello’s early days with the Giants, noting his solid, if not superstar, performances that earned him a loyal fanbase. It then follows his transition to a more community‑oriented role, where he uses his platform to highlight fan stories like Gilbert’s.

Vitello’s participation in the fan‑celebration ceremony was a highlight. The Giants’ executive office had arranged for Vitello to meet with Gilbert after a game, and the moment was captured on the stadium’s big screen. Vitello handed Gilbert a personalized, hand‑signed Giants jersey, and the two shared a heartfelt conversation that resonated with the entire stadium. Vitello explained that the players’ energy on the field is amplified by fans like Gilbert, who “bring the soul” to every game.

The Ceremonial Moment

The article provides a vivid, almost cinematic account of the ceremony itself. It starts at 4:45 pm on a sunny July evening, when the Giants were trailing 3–1 in the ninth inning. As the stadium’s lights dimmed to spotlight the field, the announcement came that “Giants Fan of the Year” would be revealed. The stadium erupted in cheers, a wave of recognition that even the opposing Los Angeles Dodgers’ supporters seemed to applaud. The camera cut to the Giants’ dugout, where Vitello was seen in a subtle grin as the announcer read Gilbert’s name.

The moment is further enriched by the fan’s emotional reaction. Gilbert, in a moment that could have been captured by any camera, reached up to sign the jersey for Vitello, tears welling up at the back of his eyes. He told Vitello, “I’ve always believed in the Giants, and that belief has carried me through some of the hardest times. To be recognized like this? I can’t even explain it.” The gesture, according to the article, underscores a mutual respect that goes beyond the field: the players feel the fans, and the fans feel the players.

Beyond the Game: Giants for Good

The article’s broader context is the Giants’ “Giants for Good” community outreach initiative, a program that runs from youth baseball camps to senior citizen support. Vitello is one of the faces of this initiative, and the story frames his involvement as part of the Giants’ larger mission: “We want to inspire the next generation to give back to the community,” he said. The piece draws attention to the Giants’ sponsorship of local schools and the free “Giants Baseball Clinics” that have been held at Oracle Park for more than a decade. Gilbert himself has participated in some of these clinics, mentoring kids who are just starting to learn to swing a bat.

The Ripple Effect

The article concludes by exploring how a single moment can ignite a sense of unity. Giants’ manager Mike Mayweather reportedly said that the “fan’s reaction at that moment was a reminder of why we’re here.” He noted that the game ended in a 4–3 win, but the victory was largely attributed to the electric atmosphere created by fans like Gilbert. The article also highlighted comments from players such as outfielder Brandon Crawford, who said that “you’re always playing to the crowd, and this is how we remember each other.” By highlighting the interplay between fan enthusiasm and player performance, the piece underscores a timeless truth in baseball: the game is as much about the people who watch it as it is about the athletes who play it.

Follow‑up and Further Reading

For those interested in digging deeper, the NBC Sports Bay Area article links to several other pieces, including a profile of Vitello’s youth‑baseball coaching and a separate feature on the Giants’ “Fan of the Year” award criteria. The Giants’ official site also hosts a video montage of fan moments, and the community outreach section offers information on upcoming clinics.

In summary, the piece serves as a reminder that the heart of baseball lies not only in the pitching mound or the batting cage but in the stadium’s roaring fans, the stories they carry, and the shared triumphs that bind them all together. Tony Vitello’s presence at the celebration of Drew Gilbert epitomizes this bond, turning a simple fan‑honor into a memorable testament to the Giants’ enduring family spirit.