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Giants participant makes historical past with a hundredth Splash Hit at Oracle Park

A detailed view of Levi’s Landing, the right field wall in Oracle Park, is clad in rainbow colors on San Francisco Pride Day, June 5, 2021. The landing that separates the park from San Francisco Bay has a splash hit counter to keep track of homers entering the water behind the wall. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — It took 23 seasons but the San Francisco Giants recorded their 100th “splash hit” home run on Friday.

Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a home run on the first pitch late in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles and sent the ball over the right field wall straight into McCovey Cove on the San Francisco Bay. It was the 100th time a giant has scored a so-called “splash hit” in recent decades.

Despite the historic home run, the Giants lost 3-2 to the Orioles on Friday.

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Ever since Oracle Park opened in 2000, it’s been a tradition for fans and kayakers to hang out in McCovey Cove hoping to get lucky and go home with a ball. The lucky fan who snagged Friday’s splash hit was apparently on the broadcast and looked stunned as he sat in his kayak.

Boaters and fans gather in McCovey Cove during a game October 27, 2010 at what was then AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

According to the Giants’ website, Barry Bonds was the first Giant to bat a ball in the water on May 1, 2000. Bonds recorded 35 splash hits during his tenure with the team, the most of any Giants in history. Brandon Belt is second with 10.

A total of 28 different San Francisco players have hit home runs at McCovey Cove — and they’re all left-handed.

Barry Bonds leads bases after hitting his 69th home run of the season at McCovey Cove on September 29, 2001 at what was then Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

If you include the opposing teams, there have actually been 155 splash hits in the history of the stadium. Two of the 55 splash hits by guest players came from Los Angeles Dodger Max Muncy. Bryce Harper, Carlos Gonzalez and today’s Giants DH Joc Pederson are among the other notable opponents who have racked up multiple splash hits.

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