Once a year, fans of metal and baseball alike congregate at San Francisco's Oracle Park to see their hometown team the Giants joined by local Big Four thrash gods for a very special "Metallica night." This year was no exception, and James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett delivered a near-flawless rendition of the national anthem to kick off the festivities.
The twosome took the field in full team regalia, stacks of branded orange Metallica-Giants amplifiers behind them, and shredded through the game-opening tune like the seasoned pros they are as onlookers and journalists hovered nearby capturing the action. Delivering a faithful rendition, Hammett took the lead lines and Hetfield chugged away with the backing rhythms before closing and exiting so drummer Lars Ulrich could deliver the game's first pitch (see below).
The drummer wasted no time in getting to the mound to throw out the ceremonial ball, exiting quickly so the game could begin. Bassist Robert Trujillo was also in attendance, and the quartet all signed the guitars used in the performance before being raffled off according to Blabbbermouth. Oracle Park kept the metal momentum going throughout the night, sprinkling Metallica tracks throughout the game.
See below for some choice photos from the game, as experienced by the band themselves.
