Giants rookie Mason Black makes MLB debut in Philadelphia against childhood favorite Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Mason Black and his younger brother woke up the morning of Oct. 7, 2011 and were surprised to find Phillies tickets for a playoff game that night resting on a dresser.

Their dad had said he wanted to take his sons — Mason Black was not only a die-hard Phillies fan, but his favorite pitcher, Roy Halladay, got the ball that night in Game 5 of the NL Division Series.

“They found them and came running downstairs and were like, ‘What are these?’” the boys’ father, George Black, said.

“I said, ‘We’re going tonight!’ They almost came out of their shoes.”

Thirteen years later, George Black and his sons were back at Citizens Bank Park and Mason was very much in his shoes — more like his cleats, as the right-handed starting pitcher made his major league debut for the San Francisco Giants against the Phillies.

“I tried not to look up too much,” Black said. “Just kind of keep the focus on the plate and where I was.”