Giants MLB and NFL Teams Honor Mike Francesa’s ‘Annual Meeting’ Prank
A prank caller’s dream to Mike Francesa became a reality, as the New York and San Francisco Giants held an "annual meeting" on social media. This event, sparked by a 2015 prank call, has now taken on a life of its own.
The long-awaited meetup between the San Francisco Giants and New York Giants has finally happened, as a tribute to the iconic prank that has become a cultural footnote in sports journalism. Back in 2015, ‘Dan in Warwick’ called legendary New York sports radio host Mike Francesa and asked him if "there had ever been a franchise-to-franchise … get-together" between the MLB and NFL teams, since they had the same name and the MLB team used to play in New York.
Francesa was absolutely flabbergasted, saying, "That might be the weirdest question in a long time." In response, he jokingly suggested that the "Giant picnic" is in Totowa during a weekend together, while the New York and Texas Rangers have similar gatherings in Albeliene. The prank call has gone down as one of the greatest phone calls in radio show history, and it’s been a hot topic in the tri-state with the MLB’s Giants in New York this weekend to take on the Mets.
Well, "Dan in Warwick’s" wishes have finally been granted. In a video posted on X, Francesa is seen walking through a hall before entering a door. Spotted in the room are New York’s Eli Manning and Shaun O’Hara, and San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Matt Chapman at the "Giants Giants Annual Meeting" (probably in Totowa). The MLB team posted, "Our turn to host next year."
Francesa fell victim to many prank calls in his later years, including if the Mets could go 162-0 after an Opening Day victory, how Mickey Mantle could win the Triple Crown if he was not a horse, that the Mets should call up "Game of Thrones" characters Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister (which he thought was a bad idea), and, well, whatever this is.
Francesa retired briefly in 2017 but returned a few months later, but went back off the radio airwaves full-time in 2019 and later started a podcast. This incident has further highlighted the enduring influence of Francesa’s prank calls, which have become an integral part of sports radio history.