Nail biting and teeth chattering, an extra-inning game at Candlestick Park wasn’t for the weak of heart. The honor of receiving a coveted Croix de Candlestick pin for braving chilly late nights in the infamous bay area stadium was one that only some diehards could boast.
But the pin was more than a gimmick –– it was a symbol of the tenacious loyalty that lives in sport.
Somewhere down the road near the Haight, a few friends were following a passion in a sport of their own. In 1981, Thrasher, the best-selling skateboard magazine in the world was born. The diehards behind this publication would soon ignite more than a fan base or a fad, but a culture.
Following a skate dream wasn’t (and isn’t) an easy or popular path. The energy, nonconformity and grit of its founders and the culture have kept it alive and thriving today more than ever.
The founders of Thrasher and ’47 share both an entrepreneurial spirit and a connection to their respective roots. Fausto Vitello, one of the Thrasher founders, attributed English language learning to Giants’ broadcasts, soon becoming a lifelong fan.
Meanwhile, on the east coast, twin Italian immigrant brothers Arthur and Henry D’Angelo were learning English themselves by setting up shop outside of Fenway Park, selling sports memorabilia to baseball fans.
Thrasher and ’47 have not only stayed family businesses to this day, but they’ve kept that same hustle –– creating for likeminded peeps with pride in their roots and lifestyle. The kind that stay for extra-innings.
The Thrasher x ’47 collaboration features combinations of Thrasher, San Francisco Giants and Croix de Candlestick marks on ’47’s signature headwear and apparel. You can grab the gear at local SF skate shops and AT&T Park but if you can’t make it to the west coast, visit 47brand.com or thrasher.com for the goods.
