Editor's note: Twice a week during this sports hiatus, we'll answer questions that Bay Area sports fans long have debated in "Ever Wonder?" This Wednesday: How did "Operation Cluck" originate?
Giants slugger Barry Bonds was the most feared hitter in MLB in the late 1990s and the first half of the 2000s.
The all-time home run king was so scary, opposing teams started intentionally walking him at an unprecedented rate.
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One team even intentionally walked him with the bases loaded.
If you attended a Giants game at then-SBC Park and later AT&T Park, you probably noticed yellow and orange rubber chickens hanging along the wall in foul territory down the right field line, and fans waving them throughout the stands.
Fans were clearly mocking the opponent for being too scared to pitch to Bonds. This became known as "Operation Cluck."
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But how did this crazy tradition start? We have the answer for you, with help from Giants executive vice president of business operations, Mario Alioto.
Watch the video at the top of this article to learn more about "Operation Cluck."
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