Baseball's newest baseball hero is an Asian American

Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa interviewed by Erin Rogers after
 hitting the winning home run in the NLCS, 2014.

YES! YES! YES!

After featuring Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals, it is only fitting that we say something about the other Asian American in the National League Championship Series - the Giant's first baseman/left fielder Travis Ishikawa.

He just hit the home run to win the game sending the Giants to the World Series. With the score tied 3-3 in the 9th inning, Ishikawa, hitting in the 7th spot in the batting order - not a place in the lineup from which you'd expect a home run - Ishikawa hit it over the right field wall, jets of water shoot up in the air, fog horns blare, fireworks and cheers from 41,000 delirious fans as Ishikawa pumping his fists, yelling at no one in particular, as he runs around the bases.

I think I saw this scene in a movie. I love this game.

Ishikawa, who was drafted by the Giants out of high school in Federal Way, Washington, an Army town just south of Seattle, never reached the heights he dreamed about as a youth. He bounced around eight different teams and finally was resigned by the Giants earlier this  year and played for the Triple A team, the Fresno Grizzlies. He wasn't' even a starter.

This year, at the age of 31, he called a childhood friend and with tears in his eyes, pondered what he could do next to earn a living. He thought his playing days were over. In a bit of prescience, USA TODAY did a feature on Ishikawa a day before this final game.

As fate would have it, the Giants' regular left fielder suffered an injury and the team needed someone who could play right away. In 2010 he was with the Giants as a bench player as the Giants won their first World Series so Ishikawa's experience made him the perfect choice to be called up to the Bigs once more.

But the regular first baseman, Brandon Belt, also returned from an injury leaving Ishikawa the odd man out. He was relegated to the bench again.

Manager Bruce Bochy, going with his gut, asked Ishikawa to play left field, a position he's never played. Eager to stay in the majors, the athletic Ishikawa agreed, even though he had never played the position in his life. After a few games in left field, he found himself playing in October.

Earlier in tonight's game, he misplayed a fly ball to left field, eventually leading to a run and a temporary Cardinal lead. It looked like Ishikawa might become the goat.

Then came the moment when he redeemed himself.

Consider this:

If the Cardinals had won the NLCS, Hawaii-born Kolten Wong would have been a serious candidate as MVP.

Travis Ishikawa should have won the MVP. With one swing of the bat, he added his name to the legendary lore of the Giants. He became a hero to Giants fans, among which I count myself.

Years from now, when people talk about the great series between the Cards and Giants, I'll remember this: Two Asian Americans stood out playing "America's Pastime" on the country's biggest stage; one more swipe at the stereotype of the unathletic Asian male.

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