Craig Appel, 50, passed away suddenly on July 3, 2012. Craig will always be remembered for his courage during difficult times and even though he took his life we know he is finally without pain.
The son of Harry and Theda Appel he was born June 29, 1962 in Burlingame, CA.
He graduated from Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley and spent 27 years
as a bus driver for the Los Angeles Unified School District and Chatsworth High.
But probably his dream job was driving for Gold Coast Charter bus lines and being
allowed the luxury of transporting major league baseball clubs to and from airports, hotels and ballparks. It allowed him the chance to interact with his beloved
team, the San Francisco Giants.
He was best known among many Giants players and fans as the fun-loving Rally Pumpkin, decked out in his trademark orange shirt, orange pants and orange beret,
topped with a green stem.
The Rally Pumpkin was one of the great ambassadors of Giants baseball. Kids and adults at home and road games would ask to pose for pictures, and Craig stood there
with his big Rally Pumpkin grin until everyone had the shot they wanted.
He was more than a fan – he was a symbol of Giants baseball, and made the game just a bit more fun for all who knew and met him, however briefly it might have been.
Craig is survived by his mother, Theda Appel; brothers, Howard and Gary Appel; and his sister, Flori Appel; as well as many nieces, nephews, close friends and beloved Giants fans.
Internet forums were buzzing with sad news about the very visible Giants fan Craig Appel, best known as Rally Pumpkin, who died in an apparent suicide over the weekend.
Police in North Hollywood say that Appel, who was also known as "Jingles" to Giants broadcasters, players, and coaches, stepped in front of a train. He was 50 years old.
Appel was iconic among hardcore Giants fans, known for dressing up in orange and traveling around to cheer on his beloved baseball team. He was also the team's bus driver until 2010, hauling them to games between here and Southern California.
