San Jose’s Municipal Stadium sits deep in the heart of America’s high-tech heartland. Last month, during a homestand against the Visalia Rawhide, it was home to Harry Potter Night, San Jose Churros Night and Father’s Day featuring Kalani grad Lenn Sakata.

On the side of the 76-year-old baseball stadium is a massive mural of Sakata. In the VIP area along the third-base line is an autographed Lenn Sakata figurine.

Soon, Sakata’s No. 14 jersey will blow in the wind next to the Pepsi sign atop the left-field fence — the first jersey ever retired by the minor league Giants.

The humble, blunt and wise old-school World Series champion is beloved in San Jose. And as of June 19 he is also a member of the California League Hall of Fame, based mostly on his rare and cherished accomplishments in the Silicon Valley for the better part of 10 years.

“That was basically a shock,” Sakata says of the jersey retirement. “I had no idea they would ever do that. It was very touching. All of it … to even have anything like that mural put up, that’s even more touching.

“It’s hard to believe I meant that much to a lot of people. I was just trying to survive and do my job. All I wanted to do was make sure every player had the opportunity to get better. I felt that was the most important thing. The success on the field was largely due to the fact the players bought into it, and also because the community and club took care of the players off the field.”

Sakata’s jersey was retired in front of his kids, Erin and Ryan, who live in California. It came during a short, sweet program before the Father’s Day game that was a tribute to Sakata’s indelible influence on San Jose’s baseball history.

Not coincidentally, it came two days before his induction, with Joe Morgan, Roberto Alomar and Larry Jackson, at the California League All-Star Game in Lancaster, Calif.

The San Jose Giants — a San Francisco Giants affiliate since 1988 — proudly describe themselves as “baseball in your backyard since 1942, Our Town, Our Team, Our Giants.”

And “Our Lenn Sakata,” who made a profound impact on hundreds of players in a 15-year career as a minor league manager.

The Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame member holds the California League record for most wins (757), most years managed (11), most consecutive winning seasons (eight), most Cal League championships (three), most playoff appearances (eight) and most playoff games won (33).

Sakata, 64, was the second player of Japanese ancestry to play in the majors, where he spent 11 years and was part of the Baltimore Orioles’ 1983 world championship team.

He was the last Oriole to start at shortstop before someone named Cal Ripken took over. Ripken would proceed to play in 2,632 consecutive games, blowing away Lou Gehrig’s 56-year-old major league record.

“The playing part is a separate issue totally,” Sakata says. “It was just an obsession to find out if I was actually good.”

In contrast, coaching “was a totally mysterious occupation because I did not know anything about it.”

He learned, quickly and exceptionally well.

SJ Giants historian Chris Lampe remembers a player saying he turned down a move up because he knew he would learn more from Sakata at a lower level.

Lampe also called Sakata’s 2001 season San Jose’s most memorable. It ended before the playoffs because of 9/11 and San Jose won both halves, despite two of its starting pitchers going a combined 0-19. The team gave up 19 more runs than it scored and used 49 players because of roster moves and injuries.

The man could manage, and he managed guys like Buster Posey, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Pablo Sandoval.

Longtime San Francisco Giants coach Joe Amalfitano came in from Arizona to speak at Sakata’s tribute, bringing thanks from the entire organization and praising Sakata in particular for his ability to “back off.”

Former player Todd Jennings also came in. He and Amalfitano both cried when they spoke. As Tom Hanks told everyone in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own,” there is no crying in baseball.

“There is after you can’t do it anymore,” said Sakata, who after a 40-year baseball career has been out of the game for four years. “That’s what happens. Now it’s become just memories.”

Travis Denker, former SF and SJ Giant, was at the game, coaching Visalia. He, along with his wife and two toddlers, thanked Sakata’s family for its sacrifice and closed with this:

“You took the time to develop players. That meant as much as winning.”

There were other speakers, in person and on video. All treasured Sakata’s knowledge, innate ability to teach and relentless work ethic, and the fact he was always there for his players — before, during and after games.

“I just told the kids I would be here and whoever wants to come out could come get me,” Sakata said. “I wanted to find out who could do what on their own. For the most part, every kid came out on their own time. Then other coaches would come out too. Eventually guys would come everyday and bring their lunch.

“The relationship we had from April to October was awesome because we were always together in the clubhouse or on the road. When kids left to go on up or whatever, I had to keep my emotions intact because it was very hurtful to see them go. It was like a bird being kicked out its nest.”

It was also his job, and in the 75-year-old California League, no manager has ever done it better.