Candlestick Park

From BR Bullpen

Home of the San Francisco Giants, 1960 to 1999

Formerly: 3Com Park at Candlestick Point (1995-2002), San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point (2002-2004), Monster Park (2004-2008)

Candlestick.jpg

Candlestick Park became known as Monster Park after the San Francisco Giants moved out in 2000 and remained in use by the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, who had moved into the ballpark in 1971. On August 29th, 1966, the Beatles performed their final concert at Candlestick Park. It was nicknamed Windlestick Park because of the strong cold breezes that blew in from San Francisco Bay, making both players and spectators miserable.

On April 12, 1960, the Giants hosted the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game played at Candlestick. These firsts were recorded that day:

  • First batter - Joe Cunningham, flied out foul to 3B, off of Giants' starter Sam Jones.
  • First batter to strike out - Daryl Spencer, by Sam Jones.
  • First hit - Bill White, single to right in the top of the 1st inning off Sam Jones.
  • First stolen base - Bill White, took second base in the top of the 1st.
  • First base on balls - Willie Mays, off Cardinals' starter Larry Jackson in the 1st.
  • First triple - Orlando Cepeda, to center, off Larry Jackson in the 1st.
  • First run scored - Don Blasingame in the top of the 1st, driven in by Cepeda's triple.
  • First double - Mays, to right field, off Jackson in the bottom of the 3rd.
  • First home run - Leon Wagner, top of the 5th, off of Jones.
  • First win - Sam Jones: complete game, 3 hits, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 run (earned).
  • First Loss - Larry Jackson: 7 IP, 7 hits, 3 BB, 1 SO, 3 runs (1 earned).

Artificial turf was installed at Candlestick Park for a few years in the 1970s, when plastic grass was at the height of its popularity. Game 3 of the 1989 World Series against the Oakland A's was minutes away from starting on October 17, 1989 when a major earthquake rocked the Bay Area. Candlestick withstood the shock with only very minor damage, protecting the lives of the sold-out crowd which was already present. The extent of the damage outside the ballpark forced the cancellation of the game, however, and the World Series only resumed ten days later. It was one of two times the park hosted a World Series, the other being in 1962.

When the Giants played their final seasons at Candlestick, it had been renamed "3com Park", although no one who wasn't forced to ever used that name. The final baseball game there was on September 30, 1999, with the Giants losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-4. Hall of Famer Willie McCovey played more games (1,086) and hit more homers (236) than anyone else in Candlestick's history.

The park was decommissioned after the 49ers played their final game of the 2013 season, and is scheduled for demolition early in 2014.

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