Remembering the Stick: Candlestick Park—1960–2013

by Steven Travers

Described by famed baseball scribe Roger Angell as looking like “a festive prison yard” during the 1962 World Series, Candlestick was loved and hated by sports teams and fans alike for its 43 years of existence. Built on a landfill above a garbage dump in a city rocked by an 8.6 earthquake only 54 years earlier, it was notorious for the tornadic winds that came off the bay, probably costing Willie Mays at least 100 career home runs. The fogs that rolled in looked like something God sent to pass over His Chosen people. And of course, there was the famous 1989 World Series earthquake that postponed the opening game for 10 days. But it was also home to the greatest run of sustained excellence in pro football the 1981–1994 49ers, as well as the exploits of baseball stars such as Mays and Juan Marichal.

Genres: Baseball

377 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2015

Reviews

[Brent Soderstrum]

I am a San Francisco Giants fan who, until recent years lived in Iowa. I made a point of going to the Stick in 1999 so I could attend a few games at the ballpark before the Giants moved to their new digs in 2000. My experience was like many who have visited the Stick-it was cold, concrete multi-sport stadium which was all the rage when it was built. Going to a game at the Stick in July was a cold experience. I was prepared for it though having heard the scouting report on the ballpark. I wore layers and had fun watching my Giants in their home yard for the first time.

This book is history lesson in the Stick. About a fourth of the book is about the Giants 1962 season which was odd. Not sure why such an inordinate amount of the book was spent on 1962. There is also lots of repeats. A story would be told then at the end of the section the story is again told in a short summary.

Lots of great stories about the Giants and 49ers who both had great seasons at the Stick. I am a baseball fan but I do enjoy the NFL. Not a 49ers fan but I still enjoyed the stories. I am also a big history fan and this book is full of history about the Bay Area and their teams. Good for all fans.