July 11: Free Slurpees and a Flashback to Candlestick’s Golden Moment

 “Just Thinking"

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On this day in 1961 Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game was played in Candlestick Park. Candlestick was the new home of the recently relocated SF Giants and was a showcase for West Coast Baseball. Back when the players played to win in the All-Star game, the National League scored two runs in the bottom of the tenth inning to win 5–4. Stu Miller was the winning pitcher and Hoyt Wilhelm was the losing pitcher. Future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn of the Braves was the starting pitcher for the National League, playing in his 13th All Star game, his opposing pitcher was future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford of the Yankees playing in his 8th All Star game. The Giants had 2 Hall of Famers in the National Leagues Starting lineup, Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda.

Over its life and besides all of its criticism, Candlestick Park had a very illustrious background, going through many structural changes over the years, it was the host to many iconic events. The Giants occupied Candlestick Park from 1960 through 1999, while the 49ers called it home from 1971 through 2013.

It was originally constructed as an open-air stadium with a U-shaped grandstand, with an open centerfield to show off views of the bay but left it wide open to extreme winds and fog. The first adjustments to the stadium were done for the 1961 season when the outfield fences were moved in after a league low 77 home runs were hit in 1960. 

To accommodate the 49ers, move from their long-time home at Kezar Stadium in 1971, the upper deck was fully enclosed, creating a bowl shape and added over 16,000 seats, raising capacity to about 59,000 and converting from grass to AstroTurf.

1983–1984 Major electrical and seating upgrades were performed to accommodate the NFL’s growing television demands. In 1989, after surviving the Loma Prieta earthquake during game 3 of the World Series, structural damage was minimal but emphasized the stadium’s age. In 1995 the name was sold and became “3Com Park”, in 2002it was officially renamed “San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point,” and then in 2004 “Monster Park”.

Here are some of the memorable events that took place at “The Stick”, it hosted two MLB All-Star Games, 1961 and 1984. The Giants played a total of six postseason series at Candlestick Park; the NLCS in 1971, 1987, and 1989, the World Series in 1962 and 1989, and one NLDS in 1997. The 49ers hosted eight NFC Championship games during their time at Candlestick Park, starting with “The Catch” game in January 1982.

On August 29, 1966, The Beatles performed their last public concert at Candlestick Park. On September 18, 1987, Pope John Paul II celebrated a Papal Mass at Candlestick Park with an estimated crowd of 70,000 in attendance. In addition to The Beatles and The Pope, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Buffett, Van Halen, The Scorpions, Metallica, George Thorogood, J Geils all played concerts at “The Stick” the stadiums final concert was performed on August 14, 2014, by Paul McCartney.

When driving on Highway 101 back to “The City” from the Peninsula, on the Candlestick Causeway, I look to my right and am struck by the void left by the absence of “The Stick”. Perhaps I’ll grab a free Slurpee and contemplate all of my Candlestick memories.

Let me know what you think.

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