49ers Unveil New Stadium Design

[SLAB]

My most cherished memory at the Stick?

Believe it or not, I was a batboy once...Against the Mets.

My uncle is Terry Whitfield, and through his connections he got me to be bat boy for a day...Also through Uncle, I met and talked with my favorite players at the time, Rod Beck and Kirt Manwearing...I also met and shook Barry Bonds' hand.

Funny story...When I was the bat boy I was probably 10/11 years old...Coming up in an extremly sheltered environment, swearing was something that would startle me a little...Well, Rich Aurilia popped out to the third baseman, and came bck to the dugout screaming explitives...I was pretty much scared of him...Later in the game he came over and sat next to me, and I uneasily scooted away...He offered me some sunflower seeds, and I took them and decided he was cool.

Still to this day, Rich Aurilia is referred to as "Sewer Mouth" in my house because of my post-game story.

Anywho, I carried the rosen bag out to the mound, grabbed some bats, slapped someone who hit a homer high five...I want to say that it was Marvin Benard, but Im not completly sure.

Also during the pregame, there was like 4 Giants batboys that day, so the three older ones almost made me switch into the Mets dugout and be bayboy for them...I made sure they changed their mind...I wasnt having any of that.

I really wish I would have been older to truley take in the once-in-a-lifetime type event that was, and really remember it down to every tiny little detail that happened.

Still got the jersey that they made me hanging in my closet...I should frame it or something.

 

[Amanjoy]

Still to this day, Rich Aurilia is referred to as "Sewer Mouth" in my house because of my post-game story.

.

Great story! You know who we call "sewer mouth" in my house? GRANT NAPEAR! I worked at KHTK for a while and the guy throws out expletives like you wouldn't believe! I guess that's the New Yorker in him, and he needs a place to get them out when his kids aren't around. I remember he brought his son Trent in once, and I didn't hear one derrogatory remark at all from Grant! Normally though...watch out!!!

 

[VF21]

Why is this suddenly a Giants thread?

 

[nebs]

Why is this suddenly a Giants thread?

Aw cmon VF, you need to lighten up a bit on that. Let the thread spiral..

Great story SLAB! I remember when I had the chance to be a ball boy for Humboldt State Football in Northern California when I was a kid. I can only imagine being on the field of a MLB game as a small guy.

 

[VF21]

But it was about my 49ers!!!

They're part of the memories of Candlestick, too...

And my best memory of Candlestick Park doesn't even involve sports. I was there on Aug. 29, 1966. Didn't know then how historic a time it would become.

 

[Amanjoy]

But it was about my 49ers!!!

They're part of the memories of Candlestick, too...

And my best memory of Candlestick Park doesn't even involve sports. I was there on Aug. 29, 1966. Didn't know then how historic a time it would become.

That's why I say paint the lines in the parking lot of where the field used to be with a 49ers logo at the 50 yard line and everything!

For some reason, baseball has the ability to strike up childhood memories of kids with their dads more than any other sport. Not many dads will take their kids to an NFL game. Taking your kid to the ballpark though is an American institution. I will agree that Aug. 29, 1966 is arguably the most historic event in Candelstick history.

 

[BigWaxer]

1966

There was a 1966? HAHAH J/K

Best memory at CS was a Giants moment and the best swing in baseball... AKA Will Clark. Only been to one Niners pre-season game and being a Cowboys fan - some ahole actually said he was going to put a cap in my you know what as we were walking out.

GOOD FANS 9ERS!

 

[StevenHW]

...And my best memory of Candlestick Park doesn't even involve sports. I was there on Aug. 29, 1966. Didn't know then how historic a time it would become.

Let me guess: The Beatles' last concert?

I remember reading somewhere that it almost didn't happen. The Beatles finished up a concert tour in Southern California (I think it may have been the Hollywood Bowl, but I'm not sure), but one S.F. radio station very much wanted to get the group to play one last show before their tour ended, so they agreed.

What most people had not known was that the group was beginning to tire of the touring grind. Also, the fallout and negative reaction over John Lennon's comment "we're probably bigger than Jesus Christ now" a few months earlier, may have affected the group's decision to stop touring altogether.

 

[StevenHW]

...I mean, think of all the historic events that have occurred there...

1. The Beatles last live American peroformance
2. "The Catch"
3. Jerry Rice breaking the all-time touchdown record both for career and receiving.
4. The 1989 Earthquake that delayed the World Series
5. Brian Johnson's dramatic 15th inning home run off Mark Guthrie to tie the Giants with the Dodgers in that epic 1997 NL West Divisional Race.
6. Steve Young finally getting the monkey off his back and beating the Cowboys in the 1995 NFC Title Game
7. Terrell Owens' dramatic last-second catch to beat the Packers in 1998. (Unfortunately that was the beginning of the T.O. we know today)
8. T.O. breaking the record with 20 receptions in a game.
9. Barry Bonds hitting a home run in his first at-bat at the Stick as a member of the Giants...

I will name some more Candlestick moments, some sports-related but others were not:

(1.) Monday Night Football game in San Francisco in 1978, between Steelers vs. the 49ers. What made it emotional was that it took place after Mayor George Moscone and Board of Supervisor member Harvey Milk were shot and killed by Supervisor Dan White. (In those days, 49ers were rarely seen on MNF!)

(2.) The Rolling Stones' "Tattoo You" concert in late 1981.

(3.) In 1987, with only a few minutes to go against the Minnesota Vikings, 49er QB Steve Young breaks away from several Viking tackles from midfield, and scores a game-winning touchdown. Young sort of half-dives into the end zone, totally exhausted.

(4.) In 1982, Joe Morgan hits a home run in a game that the Giants would later win against the Dodgers, and eliminates the Dodgers from the National League Western Division pennant race.

(5.) In September 1987, Pope John Paul II makes a papal visit to San Francisco, and holds a Sunday morning Mass services at Candlestick in front of about 80,000 people.

[click below for a photo]:
http://www.dgdraw.com/gallery/pope.htm

(6.) October 1989, the Giants win the NL Pennant by beating the Chicago Cubs.

(7.) Willie McCovey lined shot directly at NY Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson, to end the 7th Game of the 1962 World Series, won by the Yanks.

(8.) July 1963. One of the greatest-ever pitching duels in Major League Baseball history. Juan Marichal of the Giants and Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves go the distance of a 16-inning game, won by the Giants, 1-0, by a Willie Mays homer in the 16th inning. Spahn was 42 years old at the time!

(9.) July 1961, the All-Star Game. During the 9th inning, Giants relief pitcher Stu Miller balks in the tying run when a sudden gust of wind blows him off the mound. The National League goes to win the game anyway, 5-4, in 10 innings.

(10.) Back-to-back consecutive-day no-hitters by opposing teams in 1968. The Giants' Gaylord Perry threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. 24 hours later, the Cardinals' Ray Washburn no-hit the Giants!

One more moment, but in a negative way: In 1965, Juan Marichal, at bat facing the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax, accused Dodger catcher Johnny Roseboro for throwing too close at Juan when he returned the pitched ball back to Koufax. Marichal took his bat and clubbed Roseboro in the head. Marichal was fined $1,750 (a record at the time) and was suspended for eight games. The suspension cost Marichal two starts, and probably the NL Pennant, since the Dodgers won the NL race by two games.

 

[StevenHW]

Part of VF21's post:

...Or they [the 49ers] could even share Oakland's arena by some innovative scheduling...

I just cannot imagine the Raiders' Al Davis allowing the 49ers playing their home games in Oakland, for any reason!

The thought of that alone is enough to pi$$ off the Raider Nation!

 

[VF21]

If it meant lots of $$$$ in his pocket, Davis would do it in a heartbeat...

 

[Amanjoy]

If it meant lots of $$$$ in his pocket, Davis would do it in a heartbeat...

You're probably right!