Farewell to Candlestick



Monday night's NFL game between the 49ers and Falcons was the end of an era -- the last regular season sports event at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The first of the 1960s ballparks to open was ironically, the last to close. Although baseball 's Giants moved onto the far more fan friendly AT&T Park in 2000, football remained until this fall. Now as the 49ers get ready to load their moving vans, here are some of my images from visits to Candlestick in 1988 and '93.
Come for a day game, the sun was strong and the park, while representative of the muti-purpose school of architecture, was tolerable. But after dark, or even approaching sunset, the place became raw, windy and damp -- even in August. Notice how almost everyone, in the stands and on the field, are wearing jackets. Believe me, they were needed!
Candlestick's glory days for baseball took place during its first decade. Led by Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal, the Giants were in contention every year and won the National League pennant in 1962. Below, the Cooperstown display honoring the players who wore 24 and 27.
Did you ever visit Candlestick? Was it for a day or night game? If you have a personal memory of the ballpark, click below on the word "comment" and share it.

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