"It was a dump. But it was our dump."

[Auggie]

-- Dwight Clark, San Francisco 49ers, on Candlestick Park.

For a drab, bone-chilling, windswept punching bag of a stadium, Candlestick Park enjoyed one hell of a good run.

The Stick hosted two World Series, two major-league All-Star Games and eight NFC Championship Games. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice spun their magic on the soggy field alongside the bay, as did Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Pope John Paul II stopped by.

And not even one massive earthquake could bring down the old lady.

The 49ers will play their final regular-season game at Candlestick on Monday night against Atlanta. That will bring to a close - barring an unexpected playoff game next month - nearly 54 years of swirling hot-dog wrappers, frigid summer nights and indelible sports memories.

STORY: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/kroichick/article/It-was-our-dump-5085235.php

My first visit: an evening Giant's game in early August, 1979. Yep … froze my ass off.

[Brother Buzz]

1. 90 cents right field bleachers was the place to be for a Friday night Giants game in the late 60's

The bleachers disappeared when they completed the wraparound for football. We took sleeping bags to stay warm.

On edit: I really won't miss the Stick, it was an ill conceived location from the get-go.

[intaglio]

2. Onward to the Field of Jeans n/t

[trumad]

3. Loved watching baseball in that joint.

Last edited Mon Dec 23, 2013, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

When I first moved to San Fran I made the mistake going to a daytime game wearing shorts and a tee shirt....hell---the temp was in the 80's at the beginning of the game.

Then---you look out over left field and there it was--- the FOG!. By the 6th inning it would be in the 50's and you're freezing your ass off.

I had the good fortune of living in SF during the Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell era and with the A's across the bay---witnessed some great B-Ball.

What a crazy ass park.

[Auggie]

6. Great era

I saw more ball in Oakland than S.F. even though I lived in the city. But I was there for the last evening Giants game. It was a nice night -- one of the better 'stick days I can remember. It was end of September when, as you know, weather can be very mild in S.F and fog is less an issue. But June through August was brutal.

[trumad]

7. I went to more A's games because of Bart

It was far easier to go to Oakland Stadium than Candlestick.

Plus---the A's were one kick ass team.

[Auggie]

8. Same reasons here

And I could see Cleveland.

Candlestick meant very old and decrepit MUNI buses. They were always breaking down.

[trumad]

9. And it meant 101 back into the city after a day game ...

ugg...

With that said..I still had a blast going there.

[Auggie]

10. 12:30 start, can't remember the date (except that the team sucked) ...

I had a vacation day and went to the game. Told the guy at the ticket window I wanted the best seat available -- money no object. I sat directly behind home plate, second row.

Also got into one of the suites at the invitation of my client, PG&E. It was along left field. Would have been fun except the Giants gave up 8 or 10 early runs and it was a laugher. The catering was good though. And the beer was free.

[Yavin4]

4. Also, wasn't that the last place that the Beatles played live?

I think that it is.

[Auggie]

5. Yes