The Last Game at Candlestick Park
The Catch, The Beatles and The Greatest of All Time: Why Candlestick’s Last Game Was One to Remember
Introduction
It’s been witness to an earthquake (1989 World Series), an in-game power outage (Monday Night Football, 2011) and “The Catch” (1982 NFC Championship Game).
Candlestick Park opened on April 12, 1960. Richard Nixon threw out the ceremonial first pitch that day and it served as the home of the Raiders for the 1961 season (who knew?).
Candlestick Park: Recent History
I’m a Giants fan in San Francisco. Not the Giants of Mays, McCovey and Posey, mind you, but the Football Giants of Taylor, Simms and Manning.
For the 2010 season, I became a 49ers season ticket holder. In four short years, I saw a lot, from the hiring of Harbaugh to “The Catch III” (Smith to Davis) to the 2012 NFC Championship Game (a contest that my Giants were fortunate to win).
December 23, 2013
Yes, “The Stick” had gotten quite old. The concrete walls were more brown than grey and the restrooms reminded you of the 1970’s. I’ll venture out to the new Levi’s Stadium next season, but I’ll have lots of fond memories of Candlestick.
Halftime
As the game went to halftime, the scoreboard started counting down from 12 minutes. The Niners brought Dwight Clark onto the field and used yellow spray paint to mark the precise location of “The Catch.”
Before the game, I heard that Joe Montana couldn’t attend, but I was secretly hoping the he’d make an unannounced appearance alongside Clark (it didn’t happen).
Post-Game Ceremony
The Niners won the game, 34-24. The key play was a fourth quarter interception (for a touchdown) by the Niners’ NaVorro Bowman. The interception came as the Falcons were driving for a go-ahead score. Once the final horn sounded, ESPN’s Chris Berman led a nice ceremony in which Dwight Clark, Jerry Rice and Steve Young joined him in stage.
Fireworks and The Beatles
In 1966, the Beatles gave their final full concert at Candlestick Park. So it was fitting that the Beatles would be playing during the post-game festivities. As I listened to the lyrics, I realized the Niners were looking ahead to the new Levi’s Stadium:
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Farewell Candlestick
It’s a shame that the site of so much sporting history will come crumbling down in a 30-second implosion (scheduled for the coming weeks).
In its place, a 800,000 square foot shopping district is planned. My only hope? That a seafood restaurant becomes the resting place of Montana’s end-zone heave. The yellow spray paint marks the spot. The name for the new restaurant?
The Catch.
