1989 NLCS Game 5 – Earthquake Game

Lore & Background

This Series was also known as the 'Bay Bridge Series,' 'BART Series,' 'Battle of the Bay,' and 'Earthquake Series'; the two participant cities lie on opposite sides of San Francisco Bay, connected by the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred before the start of Game 3. Prior to the start of Game 3 on October 17, at about 5:04 PM PDT, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck, damaging Oakland and San Francisco (particularly the Cypress Street Viaduct in the former and the Marina District in the latter) as well as the Bay Bridge's upper deck. Candlestick Park in San Francisco suffered damage to its upper deck as pieces of concrete fell from the baffle at the top of the stadium and the power was knocked out. The game was postponed out of concerns for the safety of everyone in the ballpark as well as the loss of power. The series resumed on October 27 and finished the next day. At the time, October 28 was the latest end date ever for a World Series, tying the 1981 World Series and surpassing the 1986 World Series by one day, even though the 1989 series only lasted the minimum four games.

Reader's Guide

Game 3 was originally slated for October 17 at 5:35 pm; however, it was postponed when an earthquake occurred at 5:04 pm. The Athletics swept the Giants in four games, winning Games 1 and 2 at home, then Games 3 and 4 after the earthquake delay. The A's won Game 1 5–0 and Game 2 5–1.

Did You Know?

• The 1989 World Series was the first World Series sweep since 1976, when the Cincinnati Reds swept the New York Yankees.
• The 76-year gap between matchups was the longest in World Series history, a record this World Series would hold until 2018 when the Red Sox and Dodgers met for their first World Series meeting in 102 years.
• It marked the first time two franchises had faced off in the World Series after having once played each other when both were based in a different city.
• The Cypress Street Viaduct collapse killed 42 people, not 10.