WORLD SERIES EARTHQUAKE OF 1989
Nothing was like the world series earthquake of 1989. I grew up in southern California and had experienced numerous earthquakes throughout my childhood but nothing like the earthquake of 1989. Some of the earthquakes I experienced were of enormous magnitude that shook all the dishes out of the cupboards and onto the floors. Cracked the pool and sent water gushing out. But the world series earthquake was truly devastating. I don't think anyone is truly prepared for an earthquake,especially like the world series earthquake. It can strike at any moment and change people's lives forever. And the world series earthquake of 1989 was no different. If anything, it was worse. The day started as any other day. My usual routine during the baseball season. Sleep in late, get a good breakfast and start mentally preparing for the day's game. This day was no different. I headed to the ballpark eager to play another world series game and possibly get a chance to play. The excitement was in the air. The 3rd game of the series was being played in candlestick park. At the ballpark the festivities of a world series atmosphere were already going on. People preparing for the day's events. V.I.P. tents being assembled around the stadium that would host special visiters. Media coverage everywhere. It truly was spectacular. I changed into my uniform and hit the field for stretching and batting practice and to of course, talk to some of my friends on the opposing side. We took batting practice, I talked to some announcers and former players and current players on the other side. We took our usual infield practice and prepared for the game. I relaxed a bit and decided to head out to the field. I stood at the base of the dugout and took everything in. It was an amazing sight.I had chills just being around this tremendous event. I than decided to walk out on the field. It was around 5:00 or so. What happened next took me by surprise and I think everyone in the stadium. As I walked past the last dugout step and onto the field, I suddenly felt like I was losing my balance and was going to fall to the ground. I remember thinking something is wrong with me and that maybe I was passing out from all the excitement. I had just been almost shook to the ground. I than heard screams of "earthquake!". After absorbing this for a minute I realized that we had just experienced a massive earthquake. A world series earthquake to say the least. Chaos ensued over the next minutes and people were screaming. People were coming onto the field. Police cars were coming in from centerfield onto the field. I saw player's wives crying and coming onto the field to be with their husbands. I stood there taking in all that was happening.It was a scary time of uncertainty. Who would have ever expected a world series earthquake? Over the next minutes we started hearing how bad the earthquake was. Players from inside the clubhouse said that the concrete was cracking above their heads. The lights were all out and it was pitch black. They managed to find their way out to the field. We also heard of the bridge collapsing and of the devastation in the city. All the electricity in the city was out. The world series earthquake had left it's mark. Players were leaving the ballpark in their uniforms and trying to get home. I lived about 20 minutes away from the park but that night it took 4 hours to get home. The fitness coach of our team got a ride from me and wanted to be dropped off at his hotel which was only 10 minutes away. It took forever to get there and once we did the hotel was shut down due to structural damage. There was pieces of concrete laying in the streets from parts of the buildings coming down. The red cross had already set up shop and was assisting. It looked like something out of a hollywood movie. I finally made it back to my place. No electricity, no phone service, nothing. My wife at the time was in Tucson, Arizona and didn't know the outcome from the world series earthquake until the next day. I couldn't get ahold of her. It was a long night. Fires were breaking out in the city, gas leaks, etc. The city was in shambles and there were people dying. It was truly one of the most devastating things I have witnessed. Over the next few days I volunteered to go around and help the homeless that had suffered through this event. Some of the players and I went on a bus and visited shelters to help out. This went on for a few days. We were supposed to resume the games in 3 days but there had been structural damage to the stadium so we would have to wait 10 days before the games resumed. The rest of the world series did not have the same meaning. At that point the games seemed senseless. We were going to be playing the rest of the games while the city was in shambles. And while people had died. It wasn't the same and never would be. The last two games were played and we lost the world series but it does not compare to the many people who suffered that dismal fall day in 1989. My heart goes out to them. Than and now. And to take you back to the main page or for more navigational options,
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