Seals Stadium
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 15, 2007 4:13 PM PST
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PrintI've always been intrigued by old stadiums; I was ridiculously grateful when someone was finally able to pinpoint the location of the Polo Grounds for me while living in NYC, I take an unwarranted amount of pride in the fact my uncle in Minnesota took me to a game at the old Bloomington Stadium before they turned it into the Mall of America, and part of taking my kids to their first game at The Phone will absolutely include reminiscing to them about the 'Stick, and what it was like withstanding a game at that creepy gray bunker in the rear-view mirror.
Seals Stadium was a bit before my time, so I felt like I'd found buried treasure when I discovered a couple of old photos my Dad had taken at Seals Stadium when he took my sisters and brothers to a game. Alas, none of them turned out to be as goofy about these things as I am, so they had no firm recollections about the day in question.
Do any of you have first-hand accounts of the Seals Stadium experience? Or anyone you know? I've read a few histories of it, and have heard a few accounts, but they usually strike me as having a slight whiff of BS--a product of assuming everything old demands a certain glow, and is automatically "precious."
I'd love to hear the real deal. Maybe it was remarkable, maybe not. Please share, time and memory willing.
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Re: Seals Stadium
I am also interested in hearing about it, though.
by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Jan 15, 2007 5:01 PM PST reply actions
Re: Seals Stadium
Re: Seals Stadium
Re: Seals Stadium
It was the San Francisco Seals against the San Diego Padres. And a fan Favorite was Albie Pearson who was playing Centerfield (or maybe left).
We had unencumbered box seats on the first base side. The Padres dugout was to our right. The players would past by, just a few feet away, on their way to the batting circle all the while spitting tobacco juice as they adjusted their cups.
I'm not sure who won, but I think it was the Padres. I didn't care, because for me to be at the ballpark was a dream come true.
Re: Seals Stadium
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 16, 2007 4:08 PM PST up reply actions
Re: Seals Stadium
Re: Seals Stadium
Personal vendettas aside, awesome story and thank you for sharing it.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 17, 2007 10:25 AM PST up reply actions
What Might Have Been
Re: What Might Have Been
One thing was the cushions. They rented out cushions for the seats for 25 or 50 cents, I can't remember exactly. At the end of the game, kids could pick up the cushions, carry them to the end of the row and a grownup would come by and stack them up again on the the dollies. I can't remember how many rows you had to pick up (shit, its been almost 50 years) but you would get a ducat you could exchange for a right field bleacher seat (face value .99 cents. Left field grandstand 1.50. Reserved seat 2.50 and box seat, real boxes too with 8 folding chairs in each one were 3.50. Big bucks. Those prices held the first several years at the Stick too I think.
The other was the smell of the Hamms brewery and the bakery, and brown mustard. Greatest aromas and fragrances in the history of mankind. I would take the k car out from the ingleside, get off at Market and Church Street and transfer to the 22 Fillmore (I had a car ticket so the ride was only 5 cents each way. Otherwise it was 15 cents cash. I was 10-11 at the time. How many kids 10 or 11 today packing around 20-40 dollars and taking the muni all over the city by themselves?
Only way to afford it was to take the streetcar and bus downtown, wait outside until the game was over (sometimes if it wasn't crowded they would let you in in the 7th inniing)and get in line to collect seat cushions after the game.
I went to my firs Giant game in 1958, the first with my Dad for my 10th birthday. We had reserved seats along the left field line. I had a hot dog, an orange soda that was poured from a galvanized can that a vendor packed on his back that had a spout on it, into a dixie cup. I also had some pink popcorn. Reuben Gomez pitched for the Giants I think. Dick Schofield led off for the Pirates. Willie Mays, nor anybody else, managed to hit a home run, and the Giants lost, and I was crushed. I mean bitterly crushed. I got over it as soon as we got home. Little kids have short memories. Just like us old bastards.
by E Ticket on Jan 17, 2007 8:31 PM PST up reply actions
Re: What Might Have Been
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 18, 2007 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
Spread it around, fella
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