the san francisco giants and me: the 1980s, part 2

The 1985 Giants were the worst team of the San Francisco era, losing 100 games. But in 1986, with new manager Roger Craig and rookie first baseman Will Clark, the team returned to respectability. In 1987, they did better, taking the division lead in mid-August and coasting to the post-season. In the 1987 playoffs against the Cardinals, things looked great when the Giants took a three games to two lead into St. Louis. I can remember jabbering happily with the people in our section about how we would see each other the next week for the World Series.

But the Giants never scored in St. Louis, and another season was over. They returned to the post-season in 1989, and with Will Clark acting like Superman (Hank Greenwald’s term), the Giants beat the Cubs and went to their second World Series of the San Francisco years. My son and I were at the final game of that playoff, and we both have fond memories of Clark and the rest.

But the 1989 American League champs were the Oakland A’s at the height of their power, and the Giants were swept in the Series. No one remembers that, which is unfair to that great A’s team … no one remembers because of what happened the first time they tried to play Game Three at Candlestick:

The Giants faded the next few years, losing 90 games in 1992. Team owner Bob Lurie, who had rescued the club in the mid-70s when it looked like they were going to move to Toronto, tried four times to get voters to approve funding for a new stadium. Voters were unconvinced, and Lurie finally made an agreement to sell the team to a group in Florida.

I can remember driving to visit my sister in Sacramento one day that summer, sitting in the back seat while my wife drove and my daughter rode shotgun. We were listening to a mixtape, and a song from the Off Broadway play Pump Boys and Dinettes came on. “No Holds Barred” has always been my favorite song from that musical, which is the only play I’ve ever seen in New York City. Here’s a performance from the Tony Awards … it’s a medley, “No Holds Barred” comes at the two-minute 45-second mark (NYPD Blue fans will recognize the blond singer … she played Andy Sipowicz’s ex-wife):

As we drove, the song reached the chorus: “No holds barred, Rhetta, I’m goin’ to Florida, won’t you come along with me?” And suddenly, the magnitude of what was happening to the Giants hit me. After 34 years, they were going to leave. I burst into uncontrollable sobbing … I couldn’t stop, couldn’t explain to my family, who I’m sure thought I was going nutso. It was one of the saddest moments of my life.

And then, in November of ‘92, the league’s owners voted to reject the Florida move. Almost immediately, a team of investors from the San Francisco area had an offer ready. The details had to be worked out, and the deal wasn’t official for a couple of months, but on November 20, the deal was announced.

Less than three weeks later, the Giants signed free agent Barry Bonds. Say goodbye to the 80s.