Fansided

5 of the most spooky, surreal and scary World Series moments ever

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Home plate umpire Charlie Reliford (C) comes between New York Mets' catcher Mike Piazza (L) and New York Yankees' pitcher Roger Clemens during the first inning of the Second Game of the World Series in New York City 22 October, 2000. Clemens threw a piece of Piazza's broken bat at Piazza as he ran to first base causing a dugout clearing altercation between the two teams. AFP PHOTO/Don EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Home plate umpire Charlie Reliford (C) comes between New York Mets' catcher Mike Piazza (L) and New York Yankees' pitcher Roger Clemens during the first inning of the Second Game of the World Series in New York City 22 October, 2000. Clemens threw a piece of Piazza's broken bat at Piazza as he ran to first base causing a dugout clearing altercation between the two teams. AFP PHOTO/Don EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
SAN FRANCISCO – OCTOBER 17: General view of the crowds in Candlestick Park after an earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the richter scale, rocks game three of the World Series between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on October 17, 1989 in San Francisco, California. Despite some discussion to cancel, baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent agrees to allow the series to continue. Play resumed October 25, and the A’s go on to sweep the Giants in four games. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – OCTOBER 17: General view of the crowds in Candlestick Park after an earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the richter scale, rocks game three of the World Series between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on October 17, 1989 in San Francisco, California. Despite some discussion to cancel, baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent agrees to allow the series to continue. Play resumed October 25, and the A’s go on to sweep the Giants in four games. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images) /

1. The Earthquake in 1989

The Loma Prieta Earthquake came during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series on Oct. 17 that year. The series happened to feature Bay Area rivals the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, and was appropriately named “The Battle of the Bay.”

A replay of the television broadcast is simply surreal to watch, even 29 years later now. The screen went black, and play-by-play man Al Michaels can be heard saying something along the lines of “we’re having an earthquake” before his microphone is lost too.

Candlestick Park was obviously and literally shaken by the 6.9 magnitude quake, with waves felt within and ballpark structures swayed. The entire surrounding area was devastated, with loss of life due to the Bay Bridge collapsing and another freeway in Oakland falling as well.

25 most underrated sports movies ever. dark. Next

The 1989 World Series was delayed for 10 days after the earthquake, which is secondary to the overall magnitude the Bay Area felt. It was also the middle year of a three-year run of trips to the World Series for the A’s, and the only won they won. In terms of scary, spooky or surreal moments in the World Series, it’s hard to beat a natural disaster that happened to be broadcast on live television for a national audience.

Home/MLB