Candlestick Park
San Francisco, CA
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, CA
Center Field
John Forgerty
If you know this sailor guy Dave at all you know his first love is baseball and his second love, well it is also baseball.
His team, win or lose is the SF Giants and their stadium will always be Candlestick no matter the name on the marquee outside.
In 1969, as spring training began this guy, fresh from the Navy, took a major step toward fulfilling his only desire. He approached the coach of the San Jose Bees and asked for a tryout. "Well son", the coach replied "I'd love to see what you got but we are closing up here and going on the road. Maybe next time". There wouldn't be a next time.
The desire to play ball burned like fire and after reading a tiny ad in the San Jose Mercury about a coach putting together a team of semi-pro players he answered the call and joined up with the Pirates. The coach was a sharp little guy by the name of Sal.
The team was only fairly good, but that was no matter, this was baseball and our sailor put all his heart and soul and effort into his playing. Still, he thought, there was a chance a scout would find him and see that he had a solid swing and a good arm.
The major highlight of the non-eventful season was the playoff game held at the Bees stadium on the corner of Senter and Alma. Even if our sailor couldn't play with the Bees he was playing on their field.
The Pirates were winning right up to the 4th inning when the threatening storm clouds finally got serious and the pissy mist turned to real rain. The teams were tied when the game was called. It would have to be finished another day, but sadly on another field because the Bees were coming back to town and their stadium wouldn't be available again in time to finish the final 5 innings.
Like night to day was the contrast between the Blackford High School diamond from the Bees diamond. Clumps of grass and gopher holes pocked the field. It was a hot day, clear and bright and ironically the Pirates where behind 17-1 when our sailor, playing outfield ran in for a high fly ball. He ran as if the entire game rested on this one play. He called the ball - the shortstop that ran into him didn't - but as our guy ran full out into what was going to be an easy out the shortstop looked up just in time to see what was about to happen. He jumped up soccer style, kicking his leg in the air as he collided with our boy.
The elbow of our sailor's out-stretched right arm met its match in the oncoming shortstop's cleeted feet; for this outfielder, the season was over in that instant. Not only this season but all future seasons. As our sailor rolled away in a heap of agony he was helped to his feet by his coach, Sal. Holding his right wrist the damage to the elbow was obvious to everyone.
Baseball, for our sailor was over....but still there was that dream, and fantasy camp 30 years later.
