Giants are Apparently 'Stuck at The Stick' for '86
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:37 pm[i:67eb498892]by Nick Peters
originally printed: The Sporting News, February 3, 1986[/i:67eb498892]
SAN FRANCISCO — When the National League officially announced its 1986 schedule January 19, there was a collective sigh of relief in the Bay Area. The Giants, the [i:67eb498892]San Francisco[/i:67eb498892] Giants, were very much a part of the chart.
It was the first glimmer of hope for the team's fans who went all winter without any sign that San Francisco would field a team in 1986.
Two days later, the San Jose Mercury-News reported that the Giants and the city had reached an agreement in principle for the use of Candlestick Park for one more season. According to insiders, the Giants will receive a rent reduction — they paid $840,000 last year — and the city will renew its efforts to help the club find a new home in the Bay Area.
N.L President Chub Feeney, one time general manager of the Giants, said the league regards San Francisco as its territory, that there would be problems moving at this late date and that the club is more or less stuck at The Stick.
Then came a denial as chill as a night on Candlestick Point.
"Those reports are wrong," said Al Rosen, president and general manager, “No agreement has been reached. People are jumping to conclusions. We are involved in very delicate negotiations. The schedule means nothing. Another city could be substituted."
It’s happened before. The Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers at the last moment in 1970.
'It's not like moving a building," said Pat Gallagher, vice-president for business operations.
The Giants' home opener, with Houston, is set for April 15.
Owner Bob Lurie also labeled the optimism premature. "We don't have an agreement yet," he insisted, "We feel we have made meaningful progress in our negotiations, but frankly it’s taken longer than I thought it would."
originally printed: The Sporting News, February 3, 1986[/i:67eb498892]
SAN FRANCISCO — When the National League officially announced its 1986 schedule January 19, there was a collective sigh of relief in the Bay Area. The Giants, the [i:67eb498892]San Francisco[/i:67eb498892] Giants, were very much a part of the chart.
It was the first glimmer of hope for the team's fans who went all winter without any sign that San Francisco would field a team in 1986.
Two days later, the San Jose Mercury-News reported that the Giants and the city had reached an agreement in principle for the use of Candlestick Park for one more season. According to insiders, the Giants will receive a rent reduction — they paid $840,000 last year — and the city will renew its efforts to help the club find a new home in the Bay Area.
N.L President Chub Feeney, one time general manager of the Giants, said the league regards San Francisco as its territory, that there would be problems moving at this late date and that the club is more or less stuck at The Stick.
Then came a denial as chill as a night on Candlestick Point.
"Those reports are wrong," said Al Rosen, president and general manager, “No agreement has been reached. People are jumping to conclusions. We are involved in very delicate negotiations. The schedule means nothing. Another city could be substituted."
It’s happened before. The Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers at the last moment in 1970.
'It's not like moving a building," said Pat Gallagher, vice-president for business operations.
The Giants' home opener, with Houston, is set for April 15.
Owner Bob Lurie also labeled the optimism premature. "We don't have an agreement yet," he insisted, "We feel we have made meaningful progress in our negotiations, but frankly it’s taken longer than I thought it would."