Candlestick Swindle - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 00:00, 24 June 2014

2014-06-24T00:00:43Z

Ccarlsson: added category

2013-05-18T16:21:24Z

added category

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 18 May 2013
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	[[1958-1994: The Giant Years \| Prev. Document]] [[Remembering Nostalgia: SF's Downtown Stadium \| Next Document]]		[[1958-1994: The Giant Years \| Prev. Document]] [[Remembering Nostalgia: SF's Downtown Stadium \| Next Document]]

	[[category:Baseball]] [[category:Mayors]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Newspapers]] [[category:redevelopment]] [[category:crime]]		[[category:Baseball]] [[category:Mayors]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Newspapers]] [[category:redevelopment]] [[category:crime]] [[category:Bayview/Hunter's Point]]

Ccarlsson: added 1960 photos and expanded captions

2011-08-07T04:26:34Z

added 1960 photos and expanded captions

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:26, 6 August 2011
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	[[Image:Candlestick from n to s 1998.jpg]]		[[Image:Candlestick from n to s 1998.jpg]]

	'''View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park, 1998. In the late 2000s, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced plans to tear down Candlestick and build a new football stadium as part of the redevelopment of Hunter's Point. As of 2011, that plan seems to be stalled, and the 49ers are promoting a new stadium in suburban Santa Clara, while the Giants are enjoying their 11th year at [[Pac Bell ~~ballpark~~\|Willie Mays Field]].'''		'''View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park, 1998. In the late 2000s, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced plans to tear down Candlestick and build a new football stadium as part of the redevelopment of Hunter's Point. As of 2011, that plan seems to be stalled, and the 49ers are promoting a new stadium in suburban Santa Clara, while the Giants are enjoying their 11th year at [[Pac Bell Ballpark\|Willie Mays Field]].'''

	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

Ccarlsson: added 1960 photos and expanded captions

2011-08-07T04:22:02Z

added 1960 photos and expanded captions

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:22, 6 August 2011
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	[[Image:basebnew$candlestick-outside-1996.jpg]]		[[Image:basebnew$candlestick-outside-1996.jpg]]

	'''Candlestick Park 1996, outside view (looking generally ~~north~~). As Wolfe surmised, the park was rebuilt to suit the needs of the private owners of the football 49ers and the baseball Giants, at great cost to taxpayers, bonds which won't be fully paid off until well into the 21st century.'''		'''Candlestick Park 1996, outside view (looking generally west). As Wolfe surmised, the park was rebuilt to suit the needs of the private owners of the football 49ers and the baseball Giants, at great cost to taxpayers, bonds which won't be fully paid off until well into the 21st century.'''

	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''
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	Even though City Hall and the newspapers were misstating facts about the Candlestick story, San Francisco restaurateurs, hotel owners and shopkeepers at least began to realize that they were not making any money from the ball park, as promised by the ballyhooers. Only the Giants, Harney, and Christopher were making money. The Giants were attracting few additional tourists to San Francisco, and area fans who journeyed to isolated Candlestick Point, several miles away, did not stop to patronize downtown establishments. Some downtown business men were angry, and if North's crusade were given time and publicity, they might cause an uncomfortable controversy.		Even though City Hall and the newspapers were misstating facts about the Candlestick story, San Francisco restaurateurs, hotel owners and shopkeepers at least began to realize that they were not making any money from the ball park, as promised by the ballyhooers. Only the Giants, Harney, and Christopher were making money. The Giants were attracting few additional tourists to San Francisco, and area fans who journeyed to isolated Candlestick Point, several miles away, did not stop to patronize downtown establishments. Some downtown business men were angry, and if North's crusade were given time and publicity, they might cause an uncomfortable controversy.

	Christopher sent emissaries to North, but he would not be wooed or pressured from his stand. To the contrary, he made even more vigorous attacks on Christopher and the ball park deal. The lives of future generations had been mortgaged by this shoddy piece of business, he maintained. Christopher was diverting city funds from various ~~departments~~: $1.4 million from street improvement bonds, $1.2 million from state gasoline taxes given to the city for road improvements, $1.5 million from sewer bonds for services to the Giants ball park.		Christopher sent emissaries to North, but he would not be wooed or pressured from his stand. To the contrary, he made even more vigorous attacks on Christopher and the ball park deal. The lives of future generations had been mortgaged by this shoddy piece of business, he maintained. Christopher was diverting city funds from various departments: $1.4 million from street improvement bonds, $1.2 million from state gasoline taxes given to the city for road improvements, $1.5 million from sewer bonds for services to the Giants ball park.

	'''A Hidden Payoff? '''		'''A Hidden Payoff? '''
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	[[Image:Candlestick from n to s 1998.jpg]]		[[Image:Candlestick from n to s 1998.jpg]]

	'''View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park, 1998. In the late 2000s, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced plans to tear down Candlestick and build a new football stadium as part of the redevelopment of Hunter's Point. As of 2011, that plan seems to be stalled, and the 49ers are promoting a new stadium in suburban Santa Clara, while the Giants are enjoying their 11th year at [[Pac Bell ~~Park~~\|Willie Mays Field]].'''		'''View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park, 1998. In the late 2000s, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced plans to tear down Candlestick and build a new football stadium as part of the redevelopment of Hunter's Point. As of 2011, that plan seems to be stalled, and the 49ers are promoting a new stadium in suburban Santa Clara, while the Giants are enjoying their 11th year at [[Pac Bell ballpark\|Willie Mays Field]].'''

	''Photo: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

Ccarlsson: added 1960 photos and expanded captions

2011-08-07T04:20:23Z

added 1960 photos and expanded captions

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:20, 6 August 2011
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	''by Burton H. Wolfe''		''by Burton H. Wolfe''

	[[Image:~~basebnew$candlestick~~-~~outside-1996~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Candlestick 1960 AAC-5298.jpg]]

			'''Candlestick Park, 1960, "the best new ballpark in baseball"!'''

	''~~'Candlestick Park 1996~~, ~~outside view (looking generally north)'~~''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

	~~''Photo~~: ~~Chris Carlsson''~~		[[Image:Candlestick park north view 1960 AAC-5280.jpg]]

	~~[[Image:~~Candlestick ~~from n to s 1998~~.~~jpg]]~~		'''Candlestick Park, 1960, looking north across the City.'''

	''~~'View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park~~, ~~1998.'~~''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

	~~''Photo: Chris Carlsson''~~

	''San Francisco has its quota of great untold stories, but few can match the Candlestick Park Swindle in the extent of financial hanky-panky, the wide involvement of political and business leaders and the consuming myopia of the local press.		''San Francisco has its quota of great untold stories, but few can match the Candlestick Park Swindle in the extent of financial hanky-panky, the wide involvement of political and business leaders and the consuming myopia of the local press.
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	Some annual loss on Candlestick Park will continue until 1993, when the stadium will finally be free of debt and owned completely by the city--unless, it is torn down before then or reconstructed, which will add more debt.		Some annual loss on Candlestick Park will continue until 1993, when the stadium will finally be free of debt and owned completely by the city--unless, it is torn down before then or reconstructed, which will add more debt.

			[[Image:basebnew$candlestick-outside-1996.jpg]]

			'''Candlestick Park 1996, outside view (looking generally north). As Wolfe surmised, the park was rebuilt to suit the needs of the private owners of the football 49ers and the baseball Giants, at great cost to taxpayers, bonds which won't be fully paid off until well into the 21st century.'''

			''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	There was another interesting development at Candlestick: Stevens California Enterprises, which got the food and beverage concession at the ball park, bought all its milk until two seasons ago from Christopher's milk company, Christopher Dairy Farms. The Borden Co. now has the lucrative contract.		There was another interesting development at Candlestick: Stevens California Enterprises, which got the food and beverage concession at the ball park, bought all its milk until two seasons ago from Christopher's milk company, Christopher Dairy Farms. The Borden Co. now has the lucrative contract.
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	''originally published in the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian, ''March 1972''		''originally published in the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian, ''March 1972''


			[[Image:Candlestick from n to s 1998.jpg]]

			'''View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park, 1998. In the late 2000s, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced plans to tear down Candlestick and build a new football stadium as part of the redevelopment of Hunter's Point. As of 2011, that plan seems to be stalled, and the 49ers are promoting a new stadium in suburban Santa Clara, while the Giants are enjoying their 11th year at [[Pac Bell Park\|Willie Mays Field]].'''

			''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

Lisaruth at 09:06, 19 January 2009

2009-01-19T09:06:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:06, 19 January 2009
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	Here we are eight years later, with a Candlestick Park that enrages so many people that a new mayor, [[Mayor Joe Alioto\|Joe Alioto]], wants to scrap it for a new stadium. His announced philosophy is that great public projects should not be waylaid just because all of the people aren't getting enough spaghetti and zucchini. And no doubt many San Franciscans believe that a ball park is a great public project, greater than a school, housing complex or a modern transportation system. That attitude could be the most tragic part of this story.		Here we are eight years later, with a Candlestick Park that enrages so many people that a new mayor, [[Mayor Joe Alioto\|Joe Alioto]], wants to scrap it for a new stadium. His announced philosophy is that great public projects should not be waylaid just because all of the people aren't getting enough spaghetti and zucchini. And no doubt many San Franciscans believe that a ball park is a great public project, greater than a school, housing complex or a modern transportation system. That attitude could be the most tragic part of this story.

	''~~- Burton Wolfe,~~ originally published in the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian, ''March 1972''		''originally published in the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian, ''March 1972''

Ccarlsson: Protected "Candlestick Swindle": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2008-12-29T07:24:41Z

Protected "Candlestick Swindle": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 00:24, 29 December 2008
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC

2008-12-29T07:24:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:24, 29 December 2008
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Burton H. Wolfe''

	[[Image:basebnew$candlestick-outside-1996.jpg]]		[[Image:basebnew$candlestick-outside-1996.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 22:18, 2 October 2008

2008-10-02T22:18:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 2 October 2008
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	'''Candlestick Park 1996, outside view (looking generally north)'''		'''Candlestick Park 1996, outside view (looking generally north)'''

	''~~photo~~: Chris Carlsson''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	~~San Francisco has its quota of great untold stories, but few can match the~~ Candlestick ~~Park Swindle in the extent of financial hanky-panky, the wide involvement of political and business leaders and the consuming myopia of the local press~~.		[[Image:Candlestick from n to s 1998.jpg]]

	~~Here~~, on the eve of another move to build another ballpark in 1997, is the first complete account of how our first baseball stadium came to be generally acknowledged in just 10 years as the wrong building, built in the wrong place, with more money than was involved in the 1906 graft prosecutions:		'''View from Hunter's Point across Yosemite Creek towards Candlestick Park, 1998.'''

	~~ A ball park, billed as costing the taxpayers $5 million, skyrocketed to $15 million in the year of its construction.~~		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	~~ Henry E. North~~, ~~foreman of~~ the ~~San Francisco grand jury at~~ the ~~time~~, ~~conducted an investigation~~ and ~~called it a scandal. His grand jury issued a scathing report~~.		''San Francisco has its quota of great untold stories, but few can match the Candlestick Park Swindle in the extent of financial hanky-panky, the wide involvement of political and business leaders and the consuming myopia of the local press.

	~~ The local press doctored~~, ~~then buried~~, the ~~story for good.~~		''Here, on the eve of another move to build another ballpark in 1997, is the first complete account of how our first baseball stadium came to be generally acknowledged in just 10 years as the wrong building, built in the wrong place, with more money than was involved in the 1906 graft prosecutions:

	~~ Critics who warned of calamity~~ in the ~~choice~~ of ~~the cold, windy, distant location were hooted down by Mayor Christopher's administration~~.		''-- A ball park, billed as costing the taxpayers $5 million, skyrocketed to $15 million in the year of its construction.

	North ~~was pressured unmercifully until he~~ called ~~off his attack on the swindle~~. ~~He died~~ a ~~broken man~~.		''-- Henry E. North, foreman of the San Francisco grand jury at the time, conducted an investigation and called it a scandal. His grand jury issued a scathing report.

	Today, as City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce and the San Francisco Planning and Urban Renewal Association (SPUR) begin to thrash the thickets for support for a new $40 million downtown stadium, the fact remains that Candlestick costs have rocketed to more than $20 million (''The ~~Guardian'' defies anyone to get the exact total cost from city hall~~, ~~custodian of one set of bonds~~, ~~or from~~ the ~~Bank of America, custodian of the other) and the needed Candlestick expansion and repairs to an estimated $10 million or so~~.		''-- The local press doctored, then buried, the story for good.

	~~There is but one previous authoritative account~~ of the ~~Candlestick swindle: written by freelance writer Lewis Lindsay and published in~~ the ~~June~~, ~~1960 edition of Wolfe~~'s ~~new defunct magazine, ''The Californian''. (This issue is missing from an otherwise complete collection of ''Californians'' in the main library~~.)		''-- Critics who warned of calamity in the choice of the cold, windy, distant location were hooted down by Mayor Christopher's administration.

	~~It all began early in 1953. Mayor Elmer Robinson~~'~~s administration--and local businessmen~~--~~decided to import big league baseball for San Francisco's economic and recreational benefit. A downtown stadium~~ was ~~adequate for San Francisco's AAA minor league club,~~ the ~~Seals, but not for major league fare~~.		''-- North was pressured unmercifully until he called off his attack on the swindle. He died a broken man.

	Hence, Robinson asked the Board of Supervisors to approve a $5 million bond proposition to construct a new stadium. Among the supervisors in approval: George Christopher, soon to become mayor; Gene McAteer, headed for the state senate; Francis McCarty, a future judge; Harold Dobbs, restaurateur and budding Republican candidate for mayor, and John Jay Ferdon, future district attorney.		''Today, as City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce and the San Francisco Planning and Urban Renewal Association (SPUR) begin to thrash the thickets for support for a new $40 million downtown stadium, the fact remains that Candlestick costs have rocketed to more than $20 million (''The Guardian'' defies anyone to get the exact total cost from city hall, custodian of one set of bonds, or from the Bank of America, custodian of the other) and the needed Candlestick expansion and repairs to an estimated $10 million or so.

			''There is but one previous authoritative account of the Candlestick swindle: written by freelance writer Lewis Lindsay and published in the June, 1960 edition of Wolfe's new defunct magazine, ''The Californian''. (This issue is missing from an otherwise complete collection of ''Californians'' in the main library.)''

			It all began early in 1953. [[Mayor Elmer Robinson\|Mayor Elmer Robinson]]'s administration--and local businessmen--decided to import big league baseball for San Francisco's economic and recreational benefit. A downtown stadium was adequate for San Francisco's AAA minor league club, the Seals, but not for major league fare.

			Hence, Robinson asked the Board of Supervisors to approve a $5 million bond proposition to construct a new stadium. Among the supervisors in approval: [[Mayor George Christopher\|George Christopher]], soon to become mayor; Gene McAteer, headed for the state senate; Francis McCarty, a future judge; Harold Dobbs, restaurateur and budding Republican candidate for mayor, and John Jay Ferdon, future district attorney.

	In July of that same year, 1953, a local multi-millionaire contractor named Charles Harney purchased 65 acres of land at Candlestick Point from the city of San Francisco for $2,100 an acre.		In July of that same year, 1953, a local multi-millionaire contractor named Charles Harney purchased 65 acres of land at Candlestick Point from the city of San Francisco for $2,100 an acre.
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	Then they went to work on his wife. Unlike Henry, she was not involved in politics and her life revolved around her friends and social affairs. Her friends snubbed her and she no longer received invitations. She cried, she pleaded, she begged Henry to call off the ball park investigation and the lawsuit, when that did not move him, she threatened him with divorce. Henry began hitting the bottle.		Then they went to work on his wife. Unlike Henry, she was not involved in politics and her life revolved around her friends and social affairs. Her friends snubbed her and she no longer received invitations. She cried, she pleaded, she begged Henry to call off the ball park investigation and the lawsuit, when that did not move him, she threatened him with divorce. Henry began hitting the bottle.

	On June 2, 1960, shortly after I published a detailed article by Lewis Lindsay called "The Giants Ball Park: A $15 Million Swindle," the press broke the story that North had buried the hatchet with Christopher. In its first edition, the ''Chronicle'' correctly reported that North and Christopher had drunk a fifth and a half of Scotch together at Christopher's home, and praised each other for ~~publication~~. ''"He's a great mayor,"'' North ~~saidand~~ agreed that legal entanglements were finished. The ''Chronicle'' dropped mention of the Scotch in later editions that went to most of its readers.		On June 2, 1960, shortly after I published a detailed article by Lewis Lindsay called "The Giants Ball Park: A $15 Million Swindle," the press broke the story that North had buried the hatchet with Christopher. In its first edition, the ''Chronicle'' correctly reported that North and Christopher had drunk a fifth and a half of Scotch together at Christopher's home, and praised each other for publication. ''"He's a great mayor,"'' North said--and agreed that legal entanglements were finished. The ''Chronicle'' dropped mention of the Scotch in later editions that went to most of its readers.

	Cohn was outraged. ''"We had this suit won,"'' he told me. ''"North assured me he was going through with this no matter what happened. But they got to him through his wife, the poor old bastard. You see how they do things in this city? It's so goddamned rotten you can't believe it."''		Cohn was outraged. ''"We had this suit won,"'' he told me. ''"North assured me he was going through with this no matter what happened. But they got to him through his wife, the poor old bastard. You see how they do things in this city? It's so goddamned rotten you can't believe it."''
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	'''Now Another Ballpark '''		'''Now Another Ballpark '''

	Here we are eight years later, with a Candlestick Park that enrages so many people that a new mayor, Joe Alioto, wants to scrap it for a new stadium. His announced philosophy is that great public projects should not be waylaid just because all of the people aren't getting enough spaghetti and zucchini. And no doubt many San Franciscans believe that a ball park is a great public project, greater than a school, housing complex or a modern transportation system. That attitude could be the most tragic part of this story.		Here we are eight years later, with a Candlestick Park that enrages so many people that a new mayor, [[Mayor Joe Alioto\|Joe Alioto]], wants to scrap it for a new stadium. His announced philosophy is that great public projects should not be waylaid just because all of the people aren't getting enough spaghetti and zucchini. And no doubt many San Franciscans believe that a ball park is a great public project, greater than a school, housing complex or a modern transportation system. That attitude could be the most tragic part of this story.

	''- Burton Wolfe, originally published in the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian, ''March 1972''		''- Burton Wolfe, originally published in the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian, ''March 1972''


	[[1958-1994: The Giant Years \| Prev. Document]] [[Remembering Nostalgia: SF's Downtown Stadium \| Next Document]]		[[1958-1994: The Giant Years \| Prev. Document]] [[Remembering Nostalgia: SF's Downtown Stadium \| Next Document]]

	[[category:Baseball]] [[category:Mayors]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Newspapers]]		[[category:Baseball]] [[category:Mayors]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Newspapers]] [[category:redevelopment]] [[category:crime]]

Lisaruth: addition of categories, minor editing

2008-08-17T05:20:49Z

addition of categories, minor editing

Show changes