1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damage
October 24, 2000
Provided by: Museum of the City of San Franciso
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster
The Yanks and Mets are currently playing in the fisrt subway World Series since 1956. However, 11 years ago, the bay-side cities of Oakland and San Francisco played in a World Series shocker (sorry). The 7.1 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on October 17, 1989. This powerful quake, the strongest in San Francisco since 1906, struck just before the third game of the series. Across the bay area, the quake was responsible for 62 deaths, and damage estimates neared the 5 billion dollar mark. A number of lives were lost when elevated highways, such as the Cypress viaduct of Interstate HIghway 880 in Oakland (pictured above), collapsed or "pancaked." H. G. Wilshire of the U.S.G.S took this remarkable photograph. In addition, the shaker triggered a 4 foot tsunami in Monterey Bay. Parts of San Francisco were dark for three days, and the World Series didn't resume until October 27. For the record, the Oakland As swept the San Francisco Giants in the 89' Series, 4 games to 0.
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