The Tragedy Of The Loma Prieta Earthquake

Game 3 of the 1989 World Series didn't exactlyOut of respect for the Loma Prieta Earthquake
go to plan. This was the year of the Loma Prietavictims, the Oakland Athletics weren't allowed to
Earthquake.celebrate their World Series victory with
At the beginning of Game 3 of the 1989 Worldchampagne.
Series, on October 17th at 5.04pm, the LomaThe quake caused an estimated $6 billion to $13
Prieta hit the San Francisco Bay area, causingbillion in property damage. It was the largest
devastation and disruption for thousands.earthquake to occur on the San Andreas Fault
It was the year the Oakland Athletics playedsince the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
against the San Francisco Giants in the 1989On October 26, President George H.W. Bush
Major League Baseball World Series. Coincidentally,signed a $3.45 billion earthquake relief package for
it featured both of the Bay Area's Major LeagueCalifornia. Because of the coincidence of timing of
Baseball teams, the Oakland Athletics and the Santhe famous World Series earthquake, it was the
Francisco Giants.first major earthquake in the United States ever
The epicenter of the 1989 World Seriesto be broadcast by live television.
Earthquake was in an unpopulated area in theA television movie documenting the 1989 World
Santa Cruz Mountains. The earthquake wasSeries earthquake was made in 1990, called After
named after the Loma Prieta Peak which lies 5The Shock. The Goodyear Blimp which was
miles to the northeast in Santa Clara County.already aloft for the game, provided video of
The Loma Prieta Earthquake was caused by a slipdamage and fires within the city for ABC
along the San Andreas Fault. It lastedbroadcasting.
approximately 15 seconds and measured 6.9 onThe ten day delay caused by the 1989 World
the moment magnitude scale. It directly killed 63Series quake was the longest delay in World
people, and indirectly killed 6 throughout northernSeries history. The 1989 World Series was
California, injured 3,757 people and left betweensupposed to resume after five days, but was
8,000 and 12,000 people homeless.delayed a further five due to unconnected
The loss of life was tragic, but due to the hugetransmission links.
attendance at the 1989 World Series, traffic onThoughts go out to the victims of the 1989
the freeways that collapsed in the earthquakeLoma Prieta earthquake. May their souls rest in
was light...a lot of people's lives were saved.peace.