By JOEY JOHNSTON

Tribune Sports Writer

(c) Tampa Bay Times. Originally published Oct. 18, 1989.

SAN FRANCISCO — The status of the World Series remained in doubt on Tuesday night after a massive earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay area and forced the postponement of Game 3 at Candlestick Park.

Jorge Costa, the director of stadium operations, said there was possible structural damage in the stadium’s upper deck. Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent said the stadium will be inspected today, then a decision will be made on resumption of the World Series.

When the earthquake hit at 5:04 p.m. PDT, the light standards surrounding the stadium shook like tree branches in the wind. The football press box, containing hundreds of journalists and located at the top of the stadium, rocked back and forth for for approximately 15 seconds.

“I’m a native of this area, and this quake was rockin’ and rollin’,’’ said Aaron Levine, a San Francisco Chronicle vendor who was hawking newspapers at the stadium gates. “I looked up at the lights at Gate E and it was like they were doing the Watusi.’’

There are two apparent options for baseball to consider regarding the completion of this World Series:

— Evaluate the damage today, then resume the Series later at Candlestick if that is deemed safe. The next three games in the best-of-seven series are scheduled for Candlestick.

— Move all games across the bay to the Oakland Coliseum, where the first two games were played. But that might not be possible. There were also reports of structural damage there.

“We’re going to need some more facts before we know what to do,’’ Vincent said. “I thought it was a jet or something. I’ve never been through anything like that.’’

Vincent would not speculate when asked if the Series would be forced to be moved out of the area to a neutral site. An official announcement is expected today after Vincent and his staff study the situation.

It was supposed to be another night of revelry in the World Series some have dubbed “The Bay Bridge Series.’’ But the pregame hoopla quickly died down after the earthquake hit.

The game was officially postponed at 5:40 PDT, sending the remaining fans to the parking lot, where they were a two-mile traffic jam.

The earthquake hit approximately five minutes prior to the on-field introductions of the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. When the stadium began to shake, many players fled the dugout and ran onto the field. Some fans cheered and others chanted, “We will rock you.’’ When it stopped, there was another loud cheer throughout the stadium. The lights and scoreboard electricity went out. Many fans remained in their seats, not knowing what to do or where to go.

“The fans were great,’’ National League President Bill White said. “It felt like our whole section was moving over a spot when it hit. The fans could have caused their own avalanche, but I felt they were calm and orderly through it all.’’

Scheduled Giants starter Don Robinson was the only player in the San Francisco clubhouse when the quake hit.

“I was just putting the last strap on my knee brac,’’ Robinson said. “Sure I knew what it was. The clubhouse was shaking like water in a bowl. I headed for (Manager) Roger Craig’s office and laid down in the doorway. Hey, I’m from West Virginia, where they have tornadoes. This is scarier.

“I guess we play tomorrow if the stadium is OK and we don’t have another earthquake. I heard somebody say move the games to Oakland. How will we get there? All the bridges are down. What are we going to do, fly? I’m not trying to be funny. In a situation like this, baseball is kind of secondary.’’

Some players chose to make light of the situation.

“I guess the momentum has shifted back,’’ Giants pitcher Atlee Hammaker said, referring to San Francisco’s two-game deficit in the Series.

“I’ve been through this before, buddy, and it ain’t fun,’’ Giants pitcher Mike Krakow said as he quickly left the stadium.

“What really matters is what the people out there are having to go through,’’ A’s designated hitter Dave Parker said. “The World Series takes a back seat to everything at this point.’’

Giants pitcher Mike LaCoss was in the dugout tunnel when the earthquake hit.

“That was probably the best place to be,’’ LaCoss said. “As soon as I came out of the dugout, I saw my brother-in-law in the stands. When he came out here, I told him I would show him all the sights of San Francisco, but I couldn’t guarantee an earthquake. We were looking at each other and I’m sure that’s what he was thinking — we got one.’’

Former Giants great Orlando Cepeda, who was attending the Series, said he never witnessed such a scary scene.

“I can’t run anymore,’’ Cepeda said. “But I ran today. If could run like that, I would be playing ball right now.’’

Most players were asked how the crisis would affect their teams, but they preferred not to talk about baseball.

“I don’t want to think about the Series right now,’’ A’s third baseman Carney Lansford said. “I was raised in this area and I know how these are. But to someone who isn’t used to them, it could be devastating.’’

“The World Series really brought the Bay area together,’’ Giants catcher Terry Kennedy said. “This will bring us together even more.’’