T.R.’s Memoirs: ‘The Bay Bridge has collapsed’

(T.R. Sullivan archives)

Editor’s note: T.R. Sullivan will be sharing his memories of covering the Rangers regularly in the Texas Rangers Newsletter. From the NOT forthcoming book: 32 years in Arlington, a baseball writer’s odyssey. T.R. covered the Texas Rangers for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 1989-2005 and for MLB.com from 2006-2020. He has covered more MLB games in Texas than any other sportswriter.

“The Bay Bridge has collapsed.”

Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Jim Reeves blurted that out while sitting next to me in the upper deck of Candlestick Park on Oct. 17, 1989.

I will never forget those words.

As Revo spoke them, a distant column of smoke could be seen beyond center field, rising high in the sky.

We would find out later the smoke came from a collapsed and life-crushing Oakland freeway.

I was still trying to comprehend what Revo had just said while watching his battery-powered portable television in the auxiliary press-box setup for the overflow of media covering the 1989 World Series.