The 818 Now

Via a Baseball Reliquary press release:

The Baseball Reliquary presents exhibitions highlighting the storied rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants and the 20th anniversary of the 1989 World Series Earthquake Game from August 10-October 2, 2009 at the Burbank Central Library, 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, California.

“Love to Hate: The Dodgers-Giants Rivalry” explores the longstanding and deep-seated rivalry between the players and fans of the Dodgers and Giants, which dates back to the late 19th century when both clubs were based in New York and which continued unabated after the teams moved to the West Coast following the 1957 season.

“The emotions generated by the Dodger-Giant rivalry were very much like those surrounding a Holy War,” remarked baseball author Peter Golenbock. “If you loved the Dodgers, you despised the Giants. You couldn’t be neutral.” Paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, a lifelong New York Giants fan, commented, “I hated the Dodgers with that love that only hatred can understand.”

The display utilizes photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, and artworks by Michael Guccione, Greg Jezewski, and Stephen Seemayer to depict the intensity of the Dodgers-Giants rivalry and to examine the nature of that animosity.

“The Day the World Series Stopped” revisits the 1989 World Series Earthquake Game between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, which marks its 20th anniversary on October 17, 2009. On that fateful day in 1989, at 5:04 p.m., a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay Area, causing widespread damage and loss of life and forcing the cancellation of the third game of the World Series.

With darkness descending on Candlestick Park, the people of the Bay Area began a journey into chaos, tragedy, and resurrection. The display utilizes objects and artifacts collected before and after the game by Giants fan Jon Leonoudakis, as well as original photographs taken shortly after the quake struck.

Library hours for the exhibitions are Monday-Thursday, 9:30 am-9:00 pm; Friday, 9:30 am-6:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm; closed Sunday. For further information,

phone the Baseball Reliquary at (626) 791-7647; for directions, phone the Burbank Central Library at (818) 238-5600.