VIDEO: Massive 1962 Storm Pummels West Coast, Delaying Giants Vs. Yankees World Series Game In San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Rain showers are likely Saturday as the San Francisco Giants face the Kansas City Royals in game four of the World Series, but it'll be drops compared to the storm that pounded the Bay Area 52 years ago, right as the Giants and Yankees fought for Major League Baseball's highest title.
Four days of hurricane strength winds and torrential downpours took 56 lives and caused over $250 million in damage -- the equivalent of $2 billion nowadays.
Tropical Storm Frieda, dubbed the Columbus Day Storm of 1962, still ranks as one of the worst in California's history. Historical video of the Bay Area shows Oakland streets transformed into gushing rivers and a flooded Candlestick Park.
Before the storm made landfall, the Giants were down three games to two against the Yankees with game six scheduled to take place at Candlestick Park Friday, October 12.
But meteorologists warned both residents and baseball fans that this was no ordinary storm. In Oregon, wind gusts reached 170 mph, causing major damage that killed people caught outdoors.
VIDEO: Rain Showers Likely During Game 4 In World Series Saturday
California was spared a direct hit, but San Francisco recorded more than 7 inches of rain. The storm flooded Candlestick's outfield and parking lot postponing the game for days.
By Monday, sunshine and three helicopters hovering over the field had dried the soggy turf enough to play. Over 40,000 fans showed up to cheer the Giants on to a 5 to 2 victory over the Yankees, tying the series at three games each. The Yankees eventually clutched their 20th World Series Championship in game seven.
