Today in History - October 17: How a sports match helped save hundreds from natural disaster
The Cypress Freeway Viaduct was a double-decker freeway structure that connected Interstate 880 to the Bay Bridge approach in Oakland, California. The Loma Prieta Quake October 17, 1989 caused the upper deck to collapse on to the lower, killing 42 people. Public Domain
On October 17, 1989, a devastating earthquake struck northern California, killing 60 people, but hundreds escaped due to the timing of major sports final.
The 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta quake had its epicentre about 100km south-east of San Francisco, and was the most powerful since the catastrophic 1906 earthquake levelled the city.
Like decades before, Californians in 1989 had no warning, and for many, the only thing on their mind that day was baseball.
READ MORE: Trump announces meeting with Putin after lengthy phone call
The earthquake ruptured gas mains, triggering huge fires in San Francisco. AP
Two local clubs, the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, had reached the World Series, with the teams facing off in the third game at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.
Just a few minutes before the 5.30pm start of the encounter, the earthquake unleashed 17 seconds of destruction.
Baseball fans felt the stadium shaking, and were asked to leave in "an orderly manner" over loudspeaker as the game was hastily abandoned.
But other parts of California weren't so lucky.
The quake's impact ruptured gas pipelines in the San Francisco Marina District, triggering huge fires.
READ MORE: One capital on track to shatter heat record, temperatures soar in another
Main highways were less busy when the quake struck because motorists left work early to watch a World Series baseball game. public domain
A 20-metre section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge's upper deck collapsed, killing one person, and the double-deck Interstate 880 Cypress Structure pancaked during rush hour, killing 42 of those who died that day and injuring many others.
But hundreds more could have died on the state's highways, if they hadn't left work early to watch the scheduled World Series game on television at home or in bars.
Traffic on the roads during the evening peak hour was fairly light when the quake's 17-second tremor struck at 5.04pm.
The baseball championship was suspended for 10 days, and would become known as the "Earthquake Series".
The Loma Prieta earthquake caused 63 deaths, 3757 injuries and an estimated $10 billion in property damage, according to the Geological Survey.
READ MORE: Faulty engineering led to implosion of Titan submersible that killed five
The 1989 California earthquake left a $10 billion damage bill. AP
It was also a wake-up call for authorities to prepare for the potentially even more devastating shocks that scientists say are inevitable in earthquake-prone California.
Since 1989, more than $US30 billion has been invested by various businesses and companies to strengthen San Francisco's infrastructure.
For more from our Today in History archive, click here
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in Australia
Family-run IGA calls out Woolworths after workers scope out their grocer
Ally Langdon breaks down as she opens up about death of best friend Gavin Larkin
Footage reveals moment person of interest in Jessica Zrinski’s death found living inside a cave
Investigation under way after body found at Coober Pedy mine
