Candy Maldonado, Will Clark Hit Back to Back Home Runs to Beat Astros 1987

One of the greatest games in San Francisco Giants history. Candy Maldonado and Will Clark hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Houson Astros 6-5 at Candlestick Park. On August 10, 1987, the Giants fell behind 4-0 after 4 innings but battled back to tie the game with one run in the 5th and three in the 7th. The Astros then grabbed the lead back in the top of the 8th with a single run, and led 5-4 before the dramatic ninth inning. The audio is from KNBR. Ron Fairly and Wayne Hagin make the call. The video was from both teams broadcast via a Satellite dish.
#willthethrill #walkoffhomerun #sfgiants

[@JohnYayaJr]

I've been patiently waiting for decades to be able to relive this moment. I was in the front row of the bleachers and witnessed Maldonado's home-run ball just clear Hatcher's glove by a foot or so - it happened right in front of me, and the ball came so quickly that we didn't have time to jump down to chase after it.. It was also a perfect vantage point to watch Clark's home run soar high into the night - it felt like it was up there forever until it finally crashed into the upper deck. On the way out of the stadium, fans were lining up along the railings high-fiving people coming the other way - it was euphoria! Bob Brenly made an emotional plea for more fans to come out to support the team on his post-game show, so we all turned up again the next night, when they showed Clark's home run again on the jumbotron, and someone had "retired" Clarks number 22 by placing a large "CLARK 22" sign on the very seat where his ball had landed the night before. The Giants lost that one, but the momentum they had going carried them past the Astros and into the post-season. I always felt that the bad "strike" call on Clark's 2-0 count was the make-up call for a missed strike 3 on Maldonado -seeing the Maldonado at-bat replay makes me a little uncertain if it was a missed call, but the strike call on Clark looked outside. But the end result made it irrelevant - "don't piss off Will Clark" is the lesson here. His at-bat was memorialized during the closing credits on This Week In Baseball.

[@evans5150]

YES!! I still have my ticket! I was about 15 rows back down the 1st baseline...it was MAGIC!!

[@austinrodriguez6391]

JohnYayaJr cool story, my question is why was the outfield bleachers empty? We’re they’re no tickets available there?

[@frankwilliams9409]

God bless you, I was 11 years old with my baseball team and little league coach who snuck in beer for us. I was sitting right where you were and remember it like yesterday. I can still see Maldonado’s homer coming right at us and one of my friends almost got the ball. It was truly a magical moment

[@malbuff]

@@austinrodriguez6391 In those days those rollaway bleachers in right were only used for 49er football. A couple years later the Giants designated that a family-friendly section and began selling (relatively) inexpensive tickets there. My son Aaron saw his first Giants game at age 4 months in those "bleachers" (so-named even though they never got any sun).

[@malbuff]

@A E Yep, 1988. Baseball crowds were a lot rowdier then, especially in SF. I used to laugh at out-of-towners who thought we were all prissy white-wine-drinking wimps; I said, "Come out to Candlestick wearing the other team's colors and see what happens to you." They made the family section in those rollaway bleachers specifically for those who wanted to get away from all the drunkenness and cussing.

[@rebeccapardue8438]

In my opinion, Will the Thrill Clark was one of the best hitters who ever played the game. Mike Pardue ⚾️

[@patrickgenovese2594]

Without a doubt. Should be in HOF

[@user-ki1un4jg2d]

@@patrickgenovese2594 Mark Grace for the hof .

[@TheEricHart]

Will Clark's swing was one of the sweetest I've ever seen.... Ken Griffey Jr. maybe a little better, but when Will got a hold of it you knew it!

[@JimmyFranceable]

Agreed. Strawberry was sweet as well.

[@EthnHayabusa]

I liked Will's better. Griffey had a cool finish.

[@orbonds3603]

I think wills swing kept him out of the hall of fame...as he aged his swing slowed...if he had choked up and shortened that swing hed have been more productive towards the end...but yes beautiful swing

[@MyKeeP81]

@@orbonds3603 bro did u see his last year's numbers? all star level. he retired on his own terms

[@louf8335]

Bonds had a nice swing to

[@N224DW]

Will Clark is still my all time favorite baseball player.... his character, his attitude and of course his swing...."The Sweetest Swing" in baseball.... This video shows one of his finest!! Brought back some great memories of the Giants back in the late 80's... Huuuummm Baabbbyy!!!!

[@waynepinda1237]

Even us righties tried to imitate his swing

[@roypiper581]

Clark... such a beautiful swing.

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

My favorite team ever. Bob Brenly, Will the Thrill, Robby Thompson, Jose Uribe, Kevin Mitchell, Candy Maldonado, Chili Davis and The Hac Man Jeff Leonard.

[@johnkarp7076]

One flap down

[@yankeeuk1]

I caught a Kevin bass homerun ball on April 27th 1990! My son has it now!

[@jackhamm5554]

One Flap Down

[@seanbrou-bj9ob]

Brent Butler cf

[@atgdcommish608]

Uribe was so underrated. Great lineup. That team had fire.

[@franzhaas5597]

I was 16 years old at the time listening to it on radio. Man , I have tears in my eyes. I love this team so much. Will'S swing is amazing!

[@billybats4745]

What a magical swing. Jesus Christ

[@ozzymorrison8628]

" thrilling "

[@fitcwebb]

Oh my, thanks for posting this. I was at this game! Never thought I'd see actual footage of it. It was the hardest hit ball I've ever witnessed in person and I think it's the longest homerun of Will Clark's career. Watching that thing soar and rattle around about 10 rows deep in the upper deck at Candlestick, is something I'll never forget. He absolutely unloaded everything he had and caught it dead pure. Truly a legendary shot.

[@gerald605]

You're a lucky person to have witnessed this live. Watched it live and that seemed incredible. Could only imagine what it was like to be there. Thx for the comment.

[@haroldlipschitz9301]

fitcwebb I'm pretty sure the salami off Maddux in the '89 LCS went further...it went into the street at Wrigley on the fly while the upper deck at the Stick overhung the right field fence by several feet - you definitely had to launch it but not as far as it looks here.

[@fitcwebb]

It could have been close. The upper deck didn't hang over the fence, like the one in Tiger Stadium did. Anyhow, I think he hit the darn thing nearly as far as he could on a cool night at the Stick

[@negtype13]

Correction: The Upper UPPER 3rd deck! A TITANIC BLAST! AND, as I've stated b4...NO steroids/PEDs needed! Clark spat on that shit! Beyond jealous you actually got to see it!

[@malbuff]

@@haroldlipschitz9301 His upper-deck shot off Nolan Ryan at the 'Dome was pretty awesome too; the first homer of Will's career.

[@rmartin7558]

Damn, Will Clark had a sweet swing.

[@danschultz1050]

Loved Will Clark!

[@colbs237]

This is so awesome, I remember this moment! I was in High School :) The pitcher for the Astros, southpaw David Meads, still plays ball. He pitches in my baseball league in Sonoma County. The Redwood Empire Baseball League (REBL). Dave pitches in my division! The 35+ Continental League. He's still tough, and I have to face him lefty. I don't have ownage, but I've gotten a handful of good hits off him. He has struck me out a bunch of times :) He doesn't talk much about being a big leaguer. It's really cool to have him in our league.

[@stoneshire645]

Wow - VERY cool. Bet you have a great time, no leagues like that around here

[@malbuff]

Unforgettable! Thank you for posting, and especially for the radio call. I was ripping out an old linoleum floor at our house in Tracy, California, with this game on the radio. When Maldonado belted one to tie it, I knocked my half-full beer over. When Will launched his shot into orbit, I swear I jumped from sitting to standing position in one leap. What a game! And on went the Giants to the NL West pennant in a Candlestick breeze.

[@drophatmusic]

This is one of the greatest eras of Giants baseball. I watched them all the time back then.

[@mmcneil777]

That was magical time for Bay Area sports - A’s, Giants, 49ers, Run TMC...

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

mikem987 Man, that was my youth. No matter how good the Warriors and Giants have been this decade, those 49er teams were just magical. And to this day the Run TMC Warriors are my favorite. Dennis Eckersley and Dave Stewart were my favorite Athletics. It was a good time to be alive.

[@sominboy2757]

It must have been so magical that they decided to do it again in the 2010's 3 world series championships, 3 nba titles, a super bowl appearance, a stanley cup appearance and the 2012 oakland a's considered one of the greatest cinderella stories in the past 25 years

[@Chrisman77]

Run DMC, but anyhow

[@gabrielbotsford791]

Run TMC!!!!

[@gabrielbotsford791]

@@Chrisman77 not from The Bay, are you?

[@paulsalvi789]

LOVED Will Clark!!! That swing, his competiveness...favorite Baseball player and top 3 favorite athlete of all time.

[@1977TA]

The interesting thing to note is they hit in order according to their jersey numbers. Maldonado #21, Clark #22. Fond memories from Candlestick Park!

[@spencerstewart2172]

One of the bigger hits that Candy got as a Giant. Well, this one and the one he got the following year on Ozzy Smith. 😊

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

I LOVED when he nailed that son of a bitch Ozzie Smith 🤣😂

[@spencerstewart2172]

@@MrSpeed-lt8gr I still hate St. Louis even after all those years

[@richdouche6227]

Clark was my childhood friend's favorite player... I was a Mattingly/Yankees fan... Anyhow, every day we practiced switch hitting after seeing beautiful swings like they had. Great to watch Clark CRUSH it @ 5:33 ! Thanks!

[@malbuff]

Will and Mattingly had a lot in common. Both would be in the HOF today if they'd stayed healthy and had longer careers.

[@jameskonners8304]

That’s Will the Thrill! Yes sir, my favorite player growing up as a Met Fan. Classic!

[@JTM197]

Eric Gregg, RIP, behind the dish, good ump, had that upper cut strike call, loved it as a kid. Thank you from and old giants fan.

[@williamklock7010]

Everytime I see an old Will Clark video nobody's in those right field bleachers. That man's a Hall of Famer though!!

[@bartonpercival3216]

Those right field bleacher seats were for football 49er games. They only used them for Giants games when they were in the playoffs

[@alexandergraham246]

I was there with my Dad! Sitting in the upper deck between home plate and 3rd base. I was 15.

[@smccord27]

Used to listen to games on the radio every night in those days. I remember this one!

[@mncalapati415]

Miss CandleStick Park...

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

MnCAlapati415 Steve Young said it best; it’s a dump but it’s our dump.

[@schedulesports7958]

yeah but so freaking windy and cold

[@chrisb75]

A lot of memories there with my dad.

[@homelessjesse9453]

@@schedulesports7958 Homefield advantage. :) Only the strong survived there.

[@noevalleygiants]

Loved the ‘stick. $5 seats, unpredictable weather, free-for-all scramble for home rum ball to left, yelling at the umps and fat ass Lasorda. Eating fried chicken in the ‘hood after a game. Miss those days.

[@noahahlstrom3834]

Will Clark signed my Tops rookie card in 1987. I got back from school and in the mailbox was his reply to my letter, which said something like, "Hi Will I am a baseball player too, and you are my favorite baseball player. I wish you all the success. Would you sign this baseball card? Thank you, Noah"

[@jedi32r2]

I was at this game! thank you for sharing!!!!!!

[@TheRmm1976]

5:33 Will Clark teed that ball up like a Phil Mickelson driver!

[@jamesrfb]

I like that this video continues all the thru to the announcer’s closing comments and sign-off music; thanks for posting!

[@mmcneil777]

Will Clark gave the Giants a lot of fight and confidence. Good leader and great hitter.

[@billmason2785]

Love my Giants ⚾❤️.... for 53 years now

[@marcvslicinivscrassvs7536]

Growing up in the Bay, in the era of Canseco, Mcgwire, Hendu, and Kevin Mitchell, Will the Thrill was my dude.

[@thepeteles]

I would watch the Giants all the time back in the '80's. Humbaby!! I remember this game.

[@kayladarling7593]

I love this. Thanks

[@jmreynoso6990]

Will Clark from 1987 until 1991 was the best damn player in baseball, not sure what happened to him afterwards as his numbers declined, but i still believe his swing is the second best swing after Barry Bonds, he was a gamer with a winning attitude and a fierce leader, love this clips!!!

[@PBLeagues22]

His power numbers decreased a bit in the 90s due to being on poorer teams, playing in the tougher AL, and his early career elbow and knee injuries catching up to him, but saying his numbers declined is way overstating it. He raked up until he chose to hang 'em up. .303 lifetime hitter.

[@vincesmith2499]

I was five years old on this Monday night in 1987.

[@MrBootydaddy]

What a sweet swing Will Clark had.

[@nala3038]

Most beautiful efficient swing ever!

[@StFidjnr]

this game is the weaving thread of the 1987 San Francisco Giants video Humm baby it was fun

[@robertstirewalt7789]

In the old Montreal stadium as a sports reporter in the photo pit, Will Clark hit a line drive home run that went over the fence like a bullet. I literally could not believe how hard he hit the ball. The only home run out of the park faster I ever saw on field level was Eddie Murray in Boston.

[@nctosc]

This was the game that started it all for the Giants in the late 80's . After this game we ( the fans ) believed in the Giants and they were a fun bunch to watch . Humm Baby !!

[@billyc768]

That swing was a thing of beauty. So glad I got to see him play several times in person at Mississippi State when I was a little kid. That 1985 team with Clark & Rafael Palmeiro batting back-to-back (Thunder & Lightning, as they were called), along with a few great pitchers, may be the best college baseball team to not win the CWS. Too bad all his nagging injuries kept Will from having a little longer career and a likely HOF induction. He seemed to be rejuvenated after getting traded to the Cardinals during his final year, but I guess maybe he thought that was a good opportunity to go out on top instead of limping into retirement.

[@jameskobegonzalez5228]

I was there. It's still an emotional comeback

[@crlguitar1]

Hummmm Baby...... Clark absolutely crushed that pitch!

[@yankeeuk1]

I caught a homerun ball in the left field bleachers in 1990..Kevin Bass hit it. I still have the ball! Will "the thrill" is a true legend!!

[@sean8470]

all these years later and there hasn't been a player that reminds us of Will that is how great he was....

[@go-goakins1489]

One hell of a year! They were a power hitting team then

[@dehautdesign]

Good year vs the Cubs inthe finals I remember the games..especially at wrigley field.

[@GozarianGozar]

@@dehautdesign This was 87. Giants lost to St. Louis in the NLCS.

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

GozarianGozar Man I HATED Jose Oquendo! And especially in ‘88 when Oquendo and that punk Ozzie Smith cheap shotted Will and started a bench clearing brawl.

[@chrissouza4042]

I remember watching this game on Giants Vision! Love me some Thrill ❤

[@jasonkessler7321]

RIP Candlestick Park, to many memories.

[@stoneyj1a1]

Wow, a chain link fence in the outfield. Awesome lol

[@vincesmith2499]

Candlestick was always so cold that the umpires wore jackets.

[@patrickramirez8433]

Awwwww this is so cool they mixed the. Astros. TV broadcast with. The. KNBR. Radio. Broadcast. Ron. Fairly and. Wayne. Hagen so cool

[@davygspot]

The great Ron Fairly on the call..got no respect in SF

[@evans5150]

I believe he went to Colorado after us?

[@hectorrenteria631]

Fairly was horrendous.

[@markofly76]

Deserves a Ford Frick Award.

[@malbuff]

@@hectorrenteria631 Fairly was very good when he worked with Hank Greenwald.

[@derrickw3021]

He had the original " See you later ! " home run call .

[@davidmerwin7763]

So glad they are retiring #22. Will Clark is a classic!!

[@balrog322]

I thought it was Hal Lanier’s number they were retiring.

[@markbrenes5189]

This is my favorite SF Giants team of all-time ! I remember this game like it was yesterday and then my heart was broken when they lost Game 7 to the Cardinals in the NLCS . HUMM BABY FOREVER !!

[@KidFresh71]

Was at this game! Definitely one of my favorites of all time. Humm Baby! Will "the Thrill" and the CandyMan were two Giants legends. Let's Go Giants! Edit: 2:48 that 2-2 pitch to Candy was totally a strike! Sometimes the baseball gods just smile upon your team.

[@CarlosPerez-wt8ff]

Growing in SF around this time was epic. Watching Giants in 2021 is epic as well.

[@negtype13]

Added Note: the announcer says the Giants had 21 come from behind victories up to that point. And after the home runs by Maldanado and then Clark, that would make it come from behind victory #22. ...gee... I wonder which Giant player wears that number??....Coincidence?...I think Not! ; )

[@go-goakins1489]

The candy 🍬 man ! ⚾️

[@haroldlipschitz9301]

As a kid we always made fun of Ron Fairly for verbal miscues and being a former Dodger...but he was actually quite good lol

[@dominicverdin5724]

Will “the thrill” Clark was my favorite player growing up.

[@danarrington2224]

July 4th 1997 was the only baseball game I went to at Candlestick. I froze my ass off. The wind was swirling pretty good that night and I think the temp was around 38 degrees. They had fireworks after the game but the fog was so thick that you really couldn't see them well. It was truly a one of a kind stadium.

[@chaosawaits]

6:49 in today's baseball, Will Clark staring at his home run would have been controversial. Bumgarner wouldn't have appreciated that at all

[@sominboy2757]

They played on the same team........

[@negtype13]

An average HR..I'd agree. But, if you hit the ball that HARD, That FAR...you've damn well EARNED it! Just look at the right fielder. He just turns slowly and nonchalantly takes a step or two, he doesn't react with any sense of urgency or makes a sprint back to the wall; he immediately/instinctively KNOWS that ball is way, WAAAAY BEYOND him. Clark HAMMERED it! And ANYONE else, in the batter's box, would've done the exact same, I don't care who.

[@kirkmorley1845]

Game was over at that point!may as well watch it go out!

[@stephendre2902]

Will Clark vs. Bum. Now that would have been a hell of a brawl.

[@chucky1119p]

Does anybody know the projected distance of that homer by Will Clark? That had to be over 450 ft, easy. 💣💥

[@bartonpercival3216]

I was at that game with my twin brother, seated about 10 rows back from the field in the lower stands on the 3rd base side. I remember it was a brutally cold night. When I read the sporting green sports paper the following morning, they listed Clarks home run to the upper deck at 435 feet

[@atgdcommish608]

@@bartonpercival3216 In Candlestick, at night, on a cold day (but I repeat myself), that's like 500 feet somewhere else.

[@brucemoeller]

Wow. Look at how much room there is in the park. That foul off Maldonado took 10 minutes to reach the seats!

[@javierramirez721]

One of my favorite players of all time will clark

[@philobeddoe8342]

Loved this era of the Giants especially when taking into account of being a fan since the mid 70's. 2 observations: Did Fairly suggest that Lanier would bring in a right- hander to face Clark when they had a lefty on the mound....😳 And Eric Gregg was always been a horrible umpire.

[@douglasfaatiliga3939]

Great Memories indeed. Go Gigantes

[@LNSmithee]

Somebody please tell me there's clean audio of that "Humm Baby" theme song from that season (8:02). So many wonderful memories triggered by that.

[@scottperkins4528]

God, I miss that place

[@mt9054]

Pitch before the Candy Man homer was strike 3...Eric Gregg special😀

[@johnmcgee6297]

Giants players who were worth investing your time watching. Miss those days.

[@rjperfetto584]

Will Clark was a underrated player! Just below Hernandez and Mattingly as fielders in thr 1980's.

[@rjperfetto584]

Whoops the

[@charlesking3384]

All three should be in the hall

[@derrickw3021]

I liked Ron's " See you later ! " home run call . Too bad he was underappreciated but he was a knowledgeable baseball man and a notable player in his day .

[@MrTlyoung21]

Happy Birthday to Will "The Thrill" Clark. 🎆🎇🎁🎈🎂🎊🎉⚾

[@go-goakins1489]

Love that crazy 🦀

[@nicholastumlin6762]

He was a favorite of mine as a kid fun to watch

[@ChildOfThe1970s]

Candy Maldonado was one of my favorite names back in the day.

[@noevalleygiants]

Hard core Giants fans!!!!!

[@chrislewis5069]

That was a good pitch to come back with after a fastball outside to clark and he just turned on it

[@estimatedeyes]

Thanks for the memories! Hummmmm Baby!

[@go-goakins1489]

estimatedeyes you said it! 👍

[@Medic-kr4gn]

Go-go Akins That year was magical ! Will , Candy , Bob Brenly , Jose Uribe , Chili Davis , Chris Speier , Don Robinson , Dave Dravecky , Craig Lefferts , Scott Garrelts , Kelly Downs , WOW !

[@ruth2534]

I was there! Wow.

[@lowerclassbrats77]

Don Robinson was a homerun hitting pitcher, I saw it in person.

[@zachmandell1549]

I was at this game!

[@abbasrizvi9389]

Eric Gregg was the worst UMP in MLB history. His strike zone was about 30 inches wide

[@bobbyhuffstetler1362]

Will Clark made me a giants fan !

[@gmmcollects124]

Will Clark was so good. It's a shame he isn't in the HOF, but I get it. He crushed that ball!

[@dukedematteo1995]

Your really shocked he's not a HOFer?...He's Mark Grace or Kruk with a little more power. If he sacrificed his average a bit and made himself more pull happy he coulda been a perennial 35 -40 HR guy.

[@chaosawaits]

Wow, look at that real estate in foul territory!

[@deanwille1919]

This Giants team should’ve won it

[@roshaanartis8976]

Will Clark was like fuck this I'm done...let's go home

[@truewilliams7118]

the good old days

[@markierocker644]

Sweetest swing in baseball

[@atgdcommish608]

At 5:28, the announcer jinxes the pitcher: "Dave Smith in 46 innings this year, has not allowed a home run!" Will Clark does the rest, with a no-doubter.

[@sharimeads2746]

The woman shown at 11 seconds in ends up marrying the Houston Astros pitcher. I know because she is me, lol.

[@chrismccormick2764]

That is when they wore those wristbands with their picture & autograph woven in lol. Great memories!!

[@bosconian901]

Chris McCormick that was cool I remember that !

[@eltravo2112]

I remember Barry Bonds and Pedro Guerrero wearing them.

[@CornPop471]

If you put Harold baines in the hall, why not will clark

[@rebeccapardue8438]

Will Clark isn't in the Hall of Fame ? That's unbelievable. He certainly deserves to be. Mike Pardue ⚾️

[@ronachten2902]

Pretty good yard for fellas named Clark.

[@gerald605]

New Video Now Online...July 9th, 1988 SF Giants (vs Cardinals) game highlights including the Giants 10,000th home run and Chris Speier hitting for the cycle... may be the Giants best offensive game in franchise history...video now online at kzbin.info/www/bejne/iorclad3o9lkpqc

[@liquidfire8110]

I got too see my Astros at the stick in '87 with Nolan pitching .... SF13 Hou 4... I was bummed.