The deadliest day in American sports history happened at a football game
In short: In 1900, a crowd of spectators gathered on a factory rooftop to watch the Big Game. What followed was not a victory celebration, but the deadliest accident in U.S. sporting history, leaving a legacy of tragedy that still haunts the California–Stanford rivalry.
The Big Game, the historic rivalry between the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University, has been played since 1892. While the matchup is famous for legendary finishes—such as the 1982 'Play' involving a five-lateral touchdown return—its history is also marked by extreme physical danger and tragedy. The game's location alternates annually, with Berkeley hosting in even-numbered years and Stanford hosting in odd-numbered years. This long-standing tradition was helped by early organizers like future U.S. President Herbert Hoover, who served as the student manager for the football team.
A huge crowd of spectators tried watching the 1900 Thanksgiving Day match from the rooftop of the adjacent S.F. and Pacific Glass Works plant, located near San Francisco's Recreation Park. The rooftop could not sustain the weight of between 600 and 1,000 spectators. The structure collapsed, sending over 100 men falling onto the factory floor, with more than 60 falling directly into a massive, blazing furnace. The tragedy occurred during a match held at San Francisco's Recreation Park stadium. This era of the rivalry was defined by high stakes, as the name 'Big Game' was officially adopted in 1902 to emphasize the importance of the matchup to both campuses.
The 'Thanksgiving Day Disaster' resulted in the deaths of 23 men and boys and left more than 100 people severely injured. To this day, it remains the deadliest accident involving spectators at any sporting event in the United States.
The rivalry has seen many shifts in discipline and intensity. Due to concerns over violence, the schools actually abandoned American football for rugby union between 1906 and 1918. The rivalry also features intense traditions, such as the battle for the Stanford Axe, which has been stolen by opposing sides multiple times since 1899. Beyond the field, the rivalry week includes diverse traditions like the 'Gaieties' theatrical production at Stanford and various alumni celebrations at Berkeley.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Big Game (American football)
- Also: Frontiers in sports and active living — Periodization for success-in-season external training loads relative to competition load in American football. · CC BY
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