The Double Play, a Venerable Mission Watering Hole, Destroyed by Fire

An early morning fire Saturday destroyed the Double Play Bar & Grill, a vestige of the former San Francisco Seals stadium in the northeastern Mission District that's long been a friendly neighborhood institution.

The fire started around 6 a.m. and firefighters put it out an hour later, but the bar “was a total loss,” Fire Department spokesman Jonathan Baxter said. 

The bar had existed since 1909, and until this morning its walls were lined with memorabilia reflecting its location across the street from the lost ballpark, where the Seals played from 1931 to 1957, and where the Giants played in 1958 and 1959.

The bar’s Facebook page posted a thank you note “to all the customers that have shared amazing memories here and enjoyed the food. We will keep updates as we get them. We will be closed until further notice.”

Among commenters was Kathleen Gallagher, who wrote:

“Oh I'm heartbroken. All that priceless memorabilia. I hope they reopen.”

Nelson Gomez added: "Piece of San Francisco History. Bummer”

The apartments above the bar weren’t harmed, nobody was injured, and residents were not displaced, Baxter said. 

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, he added.