Giants’ Future to Be Known in 2-3 Weeks

A new beginning was pronounced this week for the San Francisco Giants, with all the trimmings but a new home.

However, team owner Bob Lurie said he is still hunting for a new home for his major league baseball team, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lurie said he hopes to have an announcement on the Giants’ future plans within two or three weeks.

“I’m going to fight to see if the Giants can remain in the Bay Area,” Lurie said. “I will try to keep the team here, and I’m doing everything possible to accomplish that. Deciding where the Giants are going to play is a No. 1 priority with me other than getting the changes in the baseball operation completed. Where we play is critical to the welfare of the baseball team.”

Lurie set the future course for his National League team Wednesday during a press conference. It was called primarily to announce that Al Rosen had been hired as president and general manager and Roger Craig as field manager.

The Giant owner said he made the front-office moves now because Rosen became available after being fired by the Houston Astros.

“I wanted to make sure we got him before somebody else did,” Lurie said. “I consider these changes necessary to make this the best organization possible regardless of where this club ends up in a permanent home.”

Lurie and Rosen both denied anything has been done or started to sell the franchise to anyone, including Denver businessman Marvin Davis.

“The idea that I am here only as a liaison to steer the team to Marvin Davis is strictly the figment of someone’s imagination as far as I’m concerned,” Rosen said.

Lurie said there were three logical possibilities for his team’s future in the Bay Area:

--The San Francisco Plan (downtown stadium).

--Moving to San Jose.

--Sharing the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum with the Oakland A’s.

Lurie hinted there might be a fourth alternative, but he would not provide any details.

And of course there’s a fifth.

The Giants have a lease agreement to play in Candlestick Park through 1994, and Lurie admitted he might have to revise his previous stand that the Giants would not play there after the 1985 season.

“I don’t like the idea of playing another season in Candlestick Park, but I might have to revise my intentions,” Lurie said. “Anything is possible right now. We’ve been struggling with this thing for nearly four years. I’d like to get something resolved.”

Lurie acknowledged Tuesday’s announcement that the Oakland A’s had negotiated a plan with city and civic officials that would allow the A’s to survive economically in Oakland.

“It’s marvelous how the city of Oakland showed how it cared for and wanted to keep its baseball team,” Lurie said. The Giant owner had said he would consider having his team play in Oakland if the A’s departed. He also said he thinks it is possible both could play there.

Asked if he thought San Francisco officials might be embarrassed by the accord in Oakland, Lurie answered, “Why don’t you ask them.”

While Lurie said he is interested in bringing his stadium problems to a conclusion as soon as possible, he said he wasn’t concerned about the possibility of several of the choice alternate cities being grabbed up by major league expansion.

“If we come to the conclusion that the best thing is to sell or try to move the team, we’ll make the decision based on our beliefs,” Lurie said. “I’m not in a foot race with anybody.”