San Francisco 49ers: A History - Author Talk and Book Signing

Join legendary Sports Columnist and author, Mark Purdy as he discusses his experiences covering the San Francisco 49ers and his latest book, San Francisco 49ers: An Illustrated Timeline, co-authored with Jeff Suess.

What to Expect:

Books will be available for purchase starting at 5:00 PM.

Author Talk: 5:30-6:30 PM

Book Signing: 6:30-7 PM

About the book:

Not many NFL teams can match the San Francisco 49ers for success. The first team to win five Super Bowls has a roster that boasts some of the greatest to ever play the game. Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Terrell Owens, Frank Gore. Fans were treated to a dynasty in the 1980s that set a standard for brilliance in the Bay Area. That standard has been met in a new golden era as the Niners returned to the Super Bowl in 2024 in their quest for a sixth championship. In this illustrated timeline, authors Mark Purdy and Jeff Suess guide fans through nearly eight decades of memorable players and legendary catches, captured in dynamic photographs and unforgettable stories. Learn how Tony Morabito brought professional football to San Francisco. Return to Sunday afternoons at Kezar Stadium watching dazzling plays by the Million Dollar Backfield, or Roger Craig at Candlestick Park, or Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey at Levi’s Stadium. Relive the thrilling victories and heart-breaking losses that have captivated the 49er Faithful for generations.

About the author:

MARK PURDY was a sports columnist at the San Jose Mercury News from 1984-2017 before his retirement. He also worked as a reporter or columnist at the Cincinnati Enquirer, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Dayton Journal Herald and The Sporting News. Mark was named to the Associated Press Sports Editors annual list of America’s Top 10 Sports Columnists on multiple occasions and was honored by the Wall Street Journal for writing one of America’s Top 10 sports columns. He was a regular guest on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s television shows and made broadcast appearances on ABC's Nightline, Court TV and ESPN "Outside the Lines." During his career, Mark covered 14 Olympic Games, 32 Super Bowls and many other high-profile sports events. In the Bay Area, he became known as the columnist who gave the name "McCovey Cove" to the body of water behind rightfield at AT&T Park as a tribute to former Giants' slugger Willie McCovey. In 1989, Mark was a member of the Mercury News staff that received the Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the "World Series earthquake" that struck the area just before Game 3 at Candlestick Park. His latest book, “San Francisco 49ers: An Illustrated Timeline,” co-authored with Jeff Suess, is in its second printing.

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