That's an amazing area.
I lived in the financial district, then Little Manila (forget the town name), then Walnut Creek, then the last few years right between the Chinese and Tenderloin and Union Square. I could hear the cable cars at my apartment, I think it was Bush street.
I left SF in 2002 or 2003, so I was there when you were. I had a blast living there, and although it wasn't the Red Sox, it was fun to be around the A's and the Giants at the time.