The Oakland Athletics are poised to bid farewell to their long-time home, preparing for their final homestand in Oakland in 2024. This marks the end of an era that began in 1968 when the team first made the Bay Area its home. With a rich history that spans multiple cities, the Athletics have seen various highs and lows over the years.
The journey of the Athletics started in Philadelphia, where they played from 1901 to 1954. During this period, the team achieved remarkable success with nine pennants and five World Series titles, establishing a solid foundation for the franchise. From there, the team relocated to Kansas City in 1955, a tenure that lasted until 1967. Despite the move, the Athletics struggled to find the same level of success, failing to secure any postseason appearances during their time in Kansas City.
In 1968, a new chapter began as the Athletics settled in Oakland. What followed was a series of memorable moments and triumphs. Since the move, the team secured four World Series Championships, six pennants, and 17 division titles, creating countless cherished memories for fans. "Oakland has been home for the greatest era in the franchise's more than 123-year history," said John Fisher, reflecting on the team's time in the Bay Area. "Four World Series Championships. Six pennants and 17 division titles. Seven Baseball Hall of Famers ... The list goes on and on."
However, despite the successes on the field, the quest for a new stadium in Oakland has been fraught with challenges. The current ownership, which includes Lew Wolff and John Fisher since 2005, dedicated 16 years to efforts aimed at developing a new ballpark in the Bay Area. These efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful. Fisher remarked, "When Lew Wolff and I bought the team in 2005, our dream was to win world championships and build a new ballpark in Oakland."
In 2021, with the mission to find a new home, the Athletics began exploring relocation options, setting their sights on Las Vegas. "Only in 2021, after 16 years of working exclusively on developing a home in the Bay Area and faced with a binding MLB agreement to find a new home by 2024, did we begin to explore taking the team to Las Vegas," Fisher explained. The team is slated to temporarily play in Sacramento from 2025 to 2027 before finally moving into a new state-of-the-art ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip in 2028.
The final home game for the Athletics in Oakland is set to be a poignant occasion, taking place on Thursday. The A's will face the Texas Rangers in what will be the concluding series of their storied 57 years in Oakland. "This upcoming series with the Texas Rangers will be the final games of the A's storied 57 years in Oakland," Fisher noted, underscoring the significance of the series for fans and the franchise alike.
As the Athletics prepare to leave Oakland behind, the memory of their achievements and the passionate support of their fan base will remain indelible. The team has seen seven of its players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, further cementing its legacy within the sport. Looking ahead, Fisher expressed hope for continued support from the Athletics’ faithful fans: "I hope you will join our beloved A's as we move forward on this amazing journey. I hope I will see you again sporting the Green and Gold. And I hope we will make you proud."
While change is inevitable, the end of the Athletics' era in Oakland marks both a reflection on a storied past and the beginning of a new adventure. As the team transitions to its next chapter, the green and gold will continue to be a symbol of their enduring spirit and legacy in the world of baseball.