As the Oakland Athletics approach their final homestand in Oakland in 2024, emotions are running high for fans and players alike. This marks the end of an era that began in 1968 when the team relocated from Kansas City and immediately began a chapter of storied history in the Bay Area.
The journey of the Athletics is one marked by change and adaptation, all while striving for excellence on the field. From their early beginnings in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, where they clinched nine pennants and five World Series titles, to a less illustrious period in Kansas City from 1955 to 1967 that saw no postseason appearances, the Athletics have always been a team that drew attention. However, it is their tenure in Oakland where they arguably achieved their greatest successes, winning four World Series Championships, six pennants, and 17 division titles.
“Oakland has been home for the greatest era in the franchise's more than 123-year history,” team owner John Fisher remarked. Indeed, the memories created over the 57 years in this city are countless, embedded in the legacy of both the team and its devoted fanbase.
The final series, against the Texas Rangers, is scheduled to start on Thursday, a poignant moment for everyone involved. “This upcoming series with the Texas Rangers will be the final games of the A's storied 57 years in Oakland," Fisher stated, underscoring the emotional weight of the occasion.
Despite the achievements on the field, efforts to secure a long-term home in Oakland have faltered. Since taking ownership in 2005, Lew Wolff and John Fisher had grand visions for the Athletics. “When Lew Wolff and I bought the team in 2005, our dream was to win world championships and build a new ballpark in Oakland," Fisher said. Yet, despite 16 years of dedication and negotiation, these aspirations were never realized. The final blow came in 2021 when, faced with a binding MLB agreement to find a new home by 2024, the Athletics began to explore relocation to 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 relocation process will see the Athletics temporarily play in Sacramento from 2025 to 2027 before moving into a state-of-the-art ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip in 2028. This news has been met with mixed emotions. While some look forward to the modern facilities and new opportunities that Las Vegas promises, others lament the departure from a city that has become synonymous with the Athletics’ identity.
Throughout their storied history, the Athletics have included seven players in the Baseball Hall of Fame, adding to the rich tapestry of baseball legends associated with the club. “Four World Series Championships. Six pennants and 17 division titles. Seven Baseball Hall of Famers ... The list goes on and on,” Fisher proudly stated.
As the Athletics prepare for their last games in Oakland, Fisher extended a heartfelt message to the fans: “Looking ahead, 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.”
Even as the team takes its final bow on the Oakland stage, the spirit and memories of this era will endure. The Athletics may be moving, but for many, they will always be the Oakland A's.