The Oakland A’s

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The Oakland A’s are playing their final games in Oakland next week.

Fittingly, they close out their team history by playing the Yankees, and I’m sure that was by design so that the place would be packed on the final weekend.

I went to at least a dozen games at the Oakland Stadium back in the 1980’s, and the only baseball cap I ever wore that didn’t have an NY on it was an A’s cap.

They were an easy team to like when I was living out there, and even before that - in the 70’s - they were the best team in the sport.

The fans were always passionate, but man, things went wrong there.

The city and the team could not get it together. The owner, despite getting plenty of cash from revenue sharing just kept dealing his best players.

I listened to the A’s current manager speak about the move - the team will play in Sacramento next year and Vegas when a new stadium is built - leaving Oakland behind.

The A’s manager was choked up…

…and then I started thinking about my old trips to the place.

I saw Ron Guidry face Dave Kingman there.

I watched Don Mattingly bat against Dave Stewart.

The Yankees would struggle - it’s a west coast trip! - those aren’t ever easy.

But besides baseball, I thought of my Dad taking me - he was a big baseball fan - and he would get in the car after a long day of work and drive us over the Bay Bridge into Oakland.

We’d have a beer or two or a few hot dogs.

The A’s manager was on the verge of tears…

…me too.

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