As the Oakland Athletics prepare to host the Texas Rangers this Thursday afternoon, a poignant chapter in the history of Bay Area baseball draws to a close. This game will be the last time the Athletics take the field representing the city of Oakland, as they gear up for a relocation to Sacramento following the season's end. Not long after, the team will embark on another significant move, this time to a new ballpark off the Las Vegas Strip.
The team has an illustrious past, teeming with memorable performances and iconic figures who have left an indelible mark on baseball. Rickey Henderson, an unparalleled talent whose career spanned nine teams, is a name synonymous with the Athletics. Henderson's accolades include the 1990 American League Most Valuable Player Award and six All-Star nods while donning the green and gold. Over his more than 1,700 games with the Athletics, Henderson boasted a batting line of .288/.409/.430, adding 167 home runs and a staggering 867 stolen bases. His 72.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) remain unmatched, standing 20 more than any other player in Oakland history.
Bill James once famously remarked, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers." Tom Verducci added another layer to Henderson’s mythos, stating, "There are certain figures in American history who have passed into the realm of cultural mythology, as if reality could no longer contain their stories: Johnny Appleseed. Wild Bill Hickok. Davy Crockett. Rickey Henderson."
The Athletics’ storied past also includes other legends such as Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, and Mark McGwire. The early 2000s saw the emergence of standout pitchers Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder, who helped carry the team into a new era of competitiveness. Over the years, the Athletics have secured four World Series titles and six American League pennants, a testament to the team's enduring excellence.
Jim "Catfish" Hunter's legacy is indelibly linked to the franchise as well. In 1974, Hunter became baseball’s first modern free agent, eventually inking a five-year, $3.2 million deal with the New York Yankees. Reflecting on his decision to bring the team to Oakland, Charles Finley noted, "I bought the team in Kansas City. I have brought it to Oakland. There is a difference. Bringing it to Oakland was my choice. Once I make a decision, I stand by it. I give my word of that."
The 1990s heralded another pivotal era for the Athletics, highlighted by the performances of Dennis Eckersley. In 1992, Eckersley not only achieved an astounding 51 saves but also earned the Cy Young Award, underscoring his dominance on the mound.
Yet, beyond the on-field achievements, the organization became synonymous with the "Moneyball" philosophy, popularized by Michael Lewis. This groundbreaking approach to team-building, heavily influenced by Bill James' yearly abstracts and Eric Walker’s "The Sinister First Baseman," was spearheaded by Sandy Alderson and later adopted by Billy Beane. Central to this philosophy was the revolutionary idea that "it was more efficient to create a closer than to buy one," as Lewis succinctly put it.
As the Athletics prepare to bid farewell to Oakland, it’s hard not to reflect on the myriad of memories, both triumphs, and tribulations, that have defined their tenure in the city. Though the team will soon set their sights on new horizons, the legacy of Oakland's baseball tradition will continue to resonate with fans and historians alike.