OAKLAND, CA – Last week I wrote about the experience of watching two baseball games at Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants. This week, in part two of this series, the baseball adventure continues with a visit to Oakland Coliseum, the home of the Oakland Athletics.

I mentioned briefly in my previous column that I’ve been an Oakland A’s fan since the early 1970s, primarily because they were in three consecutive World Series and won all three (1972-74). They had such great players during that era, many of whom are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Billy Williams and the manager Dick Williams. Other players I enjoyed watching were Vida Blue, Sal Bando, Bert Campaneris, Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace, and the list goes on.

There was also the “Bash Brothers” that renewed my love for the team, when Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire led the A’s to three consecutive World Series from 1988 to 1990. They defeated the San Fransico Giants for the World Series title in 1989.

Admittedly, since the mid-1990s it’s been a bit more difficult to be an Oakland A’s fan. The team has only won two post-season series since 1990, and they haven’t made the playoffs since 2020.

My buddy Brent and I made the trek from San Francisco across the Bay Bridge, which was an experience all its own, especially during rush hour. We arrived at the parking lot about two hours before game time and didn’t have any problem finding a good parking spot. Unfortunately, the A’s have not been drawing very many fans since the announcement last year that the team would be moving to Las Vegas, coupled with the announcement earlier this year that the team will play the next three seasons in Sacramento.

I hate to say it, but it was almost nice that there weren’t a lot of fans at the game. The announced attendance was 4,377. The concourse wasn’t packed with wall-to-wall people, and the lines at the concessions were very short. But here I was, on a Tuesday evening in what historically had been known as Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. A place I had wanted to visit since     I was eight years old; I was like a kid again.

It truly is an old ballpark, and the team and the county would need to either spend hundreds of millions of dollars to bring it up to today’s standards or build a whole new stadium. One bit of proof was in the men’s restroom. I haven’t seen urinal troughs in over 30 years. I don’t know why those hadn’t been ripped out and replaced with individual urinals decades ago, but maybe they’re keeping them in place for the nostalgia and camaraderie they invoke. Not really what I’m looking for when nature calls.

I did enjoy a nice meal in the press box for a very reasonable $12.

We had great seats, about eight rows up from the visitors’ dugout. This evening, the A’s were playing the Tampa Bay Rays. However, there is very little foul area around the field, so we felt very close to the action, which makes this an even more loveable ballpark.

There was only one run scored in what turned out to be a pretty decent pitching duel. Jose Siri hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning for the Rays, and that was it. I would have liked to see Oakland win. After all, I came all the way from Oklahoma and all the way from the 1970s, to be there.

We left with a few souvenirs. I bought an A’s hat at one of the merchandise stands and it happened to be half price that night, so that was a win. Plus, Brent secured us Dave Stewart give-away replica jerseys that were being handed out in some club area beyond the outfield seats. Another win. He also got a pair of large green buttons that read, “My First A’s Game;” a perfect reminder of our night in Oakland.

All in all, it was a lifelong dream come true to attend an A’s game in Oakland. Sure, I’ve seen them play in other ballparks over the years, but this was special, and obviously won’t ever happen again, and that’s truly unfortunate. I hate the fact that they are leaving town and moving to Las Vegas. It’s terrible for the team, the employees and, of course, the fans.

I spoke with several employees. One security guard, Ray, said he will probably work the games while the team plays in Sacramento the next few years. Other employees said that part of the attitude around the ballpark was a bit of, “Oh well, who cares? The team’s leaving anyway.”

Some of the workers were really upset that they won’t have this wonderful seasonal job next year. I don’t blame them, I would be very upset, too.

Many of the fans wore green shirts and waved flags with big white letters that simply read, “SELL.” That is a message to the owner, John Fisher, with the hope that if he sold the team to someone local, maybe they would keep the A’s in Oakland. Unfortunately, I think it’s too late for that. It seems the move is a done deal.

BALLPARK COUNT

Having now been to games in Phoenix, San Francisco and Oakland this season, I have now attended Major League Baseball games at the home ballpark of 15 different teams. I hope to someday get to all 30 teams. For some of those teams (Miami, St. Louis, and Texas), I have watched them play in old and new ballparks, so the total ballpark count is 18.

TULSA BEACON RADIO

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national level guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. This week my guest will be Hollywood writer, producer director and church media consultant, Phil Cooke. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.