As the Athletics prepare to take on the Texas Rangers this Thursday afternoon, Oakland baseball fans will witness the end of a significant era. This game marks the final time the Athletics will take their home field representing the city of Oakland, as the team readies itself for a relocation to Sacramento after the season concludes. However, the journey does not end there, as the Athletics have future plans to move to a new ballpark off the Las Vegas Strip.
Reflecting on the rich history of the Oakland Athletics, one cannot overlook the contributions and achievements of Rickey Henderson. A true legend, Henderson's career spanned nine teams, yet his time with the Athletics is particularly memorable. Winning the 1990 American League Most Valuable Player Award, Henderson earned six All-Star nods while wearing the green and gold. Over more than 1,700 games with the Athletics, he boasted a batting average of .288/.409/.430, hitting 167 home runs and stealing an extraordinary 867 bases. His 72.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) stands 20 points higher than any other player in Oakland’s history. As Bill James famously remarked, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers."
Henderson’s remarkable journey is only a part of the storied past of the Athletics. The team’s history is decorated with names like Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, and Mark McGwire. In the early 2000s, pitchers Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder stood out, forming an iconic trio for the Athletics' rotation. Jim "Catfish" Hunter, another legendary figure, became baseball’s first modern free agent in 1974 and later signed a five-year, $3.2 million pact with the New York Yankees. Dennis Eckersley also made his mark by achieving 51 saves and earning the Cy Young Award in 1992.
The team’s impact is not limited to individual achievements. The Athletics have clinched four World Series titles and six American League pennants, etching their name in the annals of baseball history. Their innovative approach to the game, epitomized by the "Moneyball" philosophy popularized by Michael Lewis, has left an indelible mark on how the sport is played and managed. Influenced by Bill James' yearly abstracts and Eric Walker’s "The Sinister First Baseman," Sandy Alderson and later, Billy Beane, adopted an unconventional approach. Michael Lewis encapsulated this insight perfectly: "It was more efficient to create a closer than to buy one."
The poignant reflections on the team's history bring to mind the words of Tom Verducci: "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’ legacy in Oakland will indeed pass into cultural mythology with this relocation.
Looking back, Charles Finley’s words now carry an added layer of meaning: "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 decision to move to Sacramento and then Las Vegas may not rest in the hands of a single individual like Finley, but it represents another chapter in a long history of decisions that have defined the identity and trajectory of the Athletics.
The end of the Athletics’ time in Oakland signifies more than just a change of venue. It is a poignant reminder of a vibrant chapter filled with triumphs, iconic players, and revolutionary ideas that have significantly impacted the game of baseball. As the Athletics embark on their next journey, the memories of their time in Oakland will remain a cherished part of baseball lore.