Oakland — If you paused for a moment of reflection, you weren’t alone. For the first time in decades, a sold-out ballpark came together to bid farewell to a team that had called the Coliseum home for fifty-six years. It was an emotional day, filled with fans sharing memories of watching the Oakland A’s play unforgettable baseball.
The A’s didn’t disappoint. They won the series, defeating the Texas Rangers 3-2 in their final game at the Coliseum before moving to Sacramento for three years while awaiting the completion of their new ballpark in Las Vegas. Mason Miller has stood out in his rookie season, dominating as a closer with a 2.37 ERA over 60 2/3 innings pitched.
In the A’s final game in Oakland, Miller earned his 28th save, setting a record for the most saves by a rookie in an A’s uniform. He struck out the first two batters in the ninth, then forced Travis Jankowski to ground out to end the game. Another chapter in history was written today.
Oakland’s manager, Mark Kotsay, did his best to stay strong for his team, but even he couldn’t hide his emotions. Throughout the past week, Kotsay reflected on how this organization has been a cornerstone in his life—first as a player from 2004 to 2007 and more recently as manager for the past two seasons. Though he’s never been to a World Series, he said the atmosphere over the last week has certainly felt like it.
After today’s matinee victory, Kotsay took the microphone to address the crowd of 46,889 fans, asking for one final chant of “Let’s Go Oakland!”—a phrase that had become synonymous with the team over the past 56 years. The entire roster, staff, and stadium employees stood united behind him on the field. The team posed for a group photo on the mound, and even the tireless grounds crew, who worked to keep the field immaculate, gathered for a pregame photo.
“You can just tell how much this organization and this place mean to him,” said starting pitcher J.T. Ginn. “That’s the biggest takeaway. He puts his heart and soul into it every day. We see that, and I’m glad the fans got to see it in his speech. You could tell he was getting emotional. It’s pretty incredible, his ties to this place.”
Ginn earned his first Major League win after going 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and two walks, while striking out two before the bullpen took over. The A’s defense was stellar, preventing any additional runs. In the seventh inning, JJ Bleday made a spectacular catch when Carson Kelly lined out. Bleday dove for the ball, landing on the grass to secure the out.
The crowd was calm and energetic, but far from raucous. However, during the ninth inning, two fans stormed the field, only to be immediately arrested. Then, smoke bombs were thrown onto the field, briefly delaying the game until they were cleared, allowing the closing pitcher to finish his final out. Throughout it all, the crowd remained united, repeatedly chanting, “Sell the Team!”—a clear message to ownership, urging them to sell the A’s instead of relocating to Las Vegas.
John Fisher, the team’s owner since 2005, is rarely seen at the ballpark and is seldom among the fans. A former part-owner of the San Francisco Giants, Fisher has overseen the A’s through four division titles and three wild card berths (2014, 2018, 2019). But many fans’ frustration stems from the possibility of yet another professional team leaving Oakland, echoing the pain of the Oakland Raiders’ departure on December 29, 2019. Fans expressed both their concerns over the move and their unwavering love for the team.
Those who have spent decades working within the A’s organization are experiencing a wave of emotions, particularly those who have formed deep connections with their environment, colleagues, and routines. The physical space holds memories of personal and professional milestones, friendships, and a strong sense of belonging. As a few employees shared their memories, it became clear that the relocation brought a mix of sadness, uncertainty, and even grief.
While relocation may bring new opportunities, it’s essential to honor the emotions tied to leaving a place that, for many, has felt like a second home. Since 1968, the Oakland A’s have brought joy and heartbreak to their fans through both wins and losses. Former A’s pitcher Dave Stewart and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while Barry Zito performed the National Anthem.
Fans lined up as early as 6 a.m. to tailgate before the game. There was no violence or crime—just a “lovefest” of fans who deeply appreciate, respect and adore the players and managers who created these lasting memories. You can take the team away, but you can never take away the memories. As Oakland moves forward without any professional sports teams, the city remains hopeful of attracting soccer and other teams to the Coliseum.
“You could feel the love for every one of us in this uniform representing this city of Oakland,” Kotsay said. “To honor them [fans] today in the way that we did, they were very thankful for that.”
