As the Oakland Athletics prepare to host the Texas Rangers this Thursday afternoon, it marks the end of an era for Oakland baseball fans. This game will be the last time the Athletics take their home field representing the city of Oakland, as the team is set to relocate to Sacramento after the season concludes. In an eventual move, the Athletics will later transition to a new ballpark off the Las Vegas Strip, marking a significant change from their storied history in Oakland.
It's hard to discuss the legacy of the Athletics without mentioning Rickey Henderson, one of the most electrifying players in baseball history. Henderson’s career spanned nine teams, yet his most significant contributions came while wearing the green and gold of the Oakland Athletics. His accolades are numerous: he won the 1990 American League Most Valuable Player Award, earned six All-Star nods, and posted an impressive slash line of .288/.409/.430 over more than 1,700 games with the team. Henderson's 72.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) are 20 more than any other player in Oakland history, a testament to his unparalleled impact on the field.
As Bill James once succinctly remarked, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers." Tom Verducci echoed this sentiment by placing Henderson in the pantheon of American cultural mythology alongside figures like Johnny Appleseed, Wild Bill Hickok, and Davy Crockett. "Rickey Henderson," he said, "is a part of that rarefied group as if reality could no longer contain their stories."
But Henderson isn't the only name etched in the annals of Athletics history. The team’s storied past also includes figures like Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, and Mark McGwire. In the early 2000s, pitchers Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder captured the imagination of baseball fans with their standout performances. The Athletics have also had their fair share of championship glory, with four World Series titles and six American League pennants to their name.
The team’s history includes groundbreaking moments as well. In 1974, Jim "Catfish" Hunter became baseball’s first modern free agent, signing a lucrative five-year, $3.2 million contract with the New York Yankees. Dennis Eckersley set a high watermark in 1992, achieving 51 saves and earning the Cy Young Award.
Additionally, the "Moneyball" philosophy, popularized by Michael Lewis, found its roots in Oakland under the stewardship of executives like Sandy Alderson and Billy Beane. Influenced by Bill James' yearly abstracts and Eric Walker’s "The Sinister First Baseman," Alderson and Beane revolutionized baseball by emphasizing undervalued assets. As Michael Lewis noted, "It was more efficient to create a closer than to buy one," a strategy that reshaped how the game was played and managed.
Former team owner Charles Finley once said, "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." However, as the Athletics prepare for yet another relocation, it is clear that the landscape of baseball is in constant evolution. The move to Sacramento and eventually Las Vegas signifies a new chapter for a team interwoven with historical significance.
As fans gather for this final game in Oakland, they will undoubtedly reflect on the numerous memories and achievements that have defined the Athletics' time in the city. From the unforgettable feats of Rickey Henderson to the remarkable strategic shifts brought about by the "Moneyball" era, Oakland's contribution to baseball is indelible. The Athletics' departure may be bittersweet, but the legacy they leave behind will forever resonate in the hearts of baseball aficionados.