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Don Holdridge's avatar

There has been some wonderful baseball played in the Coliseum over the last 50+ years, and some great players as well.

Yes I feel for the Oakland fans, but I would remind Athletics’ as well as Rangers’ fans that the joy they get from watching their teams comes as the expense of other fans who lost their favorite team and players—Washington for the Rangers and Kansas City as well as Philadelphia before that for the As. None of us are guaranteed a team if we don’t support them sufficiently.

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Trey Finley's avatar

I was there and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sights and sounds. Emotions were high but aside from a few jerks (security and fans) it was a beautifully sad wake for a baseball team. There’s so much I can say about it. Maybe the shortest way to say it is I hope I never again experience that kind of a day at a ballpark. At the same time, it was an honor to be there.

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George Enochs's avatar

Jamie, you write with such passion and personal feelings. How refreshing.

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Ryan Hansen's avatar

Did I also see the win left the As with an incredible even 2000 losses in the coliseum? Interesting book end stat

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John Hamilton's avatar

A third VandyBoy playing a key role today was JJ Bleday

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ajnrules's avatar

As a Rangers fan I hate the A’s as division rivals (the pains of that 2012 collapse burns deep even with the title last year). I also hate what is being done to them. Then I think about how close I am to have gotten my heart ripped out. I spent several years in the East Bay growing up, with my time there coinciding with their glory years of 1989-1992. My parents weren’t big baseball fans, though, and I never went to a game to get into the sport until after my family moved to Kansas City. If I had gone to a game in the Coliseum way back then I might have found myself a die-hard A’s fan and be among the thousands mourning the loss of my team. It’s so tragic

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Bob Dorough's avatar

I will never NOT believe that baseball belongs in Oakland, and the John Fisher’s of the world should not be allowed into the ownership fraternity without absolute assurances of doing everything in their power to maintain the team in its current location, rather than buying a team to move it.

And didn’t the SF Giants ownership figure out a way to build their stadium without public money other than a small tax abatement? I’m sure if Fisher really wanted to keep the A’s in Oakland, he could have taken a lesson from his neighbors across the bay.

Ok, I’ll step off my soapbox now…

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Edward Whorton's avatar

This game reminded me of when I was 14 and lost my team, the Washington Senators to Texas. I was crushed, but I still followed the Senators/Rangers. I am now 69 and still a big Rangers fan. I don't even follow the Nationals that much. I live and die Texas Rangers baseball, just ask my wife. lol It's a damn shame that was allowed to happen to those great Oakland baseball fans.

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Frank Kottwitz's avatar

Wholeheartedly agree this is a shame the leadership of all parties could not work out a solution. It shows some view this solely as a business no commitment to the community. I want the teams to make money I am a capitalist. Feel very sad for all the kids( Young and Older) whose team is taken from them.

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Lauri Harris's avatar

I also thought it was nice that the A’s got the win in their final game in the Oakland Coliseum, in front of so many fans. If they have to go out, it was a nice way to end. I loved the team staying on the field, saying goodbye to their fans. Class. It’s a sad day, but they made the most of it.

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