As the Oakland Athletics prepare to host the Texas Rangers this Thursday afternoon, it marks a poignant moment for the team's loyal fanbase. This will be the last time the Athletics take their home field representing the city of Oakland. After this season concludes, the team is set to relocate to Sacramento, with an even more significant move eventually planned to a new ballpark off the Las Vegas Strip.
Throughout their tenure in Oakland, the Athletics have been a wellspring of baseball history and lore. Among the pantheon of greats who wore the green and gold, Rickey Henderson stands out. Over his illustrious career, Henderson's achievements are nothing short of legendary. He played for nine teams, but his time with the Athletics was particularly remarkable. Henderson won the 1990 American League Most Valuable Player Award and earned six All-Star nods while donning the green and gold. Over more than 1,700 games with the Athletics, he batted .288/.409/.430, totaling 167 home runs and 867 stolen bases. Henderson’s 72.7 Wins Above Replacement are 20 more than any other player in Oakland history, a testament to his unrivaled impact on the team.
Bill James once remarked, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers," highlighting Henderson's extraordinary ability and versatility. Tom Verducci, reflecting on Henderson’s larger-than-life persona, said, "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’ storied past extends beyond Henderson, incorporating names like Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, and Mark McGwire. In the early 2000s, standout pitchers Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder captured the imagination of baseball fans. With four World Series titles and six American League pennants, the Athletics have cemented their place in baseball history.
Of particular note in the annals of the Athletics is the story of Jim "Catfish" Hunter, who became baseball’s first modern free agent in 1974. His move from the team, and subsequent signing of a five-year, $3.2 million pact with the New York Yankees, changed the landscape of player contracts and mobility within Major League Baseball. Another iconic figure, Dennis Eckersley, achieved a remarkable 51 saves in 1992, earning the Cy Young Award for his efforts.
The Athletics are also synonymous with the innovative "Moneyball" philosophy, popularized by Michael Lewis. Sandy Alderson was influenced by Bill James' yearly abstracts and Eric Walker’s "The Sinister First Baseman," but it was Billy Beane who truly revolutionized the approach. As Lewis noted, Beane adopted a central insight that "it was more efficient to create a closer than to buy one," forever altering how teams evaluate and develop talent.
Charles Finley, the owner who brought the team to Oakland, 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." Finley's words echo the deep connection between the Athletics and the city of Oakland, a bond that will be remembered by fans long after the team moves on.