Across the east-coast many states and even a pair of postseason hopeful teams braced for Hurricane Helene to make landfall up the Gulf of Mexico. Across the country in Northern California however the skies couldn’t be clearer, ushering in a picture-perfect day for a rather bitter-sweet occurrence.
The final game to be played at the historic Oakland Coliseum took place Thursday afternoon between the Athletics and the Rangers, a classic divisional matchup to be fought out one last time in the famous venue.
While some Athletics fans are obviously still angry about the team’s departure and move to what will be Sacremento before an expected move to Las Vegas, the near 47,000 people in attendance were there to celebrate the memories and moments that have taken place in the stadium.
The day was meant to be one of reflection and celebration of all the achievements within the walls of the Oakland Coliseum, yet the entire game was a reminder to those who usually may not tune in that the Athletics are a new, and exciting young core developing into something special before our eyes.
Photo: MLB.com
The scoring got started in the third when Athletics top prospect Jacob Wilson came across to score after JJ Bleday grounded into a fielder’s choice. Later in the third Shea Langeliers would hit a sacrifice flyout that would score 2024 breakout outfielder Lawrence Butler.
JJ Bleday and Jacob Wilson continued to haunt the Rangers as Wilson would score again on a Bleday RBI single in the fifth inning. Kumar Rocker would go for a season high 4.2 inning outing in his third major league start, but would ultimately give up three earned runs.
25-year old Mississippi State alum J.T. Ginn was given the ball for the final start in the Coliseum. Ginn did his job going five strong innings, but gave up two earned runs in the sixth to make it a 3-2 game.
The Athletics offense would continue to try and put runs on the board to give them a bit of insurance late in the game, but Rocker’s former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter would work out of jams to go 3.1 shutout innings.
As the game reached the last few innings fans began to get crazier. Smoke bombs would be thrown into the outfield on one occasion, and fans would continuously throw beer cans, objects, and one even ran on the field stopping play.
Athletics new shutdown closer Mason Miller came in to close out the final game in Oakland. The 26-year old would shut down the Rangers lineup in 1.1 innings of work, and after Mason Miller got Travis Jankowski to ground out, the stadium erupted as their trustworthy closer got them a win when they needed it the most.
“It was probably the coolest moment of my life,” Miller said postgame on the field.
The fans got to hear Kool & The Gang’s ‘Celebration’ one more time in person, as the Oakland faithful saw their guys go out and leave it all on the field for them. The players responded to a truly special group of fans by tipping their caps in the Oakland Kelly green’s for the final time.
Manager Mark Kotsay gave a special message to the Oakland faithful postgame on field, while every fan in attendance watched, soaking in every last moment in such a historic place.
“There are no better fans than you guys…Thank you all for loving the game of baseball…Thank you for your lifelong support of the Oakland A’s, and last, I want to thank you guys for coming out today to share this moment with a club that I’m so proud of, we played our a***s off this year…we still have three left gentlemen,” Kotsay said proudly.
While the 2024 A’s haven’t posted an amazing record, what they’ve managed to start this season is the foundation for something bigger in the future, and Kotsay reminded fans of that while honoring the 57 years of incredible fandom.
The players got to see Oakland at its peak one more time, and in return they gave some of the best fans in baseball, one last feeling of joy before their exit. Postgame players soaked in every fan still in attendance, in a moment that was truly bigger than baseball.