The Athletics’ final game in Oakland will be remembered less for the 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers than the smoke bombs and field invaders that marred the final moments at the Coliseum on Thursday.
The ninth inning featured two fans jumping the fences to run onto the grass, bottles being thrown into center field and smoke bombs set off and tossed into right. Toilet paper and other debris also came down before manager Mark Kotsay took the microphone after the game with a heartfelt thank you to the fans and one last round of ‘Let’s go Oakland!’
The A’s plan to play the next three years in Sacramento with hopes of opening a new ballpark in Las Vegas ahead of the 2028 season – all of which, owner John Fisher claims, is crucial for the club’s financial future.
Fans and critics disagree.
‘The Oakland A’s were killed by greed,’ ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan wrote on X. ‘Do not allow the people responsible for this to spin it any other way. John Fisher did not have to move this team. Major League Baseball and its owners did not need to be complicit in it. This was a choice. A wrong one. History will sneer.’
Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (4) reacts to smoke bombs being thrown on the field
A fan runs onto the field during the ninth inning of the final Athletics game in Oakland
Passan’s sentiment was echoed by the fans at the Coliseum on Thursday.
Green ‘SELL’ banners hung from the outfield railings as fans were treated to a bittersweet trip down memory lane. Barry Zito sang the national anthem to huge applause, while Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart tossed out ceremonial first pitches.
The current A’s entertained, too.
Bleday made a diving catch to his right to rob Carson Kelly of a hit on his line drive in the seventh. And the hometown fans got one more chance to see flame-throwing closer Mason Miller on the mound.
A’s starter J.T. Ginn (1-1) left to a loud standing ovation after allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, and the pitcher then applauded right back by clapping his glove.
JJ Bleday hit an RBI single and made a magnificent catch in center field, Shea Langeliers had a sacrifice fly, and the A’s went out in their final scheduled game at the Coliseum in style.
Bleday and Zack Gelof delivered defensive gems to delight a sellout crowd of 46,889 under a cloudless blue September sky. Fans alternated chants of ‘Sell the team!’ and ‘Let’s go Oakland!’ amid the mixed emotions and nostalgia at the Coliseum, where the A’s have played since 1968 and enjoyed so many memorable moments.
A fan holds up a sign during the Oakland Athletics game against the Texas Rangers
Oakland Athletics team photographer Michael Zagaris kisses the pitcher’s mound
An A’s fans holds up a sign after the Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers
A member of the Oakland Athletics grounds crew gives dirt from the field to fans
Oakland’s bullpen sealed the deal with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, with Miller recording the final four outs for his 28th save that leads all major league rookies. He has converted his last 16 opportunities dating to June 18.
Miller pumped his fist after striking out Nathaniel Lowe for the first out of the ninth, then play was briefly interrupted as Leody Taveras batted when two fans ran separately onto the field and were removed by swarms of security. Miller struck Taveras out, too, then retired Travis Jankowski on a grounder to third to end the 2-hour, 29-minute game.
‘It’s an honor that I think any pitcher would love to have, I think, just being able to say that and have that for the rest of my career no matter where it takes me, that’s always going to be a moment I look back on and treasure,’ Miller said.
Former A’s star and Bay Area native Marcus Semien went 0 for 4 in his likely last game here in front of family and friends.
‘It was just nice to see a big crowd here. It’s always fun. A lot of energy,’ he said. ‘Disappointed we didn’t play well. That’s really what I’m here to do, is play good baseball. But in terms of this community showing up for this team, it’s pretty sad, because there are a lot of people who love this team in Oakland, and I don’t how the support is going to be anywhere else. So pretty tough.’
