August 28, 2007: Oakland, California

The Oakland Coliseum, also known as the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (1968-1997, 2009-2010, and 2016-present), Network Associates Coliseum (1998-2004), McAfee Coliseum (2005-2008) and O.co Coliseum (2011-2015), is best known for its expansive foul territory and frequent plumbing problems. My first memory of the A’s and their home ballpark was the 1988 American League Championship. Oakland and their high octane offense, led by Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, were facing the American League East champion Boston Red Sox. The Oakland Coliseum was a picturesque ballpark with the Alameda Hills behind centerfield. The first two games of the series were played at 5:05 local time, 8:05 on the East Coast. I was 7, but was locked in from the start. I had to watch my favorite player, Jose Canseco, who had just completed MLB’s first 40 home run, 40 stolen base season. The A’s went on to sweep the Red Sox 4-0, only to lose the World Series to the underdog Los Angeles Dodgers. Kirk Gibson’s Game 1 home run off A’s closer and future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley in the 9th was a gut punch the A’s never recovered from. The A’s continued their American League dominance, winning the 1989 and 1990 pennants and 1989 World Series against their Bay Bridge rival, the San Francisco Giants. The A’s success led to 2.9 million in attendance during the 1990 season, a high watermark they haven’t been close to since. [Read more…]