Mark Kotsay treated this moment, this daunting day, like the World Series he has never had as a player or manager. Kotsay fought tears, just like so many others Thursday, as the Oakland Athletics bid an emotional farewell to their beloved Coliseum they've called home since 1968, complete with all its quirks like plumbing problems and rally possums — and those stray cats who helped inspire Hall of Famer Tony La Russa's former Animal Rescue Foundation. The A's beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 and Kotsay took the microphone afterward for a heartfelt thank you to a sellout crowd of 46,889 before leading one last chant of “Let's go Oakland!” Third baseman Max Schuemann grabbed a huge A's flag and ran it around the field, stopping to wave it in front of different sections.

The A's closed out its final home series in front of a sold-out crowd on Thursday.

The Oakland A's played their final game at The Coliseum on Thursday ahead of the team's move to Las Vegas. In honor of the historic farewell, the A's brought back a franchise great and fan favorite to sing the national anthem. Former Oakland pitcher Barry Zito returned to where he started his MLB career to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” for all the A's fans in attendance.

The Oakland Athletics are preparing to bid farewell to their long-time home, a move that stirs a deep sense of loss among fans and prominent figures alike. Notably, actor Tom Hanks, who grew up in the region, lamented the loss of a team with a rich history and deep-rooted connections to its community, per the NYTimes. Tom Hanks expressed his dismay over the Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas, questioning how Major League Baseball could allow such a storied franchise to slip away from its original home.

The Oakland Athletics are preparing to bid farewell to their long-time home, a move that stirs a deep sense of loss among fans and prominent figures alike. Notably, actor Tom Hanks, who grew up in the region, lamented the loss of a team with a rich history and deep-rooted connections to its community, per the NYTimes. Tom Hanks expressed his dismay over the Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas, questioning how Major League Baseball could allow such a storied franchise to slip away from its original home.

As the Oakland Athletics prepare to leave their long-time home at the end of 2024, celebrities and sports figures with deep ties to the area have voiced their sorrow and frustration. The team's departure marks the end of an era for the city of Oakland, which has seen its share of sports franchises relocate over the years. Stars like Damian Lillard and Jim Harbaugh are among the most prominent figures with deep ties to Oakland.

In the past year alone, franchises in every major league have struggled to produce a respectable product. The Chicago White Sox are on the verge of breaking the MLB's all-time loss record, while the Oakland Athletics are potentially approaching a third straight season with fewer than 70 wins. The Carolina Panthers went 2-15 in 2023 and didn't even have the first pick due to a trade. The Detroit Pistons went 14-68, finishing 50 games worse than the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

This is it, the A's final game in Oakland. The A's say the game is a sellout, so fans should be prepared for long lines to park, enter the Coliseum and buy concessions. The team says it has increased staffing for concessions and security in anticipation of the crowd, and Oakland police have assigned more than 100 officers to the game, knowing that losing a third team in five years could draw a major reaction from some within a fanbase that has demonstrated against owner John Fisher repeatedly.

Oakland will never be the same without the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Raiders — and now, the Oakland Athletics. (Briana Chazaro) It's not until you've lived through the trenches of fandom that it hits you: Local sports teams are like extended family. And when you've lost one of your childhood homes, there's nothing but grief left in its place. The loss of the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum is the saddest collective mourning I've ever known. The hole that it leaves is enormous. Both my wife and I grew up attending the outdated, mostly dilapidated stadium. Over the past two years, we've started to bring our toddler along, too. Recently, and before the madness of the Thursday's final

The Oakland Coliseum played host to 57 MLB seasons, four World Series champions and countless baseball memories.

The right field bleachers at the Oakland Coliseum have always been a hot spot for fun and frivolity. It's been one of the few constants over the nearly 60 years the A's called Oakland home. It's where Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher and underwear model Jim Palmer once spent a sunny July afternoon during a game to spice up his non-pitching day. First, Palmer successfully baited an umpire to eject him at the start of the game, as he promised teammates he would do.

Wyatt Langford and Adolis García homered to help the Texas Rangers spoil the final scheduled night baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum, beating the Athletics 5-1.

Wyatt Langford and Adolis García homered to help the Texas Rangers spoil the final scheduled night baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum, beating the Athletics 5-1 on Wednesday. The A's have played in the Coliseum since 1968 and are scheduled to move to Sacramento for at least the next three seasons while waiting for a ballpark they hope to open in Las Vegas. A tribute video to the Coliseum played on the big screen before the game, and the grounds crew has written "Thank You Oakland" into the outfield grass for the final series.

Scott Slant This Day In Sports: Happier times in the Oakland Coliseum 2015: Back then, it was a farewell to a couple of beloved pitchers. This afternoon, it's a bitter goodbye to Oakland for the A's. Credit: AP Oakland Athletics pitcher Barry Zito waves to fans as he leaves the baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015(AP Photo) Author: Tom Scott / The Scott Slant (KTVB) Published: 8:26 AM MDT September 26, 2024 Updated: 8:28 AM MDT September 26, 2024 This Day In Sports…September 26, 2015: Today's item harkens back to a celebratory day nine years ago in Oakland. It fits now, because this afternoon will be historic for the Athletics. Not in a good way, mind you, as

Wyatt Langford and Adolis García homered to help the Texas Rangers spoil the final scheduled night baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum, beating the Athletics 5-1 on Wednesday. The A's have played in the Coliseum since 1968 and are scheduled to move to Sacramento for at least the next three seasons while waiting for a ballpark they hope to open in Las Vegas. A tribute video to the Coliseum played on the big screen before the game, and the grounds crew has written “Thank You Oakland” into the outfield grass for the final series. Oakland manager Mark Kotsay and wife Jamie strolled hand in hand to the outfield where he once roamed as a player for the A's, and the manager waved and tipped his cap to those still around.

Thursday is the A's 4,493rd regular season game at the Coliseum. The A's have more walk-off victories (485) than any other team during the Oakland era, but only Scott Hatteberg's ninth-inning pinch-hit homer launched a book, a movie and sealed a then-AL-record 20-game win streak.

Thursday is the A's 4,493rd regular season game at the Coliseum. The A's have more walk-off victories (485) than any other team during the Oakland era, but only Scott Hatteberg's ninth-inning pinch-hit homer launched a book, a movie and sealed a then-AL-record 20-game win streak.

Oakland Athletics fans braced themselves for this day since April, knowing the end was coming. There already have been recent incidents, officials say, in which fans have snuck wrenches and different tools into the facility to rip stadium seats out of the concrete to bring home for souvenirs.

The Oakland Athletics have played their final night home game at the Oakland Coliseum against the Texas Rangers, losing 5-1, one game away from the A's wrapping up their time in the city. Likewise, it was just one instance of fans stealing seats from the Coliseum partly to protest the Athletics leaving the city and to grab souvenirs.

Texas Rangers (75-83, third in the AL West) vs. Oakland Athletics (68-90, fourth in the AL West) Oakland, California; Thursday, 3:37 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Kumar Rocker (0-1, 2.57 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 12 strikeouts); Athletics: J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 27 strikeouts) : LINE Athletics -123, Rangers +103; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: Both the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers are looking for a series win with a victory on Thursday. Oakland is 68-90 overall and 37-43 in home games. The Athletics are third in the AL with 193 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game. Texas has a 75-83 record overall and a 31-46 record on the road. The Rangers have gone 39-72 in