Oakland Athletics
Interim Stadium
West Sacramento, United States
The Oakland Athletics franchise began in 1901 as a charter member of the American League, originally known as the Philadelphia Athletics. Under the legendary Connie Mack, who managed and co-owned the team, the Athletics quickly found success. Their mascot, an elephant named Stomper, originates from a 1902 incident where New York Giants manager John Mcgraw dismissed the Athletics as a "White Elephant". Mack embraced the symbol, and it has been associated with the team ever since.
After being founded the Athletics relocated three times in 1955 to Kansas City and became Kansas City Athletics and in 1968 to Oakland adopting the name of Oakland Athletics. In 2024 The team announced that it would be their last year in Oakland and plans to move to Las Vegas, marking their third relocation. Until then, the team will temporarily play in West Sacramento.
Despite changes, the Athletics have built a rich history, producing numerous Hall of Fame players, including Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Rollie Fingers, and Dick Williams.
The Athletics have intense rivalries, most notably which are the San Francisco Giants known as the "Bay Bridge Series" which started in 1989, and the Los Angeles Angels as division rivals in the American League West. In May 2024, the Athletics also made history when Jenny Cavnar and Julia Morales became the first two women to provide play-by-play commentary for the same Major League Baseball game on television—a milestone for women in sports broadcasting.