The baseball season is over and the Oakland Athletics are no more. They played their last home game on Thursday (a day game) and their last game of the season today (Sunday, as I write). For the next couple of seasons, they will just be the Athletics, no location designation.
I turned on the game on my phone just before the top of the 7th inning ended and so I heard “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” being sung one last time at the Oakland Coliseum. I started choking up. I was at work, so I couldn’t really pay attention to the game and at its end, I was on the phone with one of the school sites. It was probably best because if I had been otherwise unoccupied, I would have really felt the end of the moment and what it meant. The Oakland A’s had played their last game in the place that had been their home for 57 seasons. It was over. The last series would be played in Seattle and then the Oakland Athletics would cease to exist.
It hurts.
I am glad that our last outing to the Coliseum was that game in April, the day after our 30th anniversary. They were playing the St. Louis Cardinals, our other team, so I would have been happy with either team winning. Still, I was glad that it was the A’s for what would be my last game there. We had great seats, our first and last time in the section 113 Lounge.
I almost wish I had been there for the last game. I could have cried my tears amongst my fellow A’s fans. I could have joined my love for the team with them. I could have said good bye to every step along the way. I could have looked upon the beautiful baseball field one last time. I could have remembered moments from games past. The 20th game in a row won. My 30th birthday where the game went into extra innings. The Photo Days and taking a picture with Barry Zito, my only pic with one of the Big Three in uniform (my photos with Mulder and Hudson were both at card shows). My teen years and one of the players flirting with my 14 year old sister (yeah, I still remember that). The chilly nights. The fireworks shows. The couple of years we had suites and could invite our family and friends for outings. Sitting the bleachers before the monstrosity of Mt. Davis blighted the outfield. The time not too long ago sitting in one of the football suites for a baseball game and not minding the view too much.
Baseball has always been my comfort since I started watching in my teen years. The Oakland Athletics were my team because I was born in Oakland and grew up in the East Bay. It was easy to go to games because they weren’t far from home or from my cousin’s house. I never went to a game with an adult until I was an adult. My cousin, only a few months other than me, was the one who drove us to games once we were sixteen. It was one of the first places I could be amongst strangers without my parents. It’s a little wild to realize now.
I don’t know what kind of baseball fan I’ll be next season. I’ve been rather neglectful in recent years and now it almost feels like it’s time to let go. But I know that I still love the game and I love the A’s. I’m not going to put away my A’s gear but I don’t now if I’ll ever buy more (unless I can find Oakland stuff for sale). I don’t know what I’ll do if/when they become the Las Vegas Athletics. We shall just have to see…
Country in the Park 2 – Our Saturday was spent in Sacramento for CITP2. We were there to see Tyler perform and he was fantastic, of course! It always feels more personal when he does shows in the Sacramento area because his family and friends are around. It was Sabina’s birthday and she was there! We were in the pit and R saw her first. I went to say hello to her and we hugged real tight. It had been a couple of years since we last saw her! We took some pictures together than kept watching Tyler. 😀
Tyler’s set was great! It was the only time we were in the pit. We’re too old to stand with a bunch of people who will inadvertently bump into you without a sorry or worse. We headed to the bleachers on the side and spent the rest of our time watching the following artists from afar.
Dasha came up after Tyler. She was pretty good. I’ve heard a song or two of hers before. She sounded good and had to tell us a story while they fixed her mic mid-song. Ooops!
After Dasha, the sun set and we waited for the next act, Parmalee. The air had finally cooled down. It had been so hot while the sun was out. It didn’t help that we had walked over from the hotel to the venue. We should have Uber’d over. Lesson learned!
Parmalee had a fantastic set though we didn’t stay for all of it. They also sounded great and had the crowd entertained. I knew more of their songs than I thought I would. I was glad we weren’t in the pit for their set because it was looking very crowded by then. We headed out before the end of their set and Uber’d back to the hotel. We missed Dierks Bentley but we probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it very much if we had stayed. I’m sure he put on a great show.
Fall Break is upon us but the weather looks to be hot this week. Hoping it cools down soon. Please? The good thing is that I’m having long weekends during the break. Sweet!
Here’s to a good week to all!