Oakland A’s to Las Vegas

Never saw Bench, but Reggie Jackson was extremely rude to little kids asking for an autograph in Arlington. Happened more than once. Not taking batting practice, just walking around.
 
Bench refused to sign anything for almost anybody. My son now has a baseball I got signed for him by the 1975 World Champion Reds. Story I was told that my friend who worked at the Astrodome knew Joe Morgan from his days with the Astros and gave him the ball to have ALL the Reds sign it. Supposedly there was a hush that fell over the locker room when Morgan walked over to Bench and said, "SIGN IT" - not a request but rather an order. We have been told that it is one of the few items signed by ALL of the Reds.

I watched literally walk over and knock down little kids after a game at The Dome.

Contrast that behavior with Keith Moreland and Andre Dawson (???) during batting practice before a game at the Dome. Usher came down to chase little kids away from the dugout. Moreland and Dawson were not kind to the ushers telling them that these were their fans and they could stay until the first pitch. Then the pair spent 20+ minutes signing for the kids.
 
There's some light buzz here and there about the Reds feeling out a potential move to Columbus. I can get that. A much bigger city and market, and you're not completely screwing the fans in Cincinnati, since they can drive to 8+ games per year. The Indians won't like it.
 
SabreHorn said:
Moreland and Dawson were not kind to the ushers telling them that these were their fans and they could stay until the first pitch. Then the pair spent 20+ minutes signing for the kids.
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That is awesome. Baseball is for the fans, kids in particular. That is how you build a base for life.
 
guy4321 said:
So do Oakland residents become Giants fans? Did they become 49ers fans?
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I'm going to say that's unlikely for most. But, some may, some may not...

I worked with a guy from rural Northern California who like the Giants and really hated the Dodgers. He said that was a common feeling up there. The Oakland A's were a very localized phenomenon with little fan base South of Union City, North of Berkeley, or East of around Pleasanton.

The Giants planted their flag in the Northern half of the Golden State long ago. As did the Dodgers in the Southern half of the Golden State. The Cali teams besides the Giants and the Dodgers were small potatoes. A couple of friends from the East Bay (A's fans, 1 lukewarm) confirmed. The A's had a limited fan base outside the East Bay. They were a small island in Giants country. Giants vs. Dodgers is the big game out there.
 
Chop said:
I'm going to say that's unlikely for most. But, some may, some may not...

I worked with a guy from rural Northern California who like the Giants and really hated the Dodgers. He said that was a common feeling up there. The Oakland A's were a very localized phenomenon with little fan base South of Union City, North of Berkeley, or East of around Pleasanton.

The Giants planted their flag in the Northern half of the Golden State long ago. As did the Dodgers in the Southern half of the Golden State. The Cali teams besides the Giants and the Dodgers were small potatoes. A couple of friends from the East Bay (A's fans, 1 lukewarm) confirmed. The A's had a limited fan base outside the East Bay. They were a small island in Giants country. Giants vs. Dodgers is the big game out there.
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Poor Angels and Padres can't even make your list.
 
I think Vegas is the best move for them. People go there to spend money, and it'll be another attraction.

San Antonio isn't going to build a billion-dollar stadium for a low draw like MLB when they have no desire to fix up the Alamodome.
 
I know that in the history of sports that teams have moved around from time to time, but to me real baseball was when I was 8 years old, watching every trade, tracking stats, etc. The Colts moving to Baltimore was slightly traumatizing to me. No Seattle Supersonics??? Seems like teams move around now all the time and to me that is detrimental to sports in general because loyalty goes out the window. Imagine Jerrah moving the Cowboys to El Paso or Birmingham.

They don't care because we still lap it up and make trillions off us.
 
Vol,

You are old enough to remember the Dallas Texans moving to Baltimore? Wasn't that like 1952?

For you youngsters, the original Dallas Texans were in Dallas one year, then moved to Baltimore to be the Colts. This had nothing to do with Lamar Hunt and his AFL team that became the KC Chiefs.
 
SabreHorn said:
Vol,

You are old enough to remember the Dallas Texans moving to Baltimore? Wasn't that like 1952?

For you youngsters, the original Dallas Texans were in Dallas one year, then moved to Baltimore to be the Colts. This had nothing to do with Lamar Hunt and his AFL team that became the KC Chiefs.
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See what I mean? Never occurred to me they were the Texans first. I know teams have always been moving, but it doesn't make me like it any more.
 
SabreHorn said:
You are old enough to remember the Dallas Texans moving to Baltimore? Wasn't that like 1952?

For you youngsters, the original Dallas Texans were in Dallas one year, then moved to Baltimore to be the Colts. This had nothing to do with Lamar Hunt and his AFL team that became the KC Chiefs.
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I never knew about the first team. Thank you. The old Bronco Bowl had pennants and programs from the team that became the Chiefs.
 
SabreHorn said:
I know he's been gone for a long time, but can you imagine Charlie O running his circus in Vegas? Hookers as DH, sending dealers up to bat with cards rather than a bat. That midget he had bat in KC wouldn't even get a mention.
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Not to pick a bone but... that was bill veeck's st Louis browns with midget Eddie gaedel. The only bigger baseball showman than Finley was veeck.
 
Run,

You are correct. Another example of the old brain fading on me. Charley O was too busy turning the A's into the Yankee's farm team. Every time he got a player worth a damn, he traded the guy to the Yankees for some has been. A couple of examples:

Roger Maris sent to Yankees before he became HR king

Norm Seiburn (sp) was traded to Yankees, back to KC, back to Yankees

Some help - were both Ryan Duren and ?? Terry first pitchers for KC?
 
SabreHorn said:
Run,

You are correct. Another example of the old brain fading on me. Charley O was too busy turning the A's into the Yankee's farm team. Every time he got a player worth a damn, he traded the guy to the Yankees for some has been. A couple of examples:

Roger Maris sent to Yankees before he became HR king

Norm Seiburn (sp) was traded to Yankees, back to KC, back to Yankees

Some help - were both Ryan Duren and ?? Terry first pitchers for KC?
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In a way, he also sent Reggie to the Yankees, albeit with a season in Baltimore.

Finley was just a cheap bastage...
 
It seemed that John McMullen, in his later years of ownership of the Houston Astros, was bent on fielding the cheapest/lowest salary team he could. And his people would float rumors of moving the team to Washington. Tal Smith said that McMullen once asked him what an RBI was.

 
Horns11 said:
I think Vegas is the best move for them. People go there to spend money, and it'll be another attraction.

San Antonio isn't going to build a billion-dollar stadium for a low draw like MLB when they have no desire to fix up the Alamodome.
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Why would the city of SA upgrade a stadium that has no tenant?
 
Chop said:
It seemed that John McMullen, in his later years of ownership of the Houston Astros, was bent on fielding the cheapest/lowest salary team he could. And his people would float rumors of moving the team to Washington. Tal Smith said that McMullen once asked him what an RBI was.

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I miss that board...I went to the last regular season game with it in use...they lit all of the light shows for those that wanted pic and they did a poster giveaway.

It got killed by Bud Adams and his extortion for a few years of empty seats...
 
Chop said:
Fan support in Oakland:

Oakland-Coliseum-051022-getty-ftr.jpg
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Just look at all the fans that came disguised as empty seats!
 
SabreHorn said:
Run,

You are correct. Another example of the old brain fading on me. Charley O was too busy turning the A's into the Yankee's farm team. Every time he got a player worth a damn, he traded the guy to the Yankees for some has been. A couple of examples:

Roger Maris sent to Yankees before he became HR king

Norm Seiburn (sp) was traded to Yankees, back to KC, back to Yankees

Some help - were both Ryan Duren and ?? Terry first pitchers for KC?
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The New York Yankees Raid Kansas City

Ralph Terry. Good pitcher.

Actually Charlie O didn't offload players to NYY, that was Arnold Johnson. He died in the mid 60s, Finley Actually built them up.

Then tore them down when free agency came about. in the late 70s when charlie needed to sell he really had a good farm system ready to go in 2 yrs, headed by Ricky henderson and a few live arms.

Not sure if he was cheap or didn't have deep enough pockets. Guys like Brad Corbett didn't help. He threw a fortune into the StrangerS, didn't produce like Charlie did. For that I credit Finley.
 
From Behind the Plate. Johnny Bench book. Handed him the book outside visitors club house (SE Gate) was getaway day. He took the book onto the bus and few minutes later it came back to me.
Bench
Rose
Concepcion
Griffey Sr
Morgan
Sparky
Had all signed it

thought that was pretty nice
 
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