History of Oakland Athletics in Timeline
The Oakland Athletics, an American League West Division MLB team, were based in Oakland, California from 1968-2024. Playing home games at the Oakland Coliseum, the franchise boasted nine World Series championships, fifteen pennants, and seventeen division titles, making them second only to the New York Yankees in AL achievements.
1910: Philadelphia Athletics World Championship
In 1910, The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Championship.
1911: Philadelphia Athletics World Championship
In 1911, The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Championship.
1913: Philadelphia Athletics World Championship
In 1913, The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Championship.
1913: Athletics defeated Giants in World Series
In 1913, the Oakland Athletics defeated the Giants in the World Series.
1922: Baseball's antitrust exemption established
In 1922, the U.S. Supreme Court established baseball's antitrust exemption, which would later be used to bar San Jose's claims against MLB in 2015.
1929: Philadelphia Athletics World Championship
In 1929, The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Championship.
1930: Philadelphia Athletics World Championship
In 1930, The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Championship.
1930: World Series Championship
In 1972, the Oakland A's won their first World Series Championship since 1930, defeating the heavily favored Cincinnati Reds in seven games.
1931: A's Last 100-Win Season
The A's won 101 games in 1971, marking their first 100-win season since finishing 107-45 in 1931.
1953: Baseball's antitrust exemption upheld
In 1953, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld baseball's antitrust exemption, which would later be used to bar San Jose's claims against MLB in 2015.
1954: Athletics Purchased and Moved to Kansas City
In 1954, Arnold Johnson purchased the Athletics and relocated the team from Philadelphia to Kansas City, Missouri.
1954: Athletics Move to Kansas City
In 1954, the Athletics relocated from their original home in Philadelphia to Kansas City, Missouri.
1961: Finley Seeks New Home for Athletics
As early as 1961, Charlie Finley began searching for a new home for the Athletics, considering cities such as Dallas–Fort Worth, Louisville, Atlanta, Milwaukee, New Orleans, San Diego, and Seattle.
January 1964: Move to Louisville Denied
In January 1964, Charlie Finley signed an agreement to move the Athletics to Louisville and rename them the "Kentucky Athletics", but American League owners rejected the proposal by a 9–1 vote on January 16.
February 1964: Move to Oakland Denied
In February 1964, AL owners denied Charlie Finley's request to move the Athletics to Oakland by the same 9-1 margin. Finley then signed a four-year lease with Municipal Stadium.
October 11, 1967: Oakland Chosen as New Home
On October 11, 1967, during the World Series, Charlie Finley announced that Oakland was chosen as the team's new home over Seattle.
1967: Near-Mutiny and Harrelson Release
In 1967, the Athletics experienced a near-mutiny, leading Charlie Finley to release the team's best hitter, Ken Harrelson.
April 10, 1968: Opening Day Loss
On April 10, 1968, the Oakland Athletics opened their Oakland tenure with a 3–1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
April 17, 1968: First Game in Oakland
On April 17, 1968, the Athletics played their first game in Oakland, a 4–1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.
May 8, 1968: Jim "Catfish" Hunter Pitches Perfect Game
On May 8, 1968, Jim "Catfish" Hunter pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins, marking the American League's first perfect game during the regular season since 1922.
1968: Oakland Athletics Finish Sixth
In 1968, despite finishing in sixth place and only two games above .500, the Oakland Athletics had the best record of the established teams to join the AL West.
1968: Athletics Move to Oakland
In 1968, the Athletics relocated from Kansas City to Oakland. They went on to win four World Series championships, six American League pennants, and 17 Western Division titles while in Oakland.
1968: A's relocation to California
In 1968, the Oakland A's relocated to California, starting a rivalry with the Los Angeles Angels.
1968: AL Owners Approve Move to Oakland
On October 18, 1967, AL owners granted Charlie Finley permission to move the Athletics to Oakland for the 1968 season.
July 20, 1969: Vida Blue's Major League Debut
On July 20, 1969, Vida Blue made his major league debut with a start against the California Angels.
1969: Finley Threatens to Send Jackson to Minors
In 1969, Charlie Finley threatened to send Reggie Jackson to the minor leagues after he hit 47 home runs, leading to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn's intervention.
1969: Charter membership of A's and Angels in AL West
In 1969, both the Oakland A's and the Los Angeles Angels were charter members of the AL West, continuing their rivalry.
1970: John McNamara Fired
After an 89-73 finish in 1970, John McNamara was fired and replaced by Dick Williams as manager of the Oakland Athletics.
1971: Division Crown in 1971
In 1971, the Athletics claimed the division crown after two consecutive second-place finishes and won 101 games, marking their first 100-win season since 1931.
1972: Team Name Officially 'Oakland A's'
From 1972 through 1980, the team name was officially "Oakland A's".
1972: A's Adopt Colorful Uniforms and Facial Hair
In 1972, the Oakland A's began wearing solid green or solid gold jerseys with white pants, a radical departure at the time. Charlie Finley offered $300 to any player who grew a moustache by Father's Day, defying the clean-shaven norms of other teams.
1972: League Pennant in 1972
In 1972, the Oakland A's won their first league pennant since 1931 and faced the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
1972: Baseball's antitrust exemption upheld
In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld baseball's antitrust exemption, which would later be used to bar San Jose's claims against MLB in 2015.
1973: Finley's Antics in the 1973 World Series
During the 1973 World Series, Charlie Finley forced Mike Andrews to sign a false affidavit after Andrews made errors in Game 2 against the Mets. Commissioner Kuhn later intervened.
1973: World Series Title Defense
The Oakland Athletics defended their World Series title in 1973.
December 13, 1974: Catfish Hunter Becomes Free Agent
On December 13, 1974, arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favor of Catfish Hunter's grievance, granting him free agency after the Athletics failed to make timely payment on an insurance policy.
1974: Finley Vetoes Williams' Yankees Job
In 1974, Charlie Finley initially vetoed Dick Williams' attempt to become manager of the Yankees, citing that Williams still owed Oakland the last year of his contract before relenting later in the year and allowing Williams to manage the California Angels.
1974: Second Title Defense
The Oakland Athletics defended their World Series title for a second time in 1974.
1975: A's Lose ALCS to Boston
In 1975, despite repeating as AL West champions, the Oakland Athletics lost the ALCS to Boston in a 3-game sweep.
1975: Highest attendance for a Finley-owned team
In 1975, the Oakland A's had their highest attendance for a Finley-owned team, with 1,075,518 attendees.
June 15, 1976: Finley Sells Star Players
On June 15, 1976, Charlie Finley sold left fielder Joe Rudi and relief pitcher Rollie Fingers to Boston for $1 million each, and pitcher Vida Blue to the New York Yankees for $1.5 million. However, Commissioner Kuhn voided the transactions.
1976: Athletics' Veteran Players Become Free Agents
After the 1976 season, most of the Oakland Athletics' veteran players became eligible for free agency and left the team, leading to the dismemberment of the dynasty team.
1977: Finley Attempts to Trade Blue, Kuhn Vetoes
In 1977, Charlie Finley attempted to trade Vida Blue to the Reds, but Commissioner Kuhn vetoed the deal, claiming it was a fire sale. Later, Finley sent Doug Bair to the Reds and traded Blue to the San Francisco Giants, with the Commissioner's approval.
1977: A's Finish with Worst Record in AL
In 1977, the Athletics finished with the worst record in the American League and the second-worst record in baseball.
1978: Negotiations with Louisiana Superdome Officials
During the 1978–79 baseball offseason, Louisiana Superdome officials pursued negotiations with Oakland Athletics officials about moving the Oakland Athletics to their facility in New Orleans. Ultimately, the Athletics were unable to break their lease at the Coliseum and remained in Oakland.
1978: Sale of team to Denver almost happens
In 1978, Charlie Finley almost sold the team to buyers who would have moved them to Mile High Stadium in Denver, but the deal fell through because Oakland and Alameda County refused to release the A's from their lease.
1978: A's broadcast games on KALX
In 1978, the Oakland A's broadcast their games on KALX, a low-powered college radio station run by the University of California, Berkeley. The signal was so weak that it was barely audible more than 10 miles from Oakland.
1979: Possible sale to New Orleans almost happens
In 1979, Charlie Finley almost sold the team to buyers who would have moved them to the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The team's attendance was also very low, being the team's worst attendance since leaving Philadelphia.
1979: Lawsuit against Finley due to near invisibility
In 1979, Oakland and Alameda County sued Finley and the A's for breach of contract, prompted by the team's near-invisibility due to the lack of radio or television contracts.
1979: Record low attendance at A's game
In 1979, the Oakland A's experienced a low point in attendance, with an April 17 game against the Mariners drawing an announced crowd of only 653, though some estimates placed the actual number much lower. This was the smallest crowd in the West Coast portion of the team's history.
1979: Worst Record Since 1979
The 2022 Athletics had their worst record since 1979, which is referenced because the team finished with a 60-102 record.
1980: Billy Martin hired to manage A's
In 1980, Billy Martin was hired to manage the Oakland A's, leading a team of young stars. "Billyball" was used to market the team, and the Athletics finished second that year.
1980: Walter A. Haas, Jr. becomes owner
In 1980, Walter A. Haas, Jr. became the owner of the Oakland Athletics.
1980: End of 'Oakland A's' Official Name Era
The team name was officially "Oakland A's" from 1972 through 1980.
1981: Attendance increases in Haas' first year
In 1981, during the first year of Haas' ownership, the Athletics drew 1,304,052 attendees, in a season shortened by a player strike. This suggested that fans had been staying away from the Coliseum because they did not want to give their money to Finley.
1981: Official Name Restored to 'Athletics'
In 1981, new owner Walter Haas restored the official name to "Athletics", but retained the nickname "A's" for marketing purposes.
1981: A's lose in AL Championship series
In 1981, the Oakland A's lost in the American League Championship Series after winning the "first half" AL West Division title of the strike-interrupted season.
1981: Haas buys the team
Prior to the 1981 season, Charlie Finley sold the Oakland A's to San Francisco clothing manufacturer Walter A. Haas, Jr., president of Levi Strauss & Co.
1982: Raiders Move to Los Angeles, Improvements to Coliseum
After the Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles in 1982, many improvements were made to what was suddenly a baseball-only facility.
1982: Rickey Henderson steals 130 bases in a single season
In 1982, Rickey Henderson shattered Lou Brock's modern major league record by stealing 130 bases in a single season, a total that has not been approached since.
1982: Uniforms Changed to More Subdued Forest Green
In 1982, after the team's sale to the Haas family, the team changed its primary color to a more subdued forest green and began a move back to more traditional uniforms.
1982: Billy Martin fired after season
In 1982, the Oakland A's regressed, falling to 68-94. Billy Martin was fired after the season due to growing concern about his off-field behavior.
1982: Spring Training Facility Change
In 1982, the Oakland Athletics' spring training facility was Phoenix Municipal Stadium, in Phoenix, Arizona; they also spent time playing in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1985: Last time an A's outfielder won a Gold Glove
In 2012 Josh Reddick won a Gold Glove, becoming the first A's outfielder since 1985 to do so.
1986: Jose Canseco named AL Rookie of the Year
In 1986, José Canseco was chosen as the American League Rookie of the Year.
1987: Word 'Athletics' Returns to Jerseys
By 1987, the word "Athletics" returned, in script lettering, to the front of the team's jerseys.
1987: Mark McGwire named AL Rookie of the Year
In 1987, Mark McGwire was chosen as the American League Rookie of the Year.
1987: Return of the script "Athletics" to home jerseys
In 1987, the script "Athletics", which had adorned home and road jerseys from 1954 to 1960, was returned to home jerseys.
1988: Walt Weiss named AL Rookie of the Year
In 1988, Walt Weiss was chosen as the American League Rookie of the Year.
1988: Elephant restored as club mascot
In 1988, after a 23-year hiatus, the elephant was restored as the club mascot for the Oakland Athletics.
1988: A's lose World Series to Dodgers
In 1988, the heavily favored Oakland Athletics lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1989: Athletics win AL pennant for second year in a row
In 1989, the Athletics won the AL pennant for the second year in a row, finishing with 99 wins and the best record in the major leagues.
1989: A's win World Series
In 1989, the Oakland Athletics won their lone World Series championship of the era, sweeping the San Francisco Giants in four games. The series was overshadowed by the Loma Prieta earthquake.
1989: World Series between Athletics and Giants
In 1989, the Oakland Athletics won their most recent championship in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants. It was the first time the teams had met since they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.
1990: Athletics win AL pennant for third year in a row
In 1990, the Athletics won the AL pennant for the third year in a row, finishing with 103 wins and the best record in the major leagues.
1990: Record single season attendance
In 1990, the Oakland Athletics drew 2,900,217 attendees, which remains the club record for single season attendance.
1990: A's lose World Series to Reds
In 1990, the Oakland Athletics lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in a four-game sweep.
May 1, 1991: Rickey Henderson breaks stolen base record
On May 1, 1991, Rickey Henderson broke one of baseball's most famous records when he stole the 939th base of his career, surpassing Lou Brock.
1992: A's win AL West championship
In 1992, the Oakland Athletics won the AL West championship but lost to Toronto in the ALCS.
1992: Home Cap as Road Cap Until 1992
The home cap was also the team's road cap until 1992. It is forest green with a gold bill and white lettering.
1993: Rockies begin to play in Denver
In 1993, the Colorado Rockies began play, giving Denver an MLB team. This happened after Finley had tried to move the A's to Denver, but was stopped by the city of Oakland and Alameda County.
1993: A's finish last in the AL West
In 1993, the Oakland Athletics finished last in the AL West.
1993: Road Cap Debuted in 1993
In 1993, the all-forest green road cap initially debuted with the white "A's" wordmark.
1994: Green Alternate Jerseys Introduced
From 1994 until 2013, the A's wore green alternate jerseys with the word "Athletics" in gold, for both road and home games.
1994: 'Angels in the Outfield' Filmed at Coliseum
The 1994 movie "Angels in the Outfield" was filmed in part at the Coliseum, filling in for Anaheim Stadium following the damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
1995: Tony La Russa's last season as manager
1995 was Tony La Russa's last season as the Oakland Athletics' manager, a position he had held since the 1986 season.
1995: Death of Walter A. Haas, Jr.
In 1995, Walter A. Haas, Jr., owner of the Oakland Athletics since 1980, passed away. His contributions were honored by retiring the letter "A".
1995: Raiders Move Back to Oakland, Coliseum Expanded
In 1995, the Raiders moved back to Oakland, and the Coliseum was expanded to 63,026 seats, obscuring the view with "Mount Davis".
1995: Raiders return to Oakland
In 1995, the Raiders returned to Oakland after 12 years in Los Angeles, leading to an $83 million facelift of the Coliseum. Walter Haas also died in 1995.
1996: Death of Charlie Finley
Charlie Finley died in 1996, and was represented by his son at the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame inaugural class induction ceremony in 2018.
1996: New Ownership: Schott, Etheridge, and Hofmann
Prior to the 1996 season, the Oakland Athletics were sold to San Francisco Bay Area real estate developers Steve Schott, David Etheridge, and Ken Hofmann. The new owners drastically cut payroll.
1997: Start of regular season interleague play between Athletics and Giants
Since 1997, with the commencement of interleague play, the term "Bay Bridge Series" also refers to regular season games played between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants.
1998: A's avoid losing record
Prior to 2007, The A's last avoided having a losing record in 1998.
1999: Death of Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter died in 1999, and was represented by his widow at the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame inaugural class induction ceremony in 2018.
May 29, 2000: Randy Velarde achieves unassisted triple play
On May 29, 2000, Randy Velarde achieved an unassisted triple play against the Yankees, only the 11th in Major League Baseball history.
2000: Giambi named American League MVP
In 2000, Jason Giambi was named American League MVP.
2000: A's make playoffs but lose first round
In 2000, the Oakland Athletics made the playoffs but lost their first round series.
2001: A's lose first round of playoffs
In 2001, the Oakland Athletics became the first team to lose a best-of-five series after winning both of the first two games on the road.
September 4, 2002: A's win 20th consecutive game
On September 4, 2002, the Athletics won their 20th consecutive game, setting an American League record. They beat the Kansas City Royals 12-11, with Scott Hatteberg hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning.
2002: A's Moneyball tactics lead to 20-game winning streak
During the 2002 season, the Oakland A's "Moneyball" tactics led them to a league-record 20-game winning streak, knocking the Angels out of the first seed in the division.
2002: Tejada wins MVP Award
In 2002, Miguel Tejada won an MVP Award, and Barry Zito won the Cy Young Award.
2002: Oakland A's win 103 games with Moneyball strategy
In 2002, with the sixth-lowest payroll in baseball, the Oakland Athletics won an American League best 103 games using the Moneyball strategy. They spent $41 million that season, while the Yankees, who also won 103 games, spent $126 million.
2002: Moneyball Focuses on 2002 Oakland A's Season
The 2003 Michael Lewis book Moneyball chronicles the 2002 Oakland Athletics season, focusing on Billy Beane's approach to managing the organization under financial constraints.
June 2003: Moneyball on The New York Times Best Seller List
Beginning in June 2003, the book Moneyball remained on The New York Times Best Seller list for 18 consecutive weeks, peaking at number 2.
2003: A's lose first round of playoffs
In 2003, for the fourth straight year, the Oakland Athletics lost their first round (best three-out-of-five) series in the playoffs.
2004: A's trade Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder
After the 2004 season, the Athletics traded Tim Hudson to the Atlanta Braves and Mark Mulder to the St. Louis Cardinals. These trades broke up the "Big Three" and were in line with Billy Beane's business model. The Mulder trade surprisingly benefited the Athletics, with Dan Haren outperforming Mulder.
2004: A's and Angels battle for division championship
During the 2004 season, the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels battled to secure the division championship in the final week of September, with the Angels ultimately prevailing.
2004: Bobby Crosby wins AL Rookie of the Year
In 2004, Bobby Crosby won AL Rookie of the Year award, and Eric Chavez won the AL Gold Glove Award.
2004: A's miss playoffs
In 2004, the Oakland A's missed the playoffs, losing the final series of the season to the Anaheim Angels by one game.
March 30, 2005: Athletics sold to Lewis Wolff and John J. Fisher
On March 30, 2005, the Athletics were sold to a group fronted by real estate developer Lewis Wolff, with John J. Fisher, son of The Gap, Inc.'s founder, as the majority owner.
December 21, 2005: Coliseum Third Deck Seats Not Sold
On December 21, 2005, the Athletics announced that seats in the Coliseum's third deck would not be sold for the 2006 season and would be covered with a tarp.
2005: Huston Street wins AL Rookie of the Year
In 2005, Huston Street was voted the AL Rookie of the Year, marking the second consecutive year an Athletic won the award. Eric Chavez also won the AL Gold Glove Award for the fifth straight season.
2005: A's performance in 2005 season
In 2005, despite predictions of finishing last due to the dismantling of the Big Three, the Athletics recovered from a poor start and finished the season with an 88-74 record, seriously contending for the AL West crown.
November 7, 2006: Athletics planning relocation to Fremont
On November 7, 2006, news media announced the Athletics would be leaving Oakland as early as 2010 for a new stadium in Fremont. This plan was confirmed the next day by the Fremont City Council.
2006: Bob Geren replaces Ken Macha
Following the 2006 season, Ken Macha was replaced by bench coach Bob Geren as manager for the Athletics.
2006: A's win AL West
In 2006, the A's last won the AL West before winning again in 2012.
2006: A's return to postseason and fire Ken Macha
In 2006, the A's returned to the postseason after a three-year absence, sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS before being swept by the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. Manager Ken Macha was subsequently fired on October 16 due to a disconnect with the players.
2006: Capacity Reduced at Coliseum
In 2006, the third deck seats in the Coliseum were covered with a tarp, effectively reducing capacity to 34,077, making it the lowest-capacity stadium in Major League Baseball.
2007: A's lose Barry Zito and sign Mike Piazza
Following the 2006 season, Barry Zito left the A's due to free agency, and Frank Thomas also left the team due to free agency. The A's filled his role with Mike Piazza for the 2007 season.
2007: A's have a disappointing season
The 2007 season was a disappointing one for the A's, marked by injuries to key players and resulting in their first losing record since the 1998 season.
2008: Limited Third-Deck Sections Open
Beginning in 2008, sections 316–318 immediately behind home plate were the only third-deck sections open for A's games, bringing the total capacity to 35,067.
2008: A's re-sign Frank Thomas, trade Rich Harden and Joe Blanton
In 2008, Frank Thomas re-signed with the A's, and the team traded Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Chicago Cubs, and Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies. The A's finished the season with a 75-86 record.
2008: A's trade away key players
In the 2008 off-season, the A's traded Dan Haren, Nick Swisher, and Mark Kotsay, leading to fan and media anger. Despite being expected to perform poorly, the A's held first place in the AL West for a time.
2008: All-Forest Green Batting Helmet Paired Until 2008
Until 2008, an all-forest green batting helmet was paired with the road cap.
January 6, 2009: Jason Giambi signs with the A's
On January 6, 2009, Jason Giambi signed a one-year, $4.6 million contract with the A's, including a second-year option. He expressed his happiness to return to the team and donned his former number 16 jersey.
February 24, 2009: End of relocation efforts to Fremont
On February 24, 2009, Lew Wolff announced the end of efforts to relocate the Oakland A's to Fremont, citing delays to the project and community opposition.
December 22, 2009: Billy Beane named among top GMs of the decade
On December 22, 2009, Sports Illustrated recognized Billy Beane as number 10 on its list of the Top 10 GMs/Executives of the Decade across all sports.
2009: The A's make key trades in the offseason.
During the 2009 offseason, the Oakland A's traded Brett Wallace to the Toronto Blue Jays for Michael Taylor and signed Ben Sheets to a 1-year deal after he missed the entire 2009 season. The A's had two walk-off wins to begin the regular season.
2009: City of San Jose attempted to open negotiations with the team regarding a move to the city
In 2009, the City of San Jose attempted to open negotiations with the Oakland Athletics regarding a move to the city. However, the San Francisco Giants' claim on Santa Clara County would need to be settled first.
September 2010: Silicon Valley CEOs urge approval of move to San Jose
In September 2010, 75 Silicon Valley CEOs drafted and signed a letter to Bud Selig, urging timely approval of the Oakland Athletics' move to San Jose.
2010: A's finish 2010 season
In 2010, Oakland finished the season with an 81-81 record; 2nd in the division, 9 games behind Texas, and 1 game ahead of Los Angeles.
2010: Potential relocation to Fremont
In 2010, the Oakland Athletics planned to leave Oakland for a new stadium in Fremont, however, the plan was later abandoned.
2010: Last time the Athletics franchise's no-hitter.
On April 21, Sean Manaea threw the Athletics franchise's 12th no-hitter, and their first since Dallas Braden in 2010.
May 2011: San Jose requests timetable for decision on ballpark
In May 2011, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed sent a letter to Bud Selig, requesting a timetable for a decision on whether the Oakland Athletics could pursue a new ballpark in San Jose. Selig did not respond.
July 2011: Selig addresses San Jose issue
In July 2011, Bud Selig addressed the Oakland Athletics' San Jose issue in an online town hall forum, stating that a committee was assessing the complex situation and a decision would be made based on logic and reason at the proper time.
September 19, 2011: Moneyball U.S. Premiere
On September 19, 2011, the U.S. premiere of Moneyball, a film adaptation of the book, was held at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. The premiere featured a green carpet instead of the traditional red carpet.
2011: A's finish 2011 season
In 2011, Oakland finished the season with a 74-88 record; 3rd in the division, 22 games behind Texas. Pitcher Rich Harden returned on a one-year deal. Hideki Matsui was signed as a DH on a one-year deal. Vin Mazarro was traded to the Royals for David DeJesus. Several other players were also traded or lost to free agency.
2011: Black Uniform Retired in Favor of Gold Alternate Jersey
The commercially popular black uniform was retired in 2011 in favor of a gold alternate jersey.
2011: Gold Uniforms Used as Designated Home Alternates
With the exception of several road games during the 2011 season, the Athletics' gold uniforms were used as the designated home alternates.
2012: A's win AL West and lose in ALDS
In 2012, after trading away several All-Star pitchers, the A's, led by manager Bob Melvin, defied expectations and won the AL West for the first time since 2006. They were eventually defeated by the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS.
June 18, 2013: City of San Jose files suit against Selig
On June 18, 2013, the City of San Jose filed suit against Bud Selig, seeking a court ruling that MLB could not prevent the Oakland A's from moving to San Jose.
October 2013: Claims dismissed in San Jose lawsuit
In October 2013, most of the City of San Jose's claims in its lawsuit were dismissed, but the court ruled that San Jose could move forward with its claim that MLB illegally interfered with a land agreement between the city and the Oakland A's.
2013: The old east span of the Bay Bridge was taken down
In 2013, The old east span of the Bay Bridge was taken down after the new span was opened. Steel from it was used to create the "Bay Bridge" Trophy, which the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants began competing for in 2018
2013: A's lose ALDS to Detroit Tigers
In 2013, under manager Bob Melvin, the Athletics won their second straight division title but lost Game 5 of the ALDS to the Detroit Tigers for the second straight season. Josh Donaldson had an MVP-caliber season, and Bartolo Colón was in contention for a Cy Young Award.
2013: End of Green Alternate Jerseys
The A's wore green alternate jerseys with the word "Athletics" in gold, for both road and home games from 1994 until 2013.
September 2014: Tribute to Eric the Actor
Following the death of Eric Shaun Lynch (aka "Eric the Actor") in September 2014, Oakland Athletics broadcasters paid tribute by using his signature sign-off "bye for now" at the end of a game broadcast.
2014: Green Version of Gold Alternate Introduced
A green version of their gold alternates was introduced for the 2014 season, serving as a replacement to the previous green alternates. The new green alternates featured the piping, "A's" and lettering in white with gold trim.
2014: "A's" Wordmark Returns to White with Gold Trim in 2014
In 2014, the "A's" wordmark on the road cap returned to white but added gold trim.
2014: Spring Training Facility Change
In 2014, the Oakland Athletics' spring training facility was Phoenix Municipal Stadium, in Phoenix, Arizona; they also spent time playing in Scottsdale, Arizona.
January 15, 2015: Claims barred by baseball's antitrust exemption
On January 15, 2015, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that San Jose's claims were barred by baseball's antitrust exemption.
October 5, 2015: Supreme Court rejects San Jose's case
On October 5, 2015, the United States Supreme Court rejected San Jose's case regarding the Oakland A's potential move to the city.
2015: A's finish in last place
In 2015, the A's finished with a disappointing 68-94 record, placing them last in the AL West, despite Sonny Gray's strong performance. Marcus Semien, Mark Canha, and Chris Bassitt joined the team.
November 2016: Wolff sells stake in the A's
In November 2016, Lewis Wolff sold his 10% stake in the Oakland A's to John J. Fisher, who then became the full owner of the team.
September 2017: Plan for new stadium near Laney College
In September 2017, a plan was announced to place a new 35,000 seat Oakland A's stadium near Laney College. However, negotiations ended abruptly three months later.
2017: Upper Deck Tarps Removed
In 2017, new team president Dave Kaval took the tarps off of the upper deck, increasing capacity to 47,170.
2017: Creation of an outdoor plaza
In 2017, the Oakland Athletics created an outdoor plaza between the Coliseum and Oracle Arena, offering food trucks, seating, and games for ticketed fans.
2017: A's Make Playoffs
The Athletics made the playoffs in 2017; this is referenced because in 2021, the Athletics missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
March 24, 2018: Parking Fee Announcement for exhibition game
On March 24, 2018, the Oakland A's announced that for the exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on March 25, 2018, A's fans would be charged $30 for parking and Giants fans would be charged $50. However, Giants fans could receive $20 off if they shout "Go A's" at the parking gates.
March 25, 2018: Exhibition game parking fee change
On March 25, 2018, at the exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants, A's fans were charged $30 for parking and Giants fans were charged $50. Giants fans could receive $20 off if they shout "Go A's" at the parking gates.
April 17, 2018: First free game in MLB history
On April 17, 2018, the Oakland Athletics held the first free game in MLB history for 46,028 fans, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the team's first game in Oakland. Additionally, the team introduced a new season ticketing concept known as the A's Access plan.
July 21, 2018: Coliseum attendance record
On July 21, 2018, the Oakland Athletics set a Coliseum record for the largest attendance with a crowd of 56,310 during a game against the San Francisco Giants.
August 14, 2018: Creation of a Team Hall of Fame announced
On August 14, 2018, the Oakland Athletics publicly announced the creation of a team Hall of Fame, including the first seven inductees.
November 28, 2018: New ballpark to be built at Howard Terminal site
On November 28, 2018, the Oakland Athletics announced plans to build a new 34,000-seat ballpark at the Howard Terminal site at the Port of Oakland. The team also intended to purchase the Coliseum site and renovate it into a tech and housing hub.
2018: Kelly Green Alternate Uniform Introduced for 50th Anniversary
In 2018, as part of the franchise's 50th anniversary since the move to Oakland, the A's wore a kelly green alternate uniform with "Oakland" in white with gold trim, paired with an all-kelly green cap.
2018: Inaugural "Bay Bridge" Trophy season
In 2018, the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants began competing for the "Bay Bridge" Trophy, made from steel taken from the old east span of the Bay Bridge. The A's won the inaugural season, placing their logo atop the trophy's Bay Bridge stand.
October 2, 2019: A's host the AL Wild Card game
On October 2, 2019, The A's hosted the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Wild Card game at Oakland Coliseum.
2019: Kelly Green Uniform Supplants Gold Alternates
By 2019, the kelly green uniform eventually supplanted the gold alternates.
2019: New premium spaces added to Coliseum
In 2019, The Oakland Athletics added three new premium spaces to the Coliseum: The Terrace, Lounge Seats, and the Coppola Theater Boxes. Two new group spaces, the Budweiser Hero Deck and Golden Road Landing, were also added.
2020: Eric the Actor Cutout at A's Games During Pandemic
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland Athletics placed a cutout of Eric Shaun Lynch (aka "Eric the Actor") among other fan cutouts to show solidarity in their absence.
2020: Dave Stewart's Jersey Retirement Postponed
In 2020, Dave Stewart was about to have his #34 jersey retired by the Oakland Athletics, but the ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: A's Lose in Division Series
In 2020, the Athletics finished the shortened Major League Baseball season with a 36–24 record. They defeated the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the MLB postseason but lost to the Houston Astros in the Division Series.
2020: A's Radio Broadcast Plans During COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the Oakland Athletics had 14 radio homes and planned to use KNEW as their flagship radio station. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they changed their plans and used A's Cast, a free 24/7 exclusive station on iHeartRadio, to stream radio broadcasts within the Oakland Athletics market. The announcing team featured Ken Korach and Vince Cotroneo in 2020.
2020: Raiders Move to Las Vegas
The Athletics were the last MLB team to share a stadium full-time with an NFL team, a situation that ended when the Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2020.
May 11, 2021: MLB Grants Athletics Permission to Explore Relocation
On May 11, 2021, Major League Baseball granted the Athletics permission to explore relocation, stating that the Oakland Coliseum was not a viable option for the future of baseball.
August 2021: Hall of Fame class of 2022 announced
In August 2021, it was announced that Sal Bando, Eric Chavez, Joe Rudi, Keith Lieppman, and Steve "Vuc" Vucinich would be part of the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2022.
November 2021: Ray Fosse posthumously inducted into Hall of Fame
In November 2021, Ray Fosse, who died the previous month, was posthumously inducted into the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame.
2021: No news about a reschedule for Dave Stewart's jersey retirement
In 2021, Questions were raised if there would be a formal ceremony for Dave Stewart's jersey retirement after no news about a reschedule happened since it was postponed in 2020.
2021: A's Miss Playoffs
In 2021, the Athletics finished third in the AL West with an 86–76 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
April 2022: Dave Stewart's Jersey Retirement Announcement
In April 2022, It was announced that Dave Stewart would have his jersey retired on September 11, 2022.
September 11, 2022: Dave Stewart's #34 jersey retired
On September 11, 2022, the Oakland Athletics retired Dave Stewart's #34 jersey. The jersey retirement broke two A's traditions: it was a re-retirement, and Stewart is not in the Hall of Fame.
2022: Kelly Green Becomes Only Active Alternate Uniform
In 2022, after the forest green alternate was retired, the kelly green uniform became the team's only active alternate uniform.
2022: Disastrous Season for the Athletics
In 2022, the Athletics had a disastrous season, finishing last in the AL West with a 60–102 record, which was the worst in the American League and Oakland's worst record since 1979.
2022: Key Players Traded or Leave in Free Agency
Prior to the 2022 season, the Athletics traded several key players, including Olson, Chapman, Bassitt, Manaea, Canha, and Starling Marte, or let them leave during free agency. This led to speculation that the organization was tanking in anticipation of moving to a new city.
2022: Hall of Fame class of 2022 induction
The Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2022, which included Sal Bando, Eric Chavez, Joe Rudi, director of player development Keith Lieppman, and clubhouse manager Steve "Vuc" Vucinich, was inducted.
April 2023: Athletics Finalize Plans to Relocate to Las Vegas
In April 2023, the Athletics finalized plans to relocate to Las Vegas, purchasing a 49-acre plot on the site of the Wild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel to construct a new ballpark, which ended negotiations with the city of Oakland.
April 2023: City of Oakland ends discussions with Oakland A's
In April 2023, the City of Oakland ended discussions with the Oakland Athletics after the announcement of a new ballpark in Las Vegas. There were widespread claims that the team was not negotiating in good faith and was leveraging the Oakland site for a better deal in Las Vegas.
May 9, 2023: Athletics Switch Planned Location to Tropicana Las Vegas Site
On May 9, 2023, the Athletics switched their planned location for the new ballpark to the site of the Tropicana Las Vegas, which was later demolished in October to make room for a 33,000-seat retractable roof stadium.
June 2023: Nevada Legislature Approves Ballpark Funding
By June 2023, the Nevada Legislature approved the team's 33,000-seat ballpark through bill SB1, which was then signed into law by Governor Joe Lombardo. Following this, the Athletics announced the relocation process to Las Vegas would begin, with the team drafting an application for the move by June 21.
November 16, 2023: MLB Approves Relocation to Las Vegas
On November 16, 2023, the Athletics received official approval from MLB to relocate to Las Vegas.
2023: Fan Protests Against Relocation
In 2023, fan protests against the A's plan to relocate to Las Vegas took place at various locations including Oracle Park in San Francisco, Coors Field in Denver, Nationals Park in Washington D.C., and the MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
2023: Uniform Details for 2023 Season
In 2023, the Athletics wore home uniforms with "Athletics" spelled out in script writing and road uniforms with "Oakland" spelled out in script writing. The cap logo consisted of the traditional "A's".
2023: Worst Record in the Major Leagues
The Athletics finished the 2023 season with a 50–112 record, which was the worst in the major leagues.
2023: 2023 Hall of Fame class inducted
The Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame 2023 class was inducted in August of that year.
May 13, 2024: First All-Women Broadcast Team
On May 13, 2024, in a game between the Houston Astros and the Athletics, Jenny Cavnar and Julia Morales became the first two women to do the play-by-play on television for the same Major League Baseball game.
September 26, 2024: Athletics Play Final Game in Oakland
On September 26, 2024, the Athletics played their final game at the Coliseum and in Oakland, winning 3–2 against the Texas Rangers in front of 46,889 fans.
September 29, 2024: Athletics Play Final Game as Oakland-Based Team
On September 29, 2024, the Athletics played their final game as an Oakland-based team, losing 6–4 against the Seattle Mariners on the road. The Athletics finished 69–93, fourth in the AL West.
2024: Athletics Leave Oakland
After the 2024 season, the Athletics departed from Oakland, citing issues with the Oakland Coliseum and funding for a new ballpark. The move concluded the era of major league sports in Oakland.
2024: Sell Movement Continues
In 2024, the Sell movement continued, with some fans also supporting the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League in response to the A's relocation plans.
2024: 2024 Hall of Fame class inducted
The Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame 2024 class was inducted in August of that year.
Mentioned in this timeline
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