Late night baseball continues for those of us out east. So let’s talk about it! But first, please indulge me while I attempt to make a living. Because if you’ve been sent here by a friend, or are an existing subscriber who would like to move to a paid membership so you can comment, ask questions the next time I open up the ol’ mail bag, or just plain old support what I do, click below to upgrade or become a subscriber. I will be eternally grateful if you do!
Oakland is very much my favourite place to see a game, anywhere. I’m really lucky to have been in that stadium for some famous and infamous baseball moments. (Bay-Bridge 2, Rickey’s number retirement…)
And, on a lesser scale, Donaldson’s return to Oakland. I wore a crisp new Jays/Donaldson t-shirt, expecting at least some well-deserved shit-talk from A’s fans in response. (Hey, I’ve been called a n****r twice at Fenway simply for the transgression of flying my team’s colours.) Instead I was accosted by fan after fan, with resoundingly similar concerns: they wanted to make sure I knew exactly how fucking good Donaldson was and how lucky Jays fans were to have him. More than one said “congratulations”, and genuinely at that. (I can tell you as a grad of the Expos’ talent-seeding of MLB, we were not blasé about beneficiary teams.)
Know this: Oakland Athletics fans are CLASS. They have put up with such shit – Davis & Davis, Mount Davis, etc, etc – and still show up (in smallish numbers) because they love the game. They devote exactly zero energy to hating on opposing fans. And the tailgate culture is strong and super chill.
Such an unlikely, amazing place to see a game. Put it at or near the top of your post-pandemic list.
Re: A’s Semien Tribute
Oakland is very much my favourite place to see a game, anywhere. I’m really lucky to have been in that stadium for some famous and infamous baseball moments. (Bay-Bridge 2, Rickey’s number retirement…)
And, on a lesser scale, Donaldson’s return to Oakland. I wore a crisp new Jays/Donaldson t-shirt, expecting at least some well-deserved shit-talk from A’s fans in response. (Hey, I’ve been called a n****r twice at Fenway simply for the transgression of flying my team’s colours.) Instead I was accosted by fan after fan, with resoundingly similar concerns: they wanted to make sure I knew exactly how fucking good Donaldson was and how lucky Jays fans were to have him. More than one said “congratulations”, and genuinely at that. (I can tell you as a grad of the Expos’ talent-seeding of MLB, we were not blasé about beneficiary teams.)
Know this: Oakland Athletics fans are CLASS. They have put up with such shit – Davis & Davis, Mount Davis, etc, etc – and still show up (in smallish numbers) because they love the game. They devote exactly zero energy to hating on opposing fans. And the tailgate culture is strong and super chill.
Such an unlikely, amazing place to see a game. Put it at or near the top of your post-pandemic list.