Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics, which often go by the moniker of the A’s, have called Oakland home since 1968. Previously, the club had stints in Kansas City between 1955 and 1967 and Philadelphia between 1901 and 1954. In each city it’s called home, the team has been known as the Athletics. Despite its moves, the team has always played in the American League and has been a member of the league’s West Division since the 1969 season.

Ballpark / Stadium – O.co Coliseum

The team’s home park is the O.co Coliseum, which is a name you won’t find many baseball fans in Oakland use. They’re more apt to refer to the park by its common name, Oakland Coliseum, or simply, the Coliseum. This stadium is also home to the NFL’s Raiders and opened in 1966. The Raiders moved in immediately and the Athletics followed in 1968 upon moving to Oakland. The park is often included in discussions about the worst facilities in baseball, thanks to its enormous foul territory, upper-deck tarp, Mount Davis and the numerous sewage leaks that have made baseball news headlines. The stadium’s capacity depends on its sport; for baseball, it accommodates 37,090 fans, but for football, as many as 64,200 fans can cheer on the game.

World Series Championships

The A’s have won nine World Series, which ranks them third in baseball behind only the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. The most recent title came in 1989, but the club was also victorious in 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930, 1972, 1973 and 1974. The team has won 15 American League Pennants and 16 division crowns.

Oakland Athletics Roster

Four members of the Oakland A’s entered the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing the team’s cap, although the all-time Athletics roster in each of its cities has been dotted with hall of fame members. The Oakland contingent in the hall is made up of Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson and Dick Williams. Other notable all-time A’s have included Orlando Cepeda, Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter, Tony La Russa, Willie McCovey and Joe Morgan. Recent stars on the Athletics roster include Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Eric Sogard, Josh Reddick and Bartolo Colon.

Spring Training

The A’s play the home games on their Spring Training schedule at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, AZ. The park opened for Spring Training in 1964 and housed the San Francisco Giants in its inaugural season. The A’s have called this park their spring home, however, since 1984. Phoenix Municipal Stadium seats 8,775 fans and its most notable features are the light poles from the Polo Grounds, which has home to several teams in New York City. The A’s Minor League Baseball affiliates are the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, Double-A Midland RockHounds, Advanced-A Stockton Ports, Class-A Beloit Snappers, Short-Season A Vermont Lake Monsters and rookie league Arizona League Athletics and Dominican Summer League Athletics.

The Ballpark Guide hasn’t visited the Oakland A’s yet, but hopes to in the near future. If you’re excited to read a fan guide to the O.co Coliseum, check out the many ways you can support The Ballpark Guide on future baseball road trips.