2008 Oakland Athletics

Unfortunately for A’s fans, the 2007 MLB season was the first season that the Oakland Athletics finished with a losing record since 1998, though on the plus side, they still managed to beat the Texas Rangers for fourth place in the AL West. The team was plagued by injuries last season, but if key players like Rich Harden, Huston Street and Eric Chavez can stay healthy, the 2008 season looks bright for the A’s. Get your tickets to McAfee Coliseum and help making 2008 a winning season for the Oakland Athletics!

Early Years

The A’s history dates back over a century and spans the country. First formed in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, they were one of the most formidable teams in the early part of the 20th century. Connie Mack owned and managed the team until 1950 when at 87 he finally retired. Between 1901 and 1914 Mack’s A’s won 6 AL Pennants and 3 World Series. The club relocated to Kansas City in 1955 due to declining attendance. Prior to their move west the team brought 2 more World Series titles to Philadelphia and thrilled the fans with the hitting exploits of Jimmie Foxx and the amazing pitching of Lefty Grove.

New Home

The A’s never distinguished themselves in Kansas City and soon after the team was bought by Charles Finley and moved further west to Oakland in 1968. The Charles Finley A’s of the early 70’s were known for their day-glo green and yellow uniforms, the players’ mustaches (all other MLB teams forbade facial hair), and winning. The team won 3 straight World Series titles from 1972-1974. Led by future Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, and Catfish Hunter the team was an unstoppable powerhouse until they were broken up due to salary demands, much like Connie Mack’s teams earlier in the century.

Return to Glory

The A’s returned to glory in the late 1980’s with the arrival of manager Tony LaRussa in Oakland. Guiding a team stacked with sluggers such as Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire; LaRussa won 3 straight pennants from 1988 to 1990, winning the World Series once. Lately the team has been almost as good, winning the AL West 4 times between 2000 and 2006. Unfortunately for the fans of Oakland the team lost in the first round of the playoffs each year.