End of the Bay Bridge Series Nears
Photo by: Deanne Fitzmaurice (The Chronicle 1989) Photo of: Mark McGwire and Will Clark
The Oakland A’s have been in the news and conversations across the league for many of the wrong reasons this year. The annual Bay Bridge Series between the Giants and A’s concluded Sunday in Oakland, with each team taking two games from the series, but the Tom Pellack Memorial Bridge Trophy went to the A’s.
The Giants have resided in San Francisco since 1958 and ten years later, in 1968, the A’s moved to Oakland. From then on, the Bay Area has housed two baseball teams, one in each league, similar to the large cities of Chicago and New York (some consider Los Angeles to be in the same situation as well). Matchups between the two franchises stretch even further back with three World Series matchups way before the teams landed in the Bay Area (1905, 1911, 1913) as the New York Giants and Philadelphia Athletics, respectively. And of course, the infamous 1989 World Series, known as the “Battle of the Bay”. Some incredible baseball minds have been at the helm for these World Series matchups: John McGraw and Connie Mack for the earlier three, Tony La Russa and Roger Craig for the latter.
Photo by: Philippe Halsman, Courtesy of: National Portrait Gallery, (Smithsonian Institution) Photo of: Connie Mack
Photo by: Benjamin Strauss and Homer Payton, Courtesy of: National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Photo of: John McGraw
Photo by: Focus on Sport (Getty Images)
Photo by: Rob Kozloff (AP Photo) Photo of: Tony La Russa and Roger Craig at 1990 All-Star Game
It wasn’t until interleague games started in 1997 that the two teams would meet again. Since then, competition has remained fairly even over the years, despite the periods of struggle each franchise has faced.
As a Giants fan who has watched this series my whole life every single year, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like without it. And what I mean by “without it” is when it’s not taking place in both Oakland and San Francisco anymore.
The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum has been the home of the A’s since they moved to the Bay Area from Kansas City. Geographically, it is closer to where I live than Oracle Park. The Coliseum is an odd second “home ballpark” to me. It may be hard to believe, but I might have more stark, vivid memories of walking on the field at the Coliseum than I do at Oracle Park.
Photo by: Arin L
Photo by: Pete L
Courtesy of: Bishop O’Dowd High School Softball Team
Photo by: Pete L
Even though 2023 may not be the very last meeting between the Giants and A’s as Bay Area teams, people all around baseball know the end is likely around the corner, with the A’s planning to move to Las Vegas. Once the A’s leave, there will be no Bay Area sports teams of the same sport who can face off against each other. The closest is in the Northern California matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
In the process of writing this article, I thought of a Chinese phrase I’ve heard of, “天下沒有不散的筵席” which translates to “There’s no never-ending feast”. (Translation Credit: Google Translate)
It’s another way to say all things, as good as they are, come to an end at some point; nothing lasts forever (in this world).