A's say goodbye to Oakland with emotional final win at Coliseum

A's fans are grappling with a painful farewell as the team took the field for the last time in Oakland on Thursday before finishing the season in Seattle.

The A's beat the Rangers 3-2.

Many clad in green and gold came to the Coliseum's parking lot to tailgate hours before first pitch Thursday afternoon and filled the ballpark with cheers for the team and jeers for A's owner John Fisher, who is moving a team that came to Oakland in 1968 and won four World Series during its time in the Bay Area.

The A's are moving for at least three years starting in 2025 to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, the home of the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A minor league affiliate Sacramento River Cats, before a planned move to Las Vegas for a stadium the team hopes will be ready by 2028.

Pregame Thursday, A's former Cy Young-winning pitcher Barry Zito sang the national anthem and the rowdy crowd made sustained chants of "sell the team" toward Fisher throughout the game.

Oakland took a 3-0 lead in the early innings and held on for the victory with All-Star closer Mason Miller getting the save with a groundout to end the A's tenure in Oakland. After the game, the players and coaches all came out on the field to raise their caps to the fans and stadium staff.

A's manager Mark Kotsay said, "To the staff who have dedicated their lives to the Oakland A's, especially those who aren't coming with us, I am forever grateful. And to all of you, on behalf of my staff, myself, this team, all the past players and coaches, everyone who has worn the green and gold, there are no better fans than you guys."

VIDEO: ABC7's Larry Beil's passionate reaction to A's owner John Fisher sending goodbye letter to fans

A's owner John Fisher finally addressed and apologized for the team's departure from Oakland. ABC7's Larry Beil gives his passionate reaction.

Emotions were running high for the team's final night game on Wednesday, where thousands of fans came out only to see the A's get crushed by the Rangers.

Among the fans, ABC7 News heard story after story of how families have spent the past nearly six decades following the team at the Coliseum, making endless memories.

"Maybe I shouldn't talk anymore because I'll be in tears," Antonia Ramirez said.

Ramirez has been coming to A's game at the Coliseum since 1968. Her sadness was echoed by so many other fans.

"With Oakland, there's not much more to look forward to," Alyssa Villanueva said. "We used to have all of the major league sports and now there is none left."

VIDEO: 'Worst owner in sports': Angry and sad A's fans respond to John Fisher's goodbye letter

Heartbreak for A's diehards only got worse this week with owner John Fisher's letter where he claimed he tried everything to stay in Oakland.

"I lost the Raiders, I lost the Warriors across the Bay, and now the A's and that's all I really know," Jesse Wright said.

"We've always been A's fans and I've been coming here, you've probably heard this from a lot of people with their fathers and grandfathers, and it's tough," Richard Villobos said as he fought back tears.

"I cried in the car on the way over here. It's devastating man! First you take our Raiders and now you take this. It's all we have," Irena Certuche said.

While some still danced and kids smiled, the sadness among fans also came with a sense of anger.

"We hate you, John Fisher! Is that appropriate? The A's belong in Oakland, never forget!" yelled one fan.

VIDEO: Coliseum concession workers say they won't get severance, health insurance after last A's game

Aramark will not be offering any severance to Oakland Coliseum employees following A's last game on Thursday.

"Been coming here since I was one year old. I was born in '88 been coming here since '89 and now we don't know where we are gonna go. We ain't going to Vegas, we ain't going to Sacramento that's for sure. So we're taking it all in right now," Justin Elliott said.

To those at the game Wednesday night, it was important to come together at the Coliseum and cheer on the team they've rooted for, for so long, the one that they'll forever remember as the Oakland Athletics.

After Thursday, the Oakland Coliseum will be without a baseball team for the first time since 1968.

The team, which is 69-90 on the season, still has three games left but they are on the road against the Seattle Mariners from Friday through Sunday.

The Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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