The Oakland Athletics ‘Reverse Boycott’ Game in Review
The Athletics’ days in Oakland seem to be numbered, as Las Vegas is inching closer to acquiring the team. However, the A’s fanbase hosted one final party at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday night. The ‘Reverse Boycott’ game was a major success, and I’m happy to say I was in attendance.
To say it was a major success is an understatement. The Coliseum was ROCKING and rightfully so. It all started in the parking lot, where tailgating and games were held hours before the game. Fans handed out green shirts that said “Sell” across the front, which became the first-ever fan-funded giveaway in MLB history. Raising over $27,000, fans were able to make over 7,000 shirts to hand out.
It’s starting to get packed. #Athletics pic.twitter.com/Q9AIYdTVaK
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) June 13, 2023
Once the game started, I don’t think there was a second where I wasn’t chanting. “Sell the team,” “Stay in Oakland,” and “F*ck John Fisher,” were the main chants shouted out throughout the night. From the first batter to the final pitch, the Coliseum wasn’t silent.
It’s a Reverse Boycott night in Oakland
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 14, 2023
The Colosseum is packed with A’s fans chanting “Sell the Team” pic.twitter.com/QbqquR6BnQ
It actually did go silent for about a minute. In the top of the 5th inning, every fan stood in silence to honor the 55 years the A’s have been in Oakland. After the first batter reached base, the fans absolutely erupted into “Sell the team,” chants. I was in attendance for the 2019 AL Wild Card Game when the A’s and Rays played, but this moment surpassed that playoff game by a mile.
As planned A's fans were standing and silent during the first batter of the fifth inning
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 14, 2023
They then broke into "sell the team" chants so loud that the pitcher thought his earpiece was broken pic.twitter.com/NI2sRLmPjV
It stayed a tight game the entire night, led by an absolute masterclass by Hogan Harris. Seven innings pitched, giving up only one run and two strikeouts. With a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 8th, Carlos Perez came through with an RBI groundout to break the tie. Let me tell you, this sh*t got loud and I lost my voice.
THE A'S TAKE THE LEAD!!! pic.twitter.com/HX4k6tU4Hb
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 14, 2023
In the top of the 9th, the A’s handed the ball to Trevor May. For those of you who don’t know, May battled anxiety, which put him on the IL a few times. Despite the over 27,000 fans in attendance (one of them running on the field) and the pressure of a one-run game, May ended the night perfectly. It truly felt like I was in the Moneyball movie.
THE OAKLAND A'S HAVE WON THEIR SEVENTH-STRAIGHT GAME
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 14, 2023
IN FRONT OF 27,000+ FANS AT THE COLISEUM pic.twitter.com/i2vT09FlLx
To make this night even better, the win extended the A’s winning streak to seven games. A’s fans simply couldn’t contain themselves and as a result, they absolutely trashed the field.
I mean hey, can’t blame us for getting mad. John Fisher is a scum. A’s president Dave Kaval is a scum. The point of this boycott was to show biased media that the fanbase isn’t the problem. The Coliseum would look like this EVERY night if the A’s had a competent owner; nobody wants to show up to watch a team who is one foot out the door and slashes payroll.
Although this won’t keep the team in Oakland, it showed a pretty damn good message. I couldn’t be more proud of this fanbase, and it’s not ridiculous to say that the A’s have the best fans in all of baseball. Oakland deserves sports, and the A’s deserve to have a component owner calling the shots.
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