On Thursday, the Athletics played their final game in Oakland, leaving behind a trail of memories, highlights, and lowlights. After Mason Miller wrapped up Oakland’s 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers with his 28th save, the fans paid an emotional farewell to their heroes. Oakland broadcaster Jenny Cavnar said it best: “Today, there is crying in baseball.”
As Athletics Leave Oakland, Five Lowlights
Eventually, the A’s will move to Las Vegas, taking a route that would make Ferdinand Magellan proud, stopping in Sacramento for two years, give or take. On this sad occasion for Oakland, let’s hope its denizens still have a sense of humor as we look at these not-so-stellar moments.
A’s owner, Charlie Finley, stepped on an elevator in the Oakland Coliseum. Game 2 of the 1973 World Series had just concluded. It was already crowded with several reporters and his pitcher, Vida Blue. Finley asked, “This thing going up or down?” Told it was going up, Finley roared, “Well, take it down.” On the way down, he looked to the back of the elevator and asked, “Is Mike Andrews back there? I want to talk to him.”
You see, the A’s lost the game, 10-7, in 12 innings to the New York Mets, allowing them to even the Series at a game apiece. The game was hardly a masterpiece. There were six errors, five by the Athletics, and several other lowlights. Two of those errors were made by second baseman Andrews on consecutive plays with two outs in the 12th. They paved the way for the Mets to score three unearned runs to add to the run they already had in the 12th, rendering the run scored by Oakland in the bottom of the inning mere window dressing.
The Athletics then put Andrews on what was then known as the disabled list in those less-enlightened times. “As far as I’m concerned, he has a bad shoulder,” Finley told the media. Finley requested permission from Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to replace Andrews on the roster with Manny Trillo. Yet Andrews’ teammates smelled a rat as Andrews packed his bags and headed for a flight to his Boston home. They considered boycotting the rest of the Series but relented because some of their lower-paid players needed the World Series money.
No, Andrews Rehired
Indeed, when he descended from that elevator, Finley forced Andrews to sign a false affidavit to the effect that he was injured. Kuhn acted quickly, denying Finley’s request, citing a report from Oakland’s medical staff regarding Andrews’ condition. Andrews rejoined the team in New York. He made one more appearance in the Series, pinch-hitting in Game 4, won by the Mets, 6-1. As he strode to the plate, the Mets fans gave Andrews a standing ovation.
