Keeping Baseball in Oakland

The roar of the crowd, the smell of the homegrown food trucks, Oakland pride emanates from the stadium. You’re at an Oakland Ballers game. 

For decades, Oakland has been a hotbed for baseball. It has produced numerous Hall of Famers such as Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, and many more. Additionally, the A’s have been in Oakland since 1968, and have won four world series here, solidifying baseball as a foundation of the community where people can make connections and come together as a community.

However, some might say that the A’s downfall began when John Fisher bought the team in 2005. Quickly, it became clear that Fisher valued profits over the fans and performance of the team. The A’s are moving to Sacramento next season, leaving a gaping hole for baseball in Oakland.

In November of 2023, the creation of the Oakland Ballers, a Pioneer League baseball team, was announced. The Pioneer League is a professional baseball league consisting of graduated college players still hoping to be signed by an MLB team, and players can be signed at any point during the season. The Oakland Ballers are a team completely separate from the A’s and the MLB and are on their own path as an organization. 

Bryan Carmel, co-founder of the Ballers, emphasized the importance of Oakland’s rich history of baseball and its importance to the community. Mr. Carmel claimed “ [he] didn’t like what was being said about Oakland,” and “believes that pro sports belong in Oakland.” Their goal was to create a “place where diverse communities can come together for joy.” He also mentioned that they truly want to represent Oakland, and want their team to be for the fans. 

This season they played at Raymondi Park, in West Oakland, which the Ballers renovated with help from volunteers in the Oakland community. The Ballers had a successful season and lost in the semifinals of the playoffs but are looking forward to bringing a championship to Oakland next year. 

Assistant athletic director, Coach Flynn, says the environment at a Ballers game, “is grassroots, it is community, it is West Oakland.” So next summer if you are looking for something fun to do, head over to a Oakland Ballers game for a good time and an opportunity to chant “let’s go Oakland!” with your community.