Former Oakland Athletics managers on team’s potential move to Vegas
Jun 21, 2023, 11:00 AM
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Manager Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics signals the bullpen to make a pitching change against the Texas Rangers in the top of the fourth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on September 12, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
As more current MLB stars voice their support for the Oakland Athletics fanbase, former team managers are expressing their disappointment in the team’s decision to leave the Bay Area.
Current San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin spoke to the media Monday night ahead of his team’s series with the San Francisco Giants. Along with Josh Donaldson and Bryce Harper, Melvin voiced his displeasure with the team’s plans to relocate to Las Vegas.
Melvin managed the A’s from 2011-2021, earning two American League Manager of the Year awards (in both 2012 and 2018) while leading the team to six postseason appearances.
“It’s sad. Anybody who grew up here does not look forward to that happening. I don’t know that anything is 100 percent sure yet, but obviously for a lot of people here they’ve followed the A’s and it’s a storied franchise with a rich history. A lot of winning, some of the great players in all of baseball played there,” Melvin said. “It would be sad. So we’ll see where it goes from here, it looks like it’s getting some traction in Vegas, but you never know until the last minute. I think a lot of people are holding out hope that maybe it doesn’t happen.”
Bob Melvin gives his thoughts on the A's potential move to Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/0tHOQBEArU
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 20, 2023
Former Oakland A’s Manager Art Howe shared Melvin’s thoughts. In a recent interview with KNBR, Howe told his former player and current show host F.P. Santangelo that’ he’ll never forget his time in Oakland.
“The fans were so wonderful. What’s going on over there evidently leaving here in the next couple of years, I really feel for the fans cause they deserve a team. They’re just wonderful fans,” Howe told KNBR. “As you said, no matter how many were there, they made the most noise you could even imagine. So supportive of the players. They loved every player on the team and came out to support them and like I said, I’m reading all these articles about the team leaving, it’s got to be heartbreaking for those fans.”
Howe managed the Athletics from 1996-02, winning exactly 600 games and leading the team to the playoffs in three consecutive years from 2000-02.
Where do the A’s relocation plans stand?
Earlier this month, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed SB-1, formerly SB-509, granting the Oakland Athletics $380 in public funding for an eventual $1.5 billion stadium along the Las Vegas Strip.
The only move next for relocation to become official is approval from 75% of MLB owners. The bill was passed by the Nevada state Senate and Assembly after a seven-day special session to fine-tune the financing.
If the move comes to fruition, Las Vegas would be the fourth home for the franchise. The team originates from Philadelphia where they played from 1901-1954. The Athletics then moved to Kansas City until 1968, when they relocated to Oakland. The A’s lease with the Oakland Coliseum ends after the 2024 season.
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