by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
OAKLAND–A reunion of owners, executives and employees of one of the most successful baseball teams in the history of the Bay Area took place at a well known seafood restaurant at Jack London Square in Oakland. Close to 200 people were invited. I was proud to be among them, as their Spanish play by play announcer during that great run of American League titles, as winning three Western Divisions and three American League Pennants consecutively, as well as three consecutive World Series. Many executives of the A’s of 1989 have moved onto other organizations like Walt Jocketty, the General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
At the entrance of this famous Jack London Square restaurant there was a big banner listing the Oakland A’s four World Series titles, 1972,73,74 and 1989. The days of Tony LaRussa in the late 80’s and early ’90’s were great for the Athletics, with such stars as Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, José Canseco, Mark McGwire, Dave Stewart, Bob Welch and others.
The A’s at that time, had the record for attendance in the Bay Area and were the model of marketing and involvement with the community, and as of today are even admired by Larry Baer of the San Francisco Giants. Just a few years after winning that 1989 historic World Series (the only time in history television had Live coverage of an earthquake) the Athletics gave the South Bay/San José territorial rights to the San Francisco Giants, who were dying at the gate at maligned Candlestick Park, and were planning to move out of the Bay Area.
To this day, the Bay Area is the only two-team Major League Baseball market in the country where “territorial rights” are an issue. Whenever the A’s would are able to move to San José, remains to be seen, at it is running now longer than some famous Telemundo Novelas.
1989 was a great season where for the first, and only time in history the two Bay Area teams collided in the Fall Classic. One that was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake, and eventually won by the A’s via a sweep, two wins prior to the earthquake, and two more after the eleven day delay by then Commissioner Fay Vincent Jr.
Like many of these reunions, just like in High School or College, you see people you do not recognize that well, but then you realize who they are and all-of-a-sudden you are sharing memories. Many Oaklander’s were in attendance, including some millionaires who would love to see the Athletics stay in Oakland.
Somebody said that although the Giants have now won three World Series, they still have not won one against the A’s and the Giants have not won three in a row. History usually is more appreciated a quarter-of-a-century later. Andy Dolich who as the brain in the A’s business side of things winning multiple Celo’s for television commercials was the Master of Ceremonies, trying some comedy he showed a plastic “finger” as the finger that José Canseco recently lost as he was cleaning his gun. Dolich introduced Wally Haas Jr. who spoke, and later a video with 1989 highlights ran as people mingled, drank and had dinner.
As I spoke to Wally Haas Jr, whose father was the owner of the team during those years, and thanked him for the invite, he is still one of the most unpretentious movers and shakers in the Bay Area. His company paid millions to have their name Levi at the brand new San Francisco 49ers facility in Santa Clara. Wally has always been a quiet but effective boss, and when they bought the team from Charlie O.Finley they turned a dying franchise into the pride of the Bay Area. Wally Haas Jr. was very gracious (as always) with the people at this reunion, he thanked them and said this was a great event and was extremely happy to get together with all of us.
After the A’s-Finley dynasty winning three consecutive World Series in 1972, 1973 and 1974, this feat of winning three consecutive World Series has only been matched and surpassed by the New York Yankees, who own several dynasties and a record of 27 World Series titles. During three years from 1988 to 1990 the Oakland A’s were the standard for excellence, although they lost the 1988 World Series to the Dodgers, in one of the biggest upsets in history and after winning the American League with a 104-58 record, and sweeping the Red Sox in the ALCS, then in 1989 they finished 99-63 took the Blue Jays in five games in the ALCS and swept the Giants in the World Series. In 1990 Bob Welch won 27 games and the Cy Young, the A’s won 103 and lost 59, swept Boston again in the ALCS, but got swept by Cincinnati in the World Series.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week on http://www.sportsradioservice.com
photo credit: Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Gail Gonzalez
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