Category: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Considering Free land offer from Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas

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The Las Vegas Aviators the Oakland A’s minor league affiliate located in Summerlin was named Ballpark of the Year. The A’s are considering moving to Summerlin and building a brand new ball park (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

A’s Considering Free land offer from Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Hughes Corporation is willing to offer free land to the Oakland A’s if they chose to move to Las Vegas. The Howard Hughes Corp, own the A’s Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas Aviators and their home, the Las Vegas ballpark. They have officially said that they will give the land to the A’s for free in Summerlin, (15 + minutes from the Strip) if the A’s want to build their $1 billion baseball park there.

David Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s who has made seven trips to Las Vegas since last May said the team would consider the potential land offer. “That is one consideration when we talk to different (owners) of the final sites is land cost, partnership on ancillary development, understanding all the aspects of the different locations logistically, making sure they work” and added “So those negotiations are going on with a couple (of) different groups to see what’s possible”.

On October 26, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to keep the Howard Terminal Stadium plan alive in a 4 to 1 vote. However, if the A’s chose to take the offer of free land by the Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas, then this would be an important change of plans.

For months now the A’s have been working on parallel plans to build a new ballpark, at Oakland or someplace else, with Las Vegas running in a race and tied with Oakland as the two cities. The Commissioner of Baseball is anxiously waiting where all this is going to end, but as he had said the current Oakland Coliseum is not an option for the A’s anymore.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead Spanish play by play announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oakland A’s could have a Winter Sale

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Matt Chapman (26) and Matt Olson (28) look to be seriously shopped by the Oakland A’s this off season as the A’s are expected to be putting a lot of free agents up on the trade block (file photo Athletics Nation)

Oakland A’s Could have a Winter Sale

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Some of the best Oakland A’s players could be on the move this winter. Two of the team’s All Stars this year, first baseman Matt Olson and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt head the list; they both can become free agents next year. Matt Chapman, the best defensive third baseman in the American League won his third Gold Glove in 2021. Aside from Olson, Bassitt, and Chapman there are other A’s players that could be traded. Should not be any surprise, under the A’s system players do not stay too long. A good friend of mine and A’s fan for decades, tells me “Hollywood marriages are usually longer than A’s players in Oakland”.

–Matt Olson’s 2021 season was his best since he started his career with the A’s in 2016; he ended with a .271 average, 39 home runs (sixth best in the league) for the first time Olson drove over 100 runs, with 111 RBI. His 111 RBI tied No.5 in the league with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a contender for the MVP trophy. His batting average, home runs, and runs batted it was all personal highs for Olson. The most consistent slugger of the A’s could bring some very good prospects to Oakland. The New York Yankees (always looking for sluggers) have shown interest. Olson is the perfect fit as a left-handed hitter for Yankee Stadium.

–Matt Chapman recently won the 2021 Gold Glove (his third) he has now won the award in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Was going for his third Golden Glove last year but his season was shortened by injuries. His High School friend Nolan Arenado (both went to El Toro High School in Southern Orange County) has won nine (9) consecutive Gold Gloves at third-base, eighth with Colorado, and one with St Louis. Brooks Robinson (Baltimore) aka “The Vacuum Cleaner” won 16 Gold Gloves, the most for any position player in history.

–Chris Bassitt was 12-4 with a 3.15 era in 27 games he started but missed a month and a half after he got hit by a 100MPH line drive in Chicago in mid-August. His best season since he joined the A’s in 2014.

–Frankie Montas, had his best season as he ended with a 13-9 and 3.37 ERA in 32 starts and established himself as a “top of the rotation” arm. Back in 2019, he was up to his best start in the majors with 9-2 and 2.63 ERA in 16 games he started but was suspended 80 games at the end of June because testing positive for PED use. He missed the rest of the season and did not return until 2020.

–Sean Manaea. The lefty had a productive season in the rotation with 11-10 and 3.91era in 32 starts, most for him in a season, as well as innings, pitched with 179 1/3 and 194 strikeouts, all personal highs.

Starting pitching is a big commodity this off-season. Needless to say, position players with the talent of Olson and Chapman are also very attractive on an everyday lineup. However, not much is happening in the trading/free-agent market and that might be the case for a while, the way it looks now. Fast approaching is December 2.

That is a very important day because if there is no new CBA contract by then, it is widely known that owners will be locking out players and all transactions will be frozen. I will have more of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) later this week.

“Baseball people, and that includes me, are slow to change and accept new ideas. I remember that it took years to persuade them to put numbers on uniforms.” -Branch Rickey.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Ray Fosse to be inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame Way Overdue

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The late Oakland A’s TV analyst Ray Fosse seen here taking a stroll on the Oakland Coliseum field will be honored by being inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame as announced Fri Nov 12, 2021 (Oroville Mercury-Register file photo)

Ray Fosse to be Inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame Way Overdue

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–I could have only wished the Oakland A’s would have inducted Ray Fosse into their Hall of Fame when he was alive. Today the Oakland A’s announced the popular catcher and broadcaster will be in the Hall of Fame.

The A’s Press Release today:

‘Two-time Major League All-Star catcher and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Ray Fosse will be enshrined in Athletics history forever as a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame. Fosse joins four-time All-Star “Captain Sal” Bando, Gold Glovers Eric Chavez and Joe Rudi, Director of Player Development Keith Lieppman, and A’s Clubhouse Manager Steve Vucinich as members of the Class of 2022.’

Affable and always available to talk baseball Ray was one of those guys that I would always enjoyed picking his brain when it came to baseball knowledge. How to manage different pitchers during a game and all other aspects of the game we all love. A presence in the Press Box, I will always miss him. During the games at home we would talk about what happen in the previous game(s) or what to expect prior to the game at hand. I was privileged to have known him for years. He was strong of body and mind.

Ray Fosse was the catcher during the last two years of the A’s 1970’s dynasty, in 1973 and 1974. He caught some of the greatest luminaries in the history of the Oakland Athletics, guys like Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Vida Blue, Ken Holtzman, John “Blue Moon” Odom, and Rollie Fingers.

He always asked me about Latino players, their idiosyncrasies and superstitions, guys like Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, Manny Trillo, Gonzalo Márquez, who was a professional pinch hitter something that was seen as a key component of a team in the American League before the Designated Hitter rule was adopted in 1973.

Since I was a kid I was always fascinated by the work of a catcher. The only player that sees the whole field right in front of his eyes, and no wonder many catchers become managers. They’re basically acting managers, on the field. Ray Fosse was a real catcher. He played the position like it was intended to be played. Ray personified what a catcher is, strong, smart and in charge.

“A good catcher is the quarterback, the carburetor, the lead dog, the pulse taker, the traffic cop and sometimes a lot of unprintable things, but no team gets very far without one” -Miller Huggins.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tha’ts Amaury News and Commentary: Bob Melvin A Bay Area original to San Diego

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Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin who signed a three year deal with the San Diego Padres last week should right the ship at San Diego with such superstar players as Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. (file photo by the Detroit News)

Bob Melvin A Bay Area original to San Diego

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–In case anybody forgot. The last three managers of the San Diego Padres were rookie managers at the time they were signed. This next season the Padres are going for the experience. In 2022 they will have an experienced, steady, and calm hand at the helm. Melvin managed the A’s for 11 seasons and leaves very good memories with the Oakland A’s fans in the Bay Area and everywhere. With constant personal changes every year, Melvin led the A’s to three (3) AL Western Division titles and six (6) playoff berths.

The three-time Manager of the Year (2007 Arizona and 2012 and 2018 Oakland) will take his managing skills and relaxed style to beautiful PETCO Park in downtown San Diego, where he will be managing such players as Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, and Jay Cronenworth.

The Padres were the biggest underachievers in baseball. Many picked them to rival the Dodgers in the NL West but ended in third place 28 games out of first place. They also suffered some key injuries and it was an ugly year for the Friars.

Bob Melvin is truly a Bay Area original, born in Palo Alto, went to High School on the Peninsula, and the East Bay at the University of California at Berkeley. Played as a catcher for 10 years in the major leagues including from 1986 to 1988 with the San Francisco Giants, his longest tenure among the seven teams he played for.

Melvin is well known for developing good relationships among his players. He listens to them, communicates well, and sometimes sends a player a text message or two. He knows his players, leads them on the field, and guides them to navigate the world of Major League Baseball, especially the young players that come to Oakland. Yoenis Céspedes (a star outfielder and one of A’s fan favorites) told me once about Melvin: “es un buen manager, me conoce como jugador y siempre me mantiene al tanto de todo” (trans) “he is a good manager, he knows me as a player and he keeps me aware of everything going on”.

Communication is never overrated for a manager, especially in today’s game, where it is becoming more of a players game and so many decisions are made from “upstairs” inside the front offices of many ball-clubs, without the human element and where computers and statistics in this fast world of communications are running the show.

I was always impressed with Melvin’s style of manager and often told him, “someday you are going to be a General Manager”. He usually smiled and dismisses it not saying much about it. From his days in Seattle to his time at Oakland where he managed the longest, 11 years, he will be missed. We will miss him, affable, always available to the media, and definitely a fan favorite for Oakland A’s fans. Definitely a Bay Area original.

We wish BoMel nothing but the utmost success in one of America’s Finest Cities.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Editorial: Oakland A’s Suffer Devastating Blow Manger Bob Melvin Moves On to San Diego

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Former Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin in Aug 20, 2021 photo on the field before a game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum. Melvin signed a three year deal to manage the San Diego Padres on Thu Oct 28, 2021 (AP News file photo)

By Barbara Mason

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s have had a few successful seasons getting to the playoffs twice in the last three years and missing the playoffs in this last 2021 season. Under Bob Melvin they played in the 2012, 13 and 14 playoffs as well. This was of course accomplished by not only the players but under the brilliant leadership of Manager Bob Melvin.

Unfortunately for the team, upper management has an ugly history of refusing to spend the money needed to put together a championship team. I was in fact pleasantly surprised this season when they brought Josh Harrison, Starling Marte, Yan Gomes and Andrew Chafin aboard. They made some real waves from the get go but it was too little too late with them coming in later in the season.

Had the A’s kept Marcus Semien, who had a banner year with the Blue Jays, we will never know what could have happened. I do hate the shoulda, woulda, coulda but if the shoe fits…. Oakland’s purse strings were under lock and key and this team did the best with what they had, and in my opinion Bob Melvin was brilliant.

Despite the stingy nature of upper management this team had one of the best managers in MLB who in fact won Manager of the Year twice while with the A’s. We also have a group of great players with our golden gloves Matt Olson and Matt Chapman immediately coming to mind.

There has been so much talk regarding the new stadium that fans have grown weary of it all. It is moving at a slugs pace, and surrounded by such a penny pinching mentality you knew that something was bound to happen and it would not be pretty.

We have seen players come and go and then we hear what we have heard so often, and that is the re-building scenario. The last thing that we ever expected to see was for Skipper Melvin to move on. Even though Melvin’s option for the 2022 season was exercised in June he was able to pursue and actually accept any other offers. I believe that in this case enough was enough and the cheapness in this organization gave Melvin no other options.

There is a winner however; a big winner in this entire situation and it is the San Diego Padres who knocked the ball out of the park attaining Bob Melvin for three years to the tune of 12 million dollars guaranteed. The Padres were of course looking for a manager and boy did they get one.

One of the best managers in baseball will reside in San Diego next season. What made Melvin so wildly successful was despite the meager payroll he still got the job done putting together some pretty successful teams although never reaching the promised land.

How could upper management in anyway, shape or form be unhappy with this guy. The bottom line is that if you want a successful baseball team, you spend money. If you spend money you can put together a very good team. If you do this the team will start winning and guess what, fans love winning.

You complain about, low attendance but who wants to come to a miserable ball park and watch losing efforts. That’s not to say that we do not have some great players, we do but how long they stay is always up in the air. I would say, in most cases not very long.

In a sport like baseball, the driving force is money and the success of any team comes down to how much money you are willing to spend. If you are cheap, that’s the reputation that you will deal with and the losing results that you will have to live with.

We will now be looking towards the future and the hiring of a new manager. We will have to also deal with the loss of a number of beloved players because the word is that the Oakland A’s Management are looking to tighten their purse strings, so they will reap what they sow and it will not be pretty.

It doesn’t get anymore ludicrous than that. It is heartbreaking for fans and players alike to have to deal with this. These are a group of individuals who could care less about the sport of baseball, who don’t care about the fans or their team and their only love is the love of the almighty dollar and how they can hang onto it.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Alameda County Votes Yes on Howard Terminal

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval standing at Mount Davis at the Oakland Coliseum is hoping that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will eventually approve funding for a new ballpark at Howard Terminal Jack London Square in downtown Oakland (file photo from Alameda Magazine)

Alameda County Votes Yes on A’s in Oakland Letter of Intent

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–After five hours, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors came to a “Yes” vote this Tuesday, which allows the Athletics to keep working towards the final goal of building the Howard Terminal ballpark. However, this is a non-binding agreement that gives Alameda County the right to walk away if they do not come to a final agreement. There is work ahead and various studies before everything is finalized.

The A’s will continue to pursue their plan in Las Vegas as they have been doing now for a few months with a total of six trips. After the conclusion of the 2021 World Series, Oakland A’s team president Dave Kaval will release a list of the three or four final sites in the Las Vegas Valley.

There was support and opposition, most of the opposition came from the Port of Oakland which claims that their plans of expanding the basin could be in danger if the A’s build a ballpark. If there is a binding agreement it will have the County of Alameda and the City of Oakland for 45 years together benefiting from taxes under a governed public finance board.

Both the A’s and the City of Oakland are waiting for a finalized environmental impact study. Much other work needs to be done until there is a final agreement. For Mr.Kaval if the A’s stay in Oakland or move to Las Vegas, he says the following: “We’re supporting at the end of the day of getting the project done. We have already taken too long, at least in our mind. So, we’re just trying to find a feasible path”.

A few days ago the Commissioner of MLB Rob Manfred said he was not optimistic about the chances of the Oakland A’s to build a park in Oakland. It would be interesting what Mr.Manfred has to say now since he believes the time is running out on this project.

We can say it was a good night for the Oakland A’s and their fans, but nothing is official. The only thing we know is that the A’s have a Letter of Intent of keeping the Howard Terminal project still alive. Non-binding means: ‘having no legal or binding force’. There will be more to this story during the next few days and weeks.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on Spanish 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s Port of Oakland buildings, railroad and gondola

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No word yet on the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal ball park but baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is losing patience (artists rendition of Oakland A’s Howard Terminal ballpark image from Piedmont Exedra)

A’s- Port Of Oakland, Buildings, Railroad and Gondola.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Recently commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred said he is not optimistic about a new deal to keep the team in A’s in Oakland. He made the remarks to the Sports Business Journal and confirmed relocation is on the table for the A’s but not only to Las Vegas but as well to other locations in other cities.

Manfred said that Tampa Bay Rays and the Oakland A’s need new ballparks, but reiterated (as he has done in the past) that Oakland is the team right now that concerns him the most. Manfred said (quote) “Frankly, in some ways we’re not sure we see a path to success, in terms of getting something built in Oakland.”

The commissioner is following the situation in Oakland and could be worried about the points listed below, that seems to be on the table between both parties.

Below deals with some of these topics.

-Port of Oakland. How can the ballpark affect the Port of Oakland operations? Concerns that the port needs to expand to accommodate large cargo ships. That this would be more difficult with a baseball stadium at Howard Terminal. Port of Oakland workers have demonstrated in front of the A’s team owner John Fisher in San Francisco as they are against the proposal to build the new stadium at Howard Terminal. Workers say that will displace blue collar jobs.

-Buildings. The Athletics plan calls for Howard Terminal to build one (1) residential tower as high as 600 feet and another at 400 feet tall. These buildings would compete with designs such as the Ordway building, which is 400 feet tall and the tallest building in downtown Oakland. Ordway building is also known as #1 Kaiser Plaza.

-Railroad. The DRC (Oakland Design Review Committee) wants a safe way for the visitors to the park to avoid the railroad tracks altogether. The DRC is concerned with the safety of people to get to the park across the railroad crossings. AMTRAK trains travels right in front of Jack London Square. Note. Union Pacific controls the rails.

-Gondola. In 2019 the Oakland A’s proposed the idea of a gondola to take fans from BART to Howard Terminal. However, this idea was not in the plans and reviewed by the committee. The proposal was to move fans from downtown Oakland to a stadium at Howard Terminal. The fans would be “ferried” via an elevated gondola similar to what you might see at a ski resort to the stadium. Looks like the gondola is a No Go.

Above are some of the key points to be discussed by the Alameda Board of Supervisors this October 26. As of today the official agenda for the meeting still pending and has not been announced to the public.

It seems that Commissioner Rob Manfred, who has put a clock in baseball to ‘speed up’ the game, has also put the A’s on the clock when it comes to the new Howard Terminal ballpark.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Ray Fosse had a hard work ethic; he worked until he had to be carried out of the booth

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Former Oakland A’s catcher and broadcaster Ray Fosse takes a seat at the Oakland Coliseum played in the big leagues from 1967 to 1979 and broadcasted the A’s from 1986 to 2021 before passing away Wed Oct 13, 2021 (TSN file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

There is very little doubt about the player, broadcaster and great human being that Ray Fosse 74 was he grinded it out as a player and he did the same as a broadcaster up until his very last game that he called. Fosse who passed away on Wednesday was the A’s catcher who called and caught many historic games in his baseball career which included the A’s World Champion teams in 1973 and 1974.

Fosse’s baseball career spans from 1967-1972 with Cleveland, 1973-1975 Oakland, Cleveland 1976-1977, Seattle (1977) and finished his career in Milwaukee (1979). Fosse is most famously remembered for catching and dropping the ball in the 1970 All Star game when Cincinnati Reds and National Leaguer Pete Rose collided with Fosse at home to score the winning run. Fosse is in the top 100 players in the history of Cleveland Guardians history.

Fosse worked as an Oakland A’s broadcaster in both radio and TV from 1986 to 2021. Fosse on his last day of broadcasting at the A’s had to leave by medical assistance that’s how gritty he was he worked even when he was sick and no one knew he had cancer for 16 years. His radio broadcast colleague Ken Korach said “We never knew how bad it was and he was still working, it was incredible that he was working right up until this summer”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play lead announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Where could A’s move to if Howard Terminal fails?

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke on Tuesday regarding the future of the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays who are in need of brand new stadiums and where they could move to if they don’t get them in Oakland or Tampa Bay (ABC 7 News file photo)

By Charlie O

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred was in New York on Tuesday and was speaking and attending the CAA World Congress of Sports. He was asked about the stadium plans for Oakland and Tampa Bay that was provided via video by the Sports Business Journal.

Manfred admitted that the stadiums plans are at the critical point saying the Oakland Coliseum is in such poor condition, “particularly in the case of Oakland” Manfred said “we’ve had to open up the opportunity to explore other locations, just because it’s dragged on so long”

What are some of those locations? Manfred and Oakland A’s team president David Kaval have only explored Las Vegas and Kaval himself has made several trips to the Vegas South Nevada greater area looking at places just outside of Vegas like Henderson and mostly Summerlin home of the A’s triple A team the Aviators.

The list goes on of cities who want a MLB team either the Tampa Bay Rays who just were eliminated in the ALDS playoffs and the Oakland A’s who had a competitive season chasing the first place Houston Astros but failed to make post season.

Amongst those cities: New Orleans, Montreal, Indianapolis, Portland, Orlando, Nashville or Las Vegas. The list actually has more cities but these are the top places mentioned but Vegas being the most serious amongst those. What works against Vegas is that the community is “stadiumed out” having new stadiums for the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Aces, and the Las Vegas Raiders not to mention UNLV basketball. Also Las Vegas is the 39th ranked TV market in the country and Oakland is in the sixth largest TV market.

The city of Las Vegas will grow from a non big league market to a four team pro market with their top college basketball team UNLV. Nothing officially decided yet but word is to no ones surprise Vegas is the front runner for getting the A’s.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff said that nothing has changed and that it’s been frustrating getting the Howard Terminal agreement to get signed and agreed upon, “The commissioner remains very frustrated and impatient as am I about the progress toward locking down the Howard Terminal project.”

Schaff said that the next big move is when the Alameda County Board of Supervisors meet on Oct 26th to vote on using tax district dollars that would pay for the project and would help construct the surrounding infrastructure. Schaff said that the commissioner wants a total commitment for the developing and financing of affordable housing and public parks to make this a complete success and going forward with making the new A’s park a success.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: George C. Scott in a movie as Charlie O Finley

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George C. Scott in a Movie as Charlie O. Finley.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Decades before Hollywood brought to the screen Moneyball in 2011, a non-fiction book by Michael Lewis about the 2002 season under Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) the Oakland A’s almost had a movie made depicting the live and success of A’s owner Charlie O. Finley by actor George C. Scott.

The Oakland A’s are one of only two teams to have won three or more consecutive World Series in history The New York Yankees who won a total of a record 27 World Series, had these consecutive titles: 1936-39 (4) 1949-53 (5) and 1998-2000 (3). The Athletics won in 1972-73-74. Nobody (including the Yankees) have won more than 3 consecutive World Series since 2000.

According to Nancy Finley, whose uncle was Charlie O Finley, Charlie was informed that George C. Scott was going to play him in a 1977 film depicting the great success of the “Swinging A’s” of the early 70’s dynasty. However by 1977 when Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States, there was high inflation and slow economic growth in the country, and like Nancy Finley told me “funding for this movie was rescinded”.

Actor George C. Scott (1927-1999) was a great actor who won numerous awards and nominations in the US and internationally. Nominated in 1959 for Anatomy of a Murder, 1961 for The Hustler, won in 1970 for his great portrayal of US Army General George C. Patton and was nominated in 1971 for the movie The Hospital.

George C. Scott did not have a great concept of Hollywood. As a matter of fact asked that his name be withdrawn and never accepted the Oscar he won for Patton. He was a Hollywood outcast who called the Oscars (quote) “a two hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons” and (quote) “I respectfully request that you withdraw my name from the name of nominees”.

In the photo George C. Scott doing some ‘acting’ with a face showing displeasure as next to him Charlie O. Finley presented him with a small replica of an Oscar with a baseball. Who knows, Scott might have won another Oscar if he was nominated and won for the Charlie O. Finley A’s movie. Obviously we will never know and even if he had won it he would probably have not accepted.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com