ClimbingSky

Why Baseball, Books, and the Grateful Dead matter

Oakland Athletics

  • Sometimes the Good Guys Win

    On September 9th, 1990, the OAKLAND Athletics beat the New York Yankees 7-3 to complete a twelve-game sweep of the Yankees that year. The season sweep was a first for the Yankees Sometimes the good guys win, even in baseball which like the economic system it exists in is, by definition, competitively imbalanced. In this Read more

  • Bert Campaneris

    On August 13th, 1962, Minor League infielder Bert Campaneris of Daytona Beach (Florida State League) pitched ambidextrously in a relief appearance. Bert Campaneris made 6 Major League All-Star Games over his 19-year career. As an OAKLAND Athletics fan growing up, he was one of my favorite players. I collected his cards and had a picture of him Read more

  • Walt Weiss

    On July 12th, 1987, Shortstop Walt Weiss played in his first Major League Game. I have said it here before, the most fun I have writing about baseball history on ClimbingSky is when I get to write about below-the-radar players that I think deserve to be more “remembered.” Walt Weiss is one of those kind Read more

  • The Bash Brothers

    On July 5th, 1987, Mark McGwire became the first rookie to hit 30 homers before the All-Star break and Jose Canseco homered twice, leading Oakland to a 6-3 victory over Boston The 1987 OAKLAND Athletics finished the season with a .500 record (81-81). But a year later they began a dynasty. In 1988, OAKLAND won 104 games and Read more

  • Mark McGwire

    On June 28th, 1987, Mark McGwire homered twice to tie a Major League record with five homers over two games as the OAKLAND Athletics beat Cleveland, 10-0. Mark McGwire won the 1987 American League Rookie of Year vote when he hit 49 HR. Born to hit homers (he hit 583 HR in his 16 year Read more

  • Fight the Man

    On June 4th, 1992, San Jose voters tell the Giants they don’t want them by rejecting a plan to build a new stadium in their town. Then the Astros add insult to injury by swatting the ball every which way in a 12-6 drubbing at Candlestick Park in front of just 8,850. Billionaires are a Read more

  • Catfish Hunter

    On May 13th, 1965, future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter pitched in his first Major League game for the then, Kansas City Athletics. I have read in a few places over the years that by some sabrmetrics Catfish Hunter does not really belong in the Hall of Fame. That is, of course, cow Read more

  • The End of an Era

    On April 28, 2024, the last Opening Day game for the Oakland Athletics took place between the then Oakland A’s and the Cleveland Guardians . I have been lucky enough to be in person for a few moments of Baseball History. All of them have been joyful occasions with the exception of this one, the Read more

  • Rickey

    Last week, a text from my friend Bob alerted me to the sad and surprising news that Rickey Henderson, “The Man of Steal,” was dead just a few days short of his 66th birthday. Here is my post from earlier this year occasioned by the death of another G.O.A.T. Read more

  • Last Day of the Regular Season

    Today is the last day of the regular season. It has been a great baseball season for me personally. I have been to Major League Parks, Minor League Parks, and Minnesota Townball Parks. Here is my 2024 Baseball Diary: 2024 BASEBALL DIARYMarch 28 – Oakland, California(LAST Opening Day for the Oakland A’s)Oakland Athletics 0–8 Cleveland Read more