10/12/2024
“How can you not be romantic about baseball”— MONEYBALL
This was my last view of the Oakland Coliseum as I looked back one final time from the Coliseum BART
station. The last time trudging across the pedestrian access bridge to and from the Coliseum to the Station,
still filled with fans who left the ballpark late this day…
This is my least favorite view of the “concrete cavern,” it’s least aesthetically appealing angle of the not so
affectionately nick-named “Mount Davis” after the late owner of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis. When I was a
young lad going to Athletics and Raiders games with my late Dad in the early 1970’s I loved that you could
see the Oakland hills off in the distance from where we typically sat in the west side of the coliseum, pre -
Mount Davis.
I remember my Dad gave me my first sips of beer at A’s and Raiders games and at the time wondering how
anyone could drink this stuff. I remember going to the local deli in Moraga and getting sandwiches and chips
and bringing them to the game when I wanted nothing but a hot dog instead. But my Dad insisted as it was
less expensive, and better for you; I didn’t appreciate it at the time.
I remember my Mom dropping me off at my Dad’s store in Oakland, Home Yardage, because he was taking
me to an Oakland A’s World Series game, we went to the Series each year the A’s were in: 1972, 1973, &
1974. They were glorious years. For one of the games we went walking through Oakland away from his store
and I didn’t know where we were going an he pointed down the stairs to the brand new subterranean
downtown BART station and he said, “We’re going down there, son.” As a young boy I was obsesses with
trains, and dinosaurs of course, and to have my first ride on BART and to a WORLD SERIES GAME was one
of the best days of my young life.
I remember Reggie Jackson hitting a dinger in one of the World Series games and a woman behind me
picked me up and kissed me. I remember the A’s mascot, the mule Charlie O, and of course I remember the
Ball Girls in their hot pants shorts made an impression. I remember the bright florescent colors of the A’s
player jerseys. I remember their handlebar mustaches. I remember Bill King announcing “Holy Toledo.” I
remember the crazy names of the A’s players: Bando, Rudi, Blue, Fingers, Hunter, Odom, Campaneris,
Tenace. I remember all the championships and didn’t know at the time in my youth how good I, and the city
of Oakland, had it.
I remember lining up all day with high school friends for general admission spots on the field to see The Who.
I remember working at Day On the Green concerts circa early 80’s building the stages at the Coliseum. I
remember standing backstage waiting for my shift to begin when Bill Graham and the band Journey walked
right by me - my ALMOST FAMOUS moment.
Of course I remember the Oakland Raiders. I remember James Garner on the sideline standing with Otis
Sistrunk and asking my Dad if he really did go to university on Mars. I remember the Sea Of Hands, I
remember Blanda surpassing 2,000 points, I remember how cool The Snake was. I remember the Hells
Angels attending the games and being mesmerized by their huge bikes.
Finally I remember the Oakland fans. Those fans who later in my adult life inspired FANATIC PROJECT and in
their dedication and enthusiasm motivated me to seek out sports fans of different sports in countries all over
the world in that ongoing love-letter to sports fans who I gratefully thank from the bottom of my heart to
allowing me to photograph them and share their fanaticism with all of you, the fans who follow my
photographic endeavor.
I will forever miss the coliseum, but at least I, we, have our memories, good and bad, sorrowful and ecstatic
of all the times we shared in that building together…
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