The Sportsletter - A's for Effort: Oakland's Last Game ✌️

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 27, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

You did it, team. Another epic sports weekend awaits, and it’s the last before the greatest sports month on the calendar — October. We’re just one month away from the popular “sports equinox” where all five major American pro sports collide. So strap in and enjoy the ride.

Last night saw storylines break across the country. Derrick Rose hung it up after 16 seasons. The Cowboys beat the Giants in an injury-riddled NFC East fight. The Yankees and Dodgers officially clinched their divisions. But more timely and emotional than all of that was the scene in Oakland, a town now void of pro sports, with one final tip of the cap.

Letter Rip!

  MLB  

A's for Effort: Oakland Goes All Out ✌️

Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

On a Night Where the Yankees & Dodgers Clinched, Crazy Scenes from the A’s Emotional Oakland Finale Were Pure Chaos

Two of the most notable franchises in baseball officially clinched their divisions last night — Yankees and Dodgers — so how in the world are they not the top story? It just didn’t seem right. To ignore the scenes and emotions from the A’s last game in Oakland would have been journalistic malpractice. More than 44,000 emotional A’s fans packed the hallowed grounds of Oakland Coliseum last night for a sellout finale that remembered a storied 57-year history. There were beach balls, smoke bombs, and enough tears to go around. One by one, fans rushed the field throughout the night. They were escorted accordingly by security, but they didn’t stop. Catchy signs, both bitter and sweet, were found in every row. By night’s end, Mason Miller came on in the 9th inning to strike out two and force a ground-out for a win over the Rangers (3-2). All’s well that ends well.

Remembering 57 Years of A’s Baseball

The A’s have won nine World Series titles and 15 AL pennants, but you wouldn’t know it if you’re under the age of 34. Four of those World Series titles came in Oakland over the last 57 years (since 1968), but they all happened before 1990. Only the Yankees (7) have more World Series titles than the A’s (4) in the last 57 years. Some of the team’s iconic Oakland moments played on the big screen before manager Mark Kotsay — who’s spent 14 years with the organization as a player and coach — delivered the heartfelt sendoff after the game. The last sports team to call Oakland home is now gone.

Oakland Exodus (Recent Franchise Moves)

• Warriors (Oakland—San Francisco, 2019)
• Raiders (Oakland—Las Vegas, 2019)
• Athletics (Oakland—Las Vegas, 2024)

Next Stop Vegas

Most of our audience is probably keen to the team’s upcoming move, but we won’t make assumptions. The franchise is moving to Las Vegas with plans for a new stadium to be constructed by the start of the 2028 season. Their lease at the Coliseum ends this year, so they’ll play the next three seasons at West Sacremento’s Sutter Health Park. From Philadelphia (1901) to Kansas City (1955) and Oakland (1969) to Las Vegas (2028), the A’s will have had the most homes of any MLB franchise, ever.

Watch: A’s Beat Rangers (3-2) in Oakland Sendoff

More MLB Scores in Today's "Highlights" Section

Read More

NBC: With A’s Last Game, Oakland Says Goodbye to Professional Sports

SI: A’s Fans Hold Onto Old Memories, New Keepsakes in Team’s Farewell to Oakland

Yahoo! Sports: A’s, Fans Say Goodbye With Tributes, Memories in Final Game at Coliseum

  NFL  

Cowboys Survive NFC East Bloodbath

Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images

Cowboys Hold Off Giants (20-15) in Bounce Back Win, But Both Teams Lose Star Players to Injury

Last night’s Thursday Night Football clash was an NFC East dogfight. An early-season “must-win” game for two 1-2 teams had some exciting moments, but this was an all-out war of attrition with injuries and penalty flags galore. The Cowboys held off the Giants (20-15) thanks to a game-ending interception on a late Hail Mary. Dallas bounced back from a two-game skid to get back to .500 (2-2) while the Giants fell to 1-3. But the real story was key injuries to star players.

NFC East War of Attrition: Both Cowboys DE Micah Parsons and Giants WR Malik Nabers were injured on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter. Parsons suffered an ankle injury and was carted off the field. Nabers got a concussion and walked off on his own. No team in the NFC East is unbeaten through three-plus weeks, and they’re all decimated by injuries. The Commanders might be the healthiest at the moment.

Current NFC East Standings: Eagles (2-1), Commanders (2-1), Cowboys (2-2), Giants (1-3)

QB Comparison

D. Prescott (DAL): 22/27, 221 yards, 2 TDs

D. Jones (NYG): 29/40, 281 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT

Top Performers

WR M. Nabers (NYG): 12 catches, 115 yards

WR C. Lamb (DAL): 10 touches, 106 yards, 1 TD

WR W. Robinson (NYG): 11 catches, 71 yards

Watch: Cowboys Bounce Back, Survive Giants in New York on TNF (20-15)

Read More

Sporting News: NFL Fans, Al Michaels Vent Frustrations Over Flag-Happy Crew on TNF

NBC Sports: Micah Parsons & Malik Nabers Both Exit With Injuries on Thursday Night Football

  PICK 'EM  

NFL Pick 'Em (Week 4)

Play The Sportsletter’s NFL Pick ‘Em

Takes Approximately 60 Seconds

  NBA  

Farewell, D-Rose 🌹

Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Derrick Rose, Once the Youngest MVP in NBA History, Retires After 16 Seasons

After 16 up-and-down seasons, and numerous show-stopping highlights, veteran point guard Derrick Rose hung it on Thursday. Rose spent the first half of his career (eight seasons) with the Bulls before bouncing between the Knicks, Timberwolves, and three other teams in his twilight years. The 2011 MVP made the announcement Thursday with an Instagram post and a newspaper ad. In fact, he paid for six different "thank you" ads for fans in local papers across each of the six cities he played in. That's remarkable.

🌹 Rose in Review

In 2011, Rose became the youngest player in NBA history to win the MVP award when he led the Bulls to the best record in the league (62-20). That was two years removed from winning Rookie of the Year. He went to the All-Star Game in each of those first three seasons, but his promising career took a drastic turn. In 2012, Rose suffered an ACL tear that altered his Hall of Fame trajectory. He never returned to All-Star status, and he was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

In many ways, Rose’s career embodies the greatest “what could have been” in NBA history. Farewell, D-Rose. You earned your flowers. I still get chills from that old D-Rose Powerade Commercial... "We're all just a kid from somewhere."

Read More

NBA: Chicago Son to Chicago Legend: Derrick Rose Says Goodbye to Basketball

Sporting News: Derrick Rose Hall of Fame Odds: MVP’s Injury History Makes for Complicated Case

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

⚾️ MLB

Dodgers Clinch 11th NL West Title in 12 Seasons

Dodgers def. Padres (7-2), 7 Runs in Last 2 Innings

Yankees Crush Orioles to Clinch AL East Crown

Yankees def. O’s (10-1), Aaron Judge Hits 58th HR

ChiSox Avoid Loss Record With 3rd Straight ‘W’

White Sox def. Angels (7-0), Cling to 120 Losses

All MLB Scores & Highlights

⛳️ Golf (Presidents Cup)

U.S. Sweeps Round 1 Fourball Matches (5-0)

U.S. Has Won 9 Straight Presidents Cups

🏈 College Football

Army Routs Temple in Run-Game Runaway (42-14)

QB Bryson Daily (3 TDs), Team Runs for 417 Yards

  STORYLINES   

🏈 The Georgia-Alabama Preview

It’s a big one in the SEC. No. 2 Georgia heads to No. 4 Alabama for a Saturday night showdown in Tuscaloosa, and the rivalry looks a little different. There’s no Nick Saban, but a top-five clash with historic tensions remains. (NBC Sports)

⚾️ MLB Awards Predictions

Any surprises left in the Cy Young, MVP, Rookie of the Year or manager voting? With just a few days left of the MLB regular season, almost every category seems locked up. If the votes don’t go rogue, these will be your 2024 award winners. (CBS Sports)

🏈 The NFL’s Passing Decline

For years, the aerial attack was seemingly on an unstoppable, upward trajectory. The unfathomable has happened, as the leaguewide trend of increased production through the air has suddenly hit a downturn. (Sports Illustrated)

  NEWS   📰 

🏀 Chicago Sky Fire Head Coach Teresa Weatherspoon After 1st Season (CBS Sports)

🏈 Ex-Vikings QB Tommy Kramer, Inspired by Brett Favre, Says He Has Dementia (FOX Sports)

🥊 UFC Reaches $375 Million Settlement in Antitrust Lawsuit (ESPN)

🏁 Daniel Ricciardo to Leave RB Formula 1 Team, Replaced by Liam Lawson (B/R)

⚽️ Manchester City Secure ‘Significant Victory’ in Legal Battle Against Premier League (Yahoo! Sports)

⚽️ Gio Reyna Could Return to USMNT Ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s Debut (SI)

🏈 Oregon Flips 5-Star Offensive Lineman Douglas Utu From Tennessee (ESPN)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

Fall sports are in high gear before we turn the page to October. The weekend watch list is… uh… huge. If you’re a college football fan, grab some couch and sign up for a non-stop Saturday. Here’s what we’ll be watching (trying to) this weekend.

🏈 College Football (Week 5)

Virginia Tech at #7 Miami (Fri. 7:30 pm, ESPN)

Kentucky at #6 Ole Miss (Sat. Noon, ABC)

Minnesota at #12 Michigan (Sat. Noon, FOX)

Wisconsin at #13 USC (Sat. 3:30 pm, CBS)

#15 Louisville at #16 Notre Dame (Sat. 3:30 pm, Peacock)

#21 Oklahoma at Auburn (Sat. 3:30 pm, ABC)

Arkansas at #24 Texas A&M (Sat. 3:30 pm, ESPN)

Mississippi State at #1 Texas (Sat. 4:15 pm, SECN)

#3 Ohio State at Michigan State (Sat. 7:00 pm, Peacock)

Stanford at #17 Clemson (Sat. 7:00 pm, ESPN)
#2 Georgia at #4 Alabama (Sat. 7:30 pm, ABC)

#19 Illinois at #9 Penn State (Sat. 7:30 pm, NBC)

#8 Oregon at UCLA (Sat. 11:00 pm, FOX)

🏈 NFL (Week 4)

Saints at Falcons (Sun. 1:00 pm, FOX)

Vikings at Packers (Sun. 1:00 pm, CBS)

Steelers at Colts (Sun. 1:00 pm, CBS)

Chiefs at Chargers (Sun. 4:25 pm, CBS)

Bills at Ravens (Sun. 8:20 pm, NBC)

Full NFL Week 4 Schedule

⚾️ MLB (Wild Card Watch List)

Royals at Braves (3 Game Series)

Orioles at Twins (3 Game Series)

Mets at Brewers (3 Game Series)

Padres at Diamondbacks (3 Game Series)

A’s at Mariners (3 Game Series)

Full MLB Schedule

⛳️ Presidents Cup

Rounds 2-5 (Friday-Sunday, NBC/Golf Channel)

🏀 WNBA Playoffs (Semifinals)

G1: Aces at Liberty (Sun. 3:00 pm, ABC)

G1: Sun at Lynx (Sun. 8:30 pm, ESPN)

⚽️ Soccer

GER: Bayern vs. Leverkusen (Sat. 12:30 pm, ESPN+)

EPL: Man. United vs. Tottenham (Sun. 11:30 am, NBC)

SPA: Atletico vs. Real Madrid (Sun. 3:00 pm, ESPN+)

MLS: FC Cincinnati vs. LAFC (Sat. 7:30 pm, AppleTV)

MLS: NY Red Bulls vs. NYCFC (Sat. 7:30 pm, AppleTV)

🏁 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

Hollywood Casino 400 (Sun. 3:00 pm, USAN)

*All Times ET

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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