National reporters blast John Fisher over of A’s departure from Oakland

There are very few things that can unite voices across the media landscape. The A’s departure from Oakland is one of those few things.

With the A’s having played their final game at the Oakland Coliseum — a day that brought countless people to countless tears — national reporters and media personalities alike took to social media to express their discontent about the green and gold’s impending move to Sacramento. Here are several of the most prominent reactions via Twitter/X:

ESPN’s Jeff Passan: “The Oakland A’s were killed by greed. Do not allow the people responsible for this to spin it any other way. John Fisher did not have to move this team. Major League Baseball and its owners did not need to be complicit in it. This was a choice. A wrong one. History will sneer.”

The Athletic’s Evan Drellich: “Politicians across this entire country killed the Oakland A’s. John Fisher could have fully funded a stadium in Oakland. But he—and every other owner—feels entitled to hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. To free money. Your officials everywhere keep proving them right.”

The Score’s Travis Sawchik: “Born into generational wealth. Uses inherited wealth to buy hometown baseball team. Team’s value increases 7x in 20 years despite no investment. But it’s not enough. … When is it enough?”

SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt: “It’s not just the A’s leaving. It’s the complete abandonment of Oakland sports fans by their teams. The Raiders were fickle — leaving, coming back, then leaving again. The Warriors are still in the Bay, but there’s nothing Oakland about their new digs. And now this. Other cities have lost teams and it’s gutting, but to lose three is without precedent. You think Vegas is going to support the A’s? Come on.

“The passionate, emotional goodbyes from those who love the team are to be expected, but ask yourself this: Have you heard even a single, dissenting voice outside of Oakland? Anyone saying, ‘This is a great idea, you’ve got it all wrong, this John Fisher guy, you got it wrong, he’s a great guy.’ I haven’t. This, right here, this is just the worst of what sports can be. Heart goes out to you A’s fans.”

American political commentator Chris Hayes: “It’s weird to me that I find this as emotional as I do. I’m not from Oakland at all. Teams move. But man, it just feels like the fans and city were done so dirty and there’s so much amazing history being thrown in the trash.”

Author Joe Posnanski: “When you stop to think about how stupid, how utterly and bafflingly stupid, it is for the A’s to leave Oakland to play in a minor league park in Sacramento for at least three years in the increasingly less likely hope of someday being in Las Vegas, it really staggers the mind.”

The Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin: “Taking off my reporter’s cap for a moment to celebrate these two caps. As someone who was born in Montreal and spent many college days in the bleachers in Oakland, today hits hard.”

Sportscaster Howie Rose: “I’m just a bit too young to remember the Dodgers and Giants leaving New York, but watching today’s finale in Oakland really leaves you numb. Watching adults and kids in tears accentuates a 57 yr bond. I realize it’s a complicated issue, but they deserved so, so much better.”

FanGraphs’ Meg Rowley: “None of these fans, none of these players, ballpark workers, broadcasters, postgame guys – none of these people are done with Oakland. Shame on John Fisher and MLB for not giving them and future generations more A’s baseball.”

ESPN’s Buster Olney: “What remains a total mystery is why the other owners in baseball stand by as the A’s debacle plays out, and they don’t do anything. And the situation will continue to be an embarrassment for them all, as the team moves to a minor-league park. It’s mind-boggling.”

Céspedes Family BBQ: “For over 5 decades Oakland fans bought in. They spent money on tickets and gear. They left work early, waited in traffic. They made time to huddle around the TV. They made A’s baseball a big part of their lives. They cared. They bought in. And what did they get in return? They got screwed, ruthlessly. By forces beyond their control. By a heartless, shortsighted owner who just doesn’t get it. By a league who failed to ensure that pro baseball in the East Bay was being looked after, cared for.”