The Death of Oakland Baseball: A History of A's Ownership

[@leonardsr.1389]

MLB allowing Fisher to move to a smaller market just to stay on revenue sharing is bad for business. My family is done with baseball the moment they move

[@stevenleighton97]

Same here, everyone close to me thats into baseball feels the same as well.

[@mrdpdjr]

My family too Heartbreaking

[@AbeFromanSKC]

This is very similar to the ownership group of Clay Bennett who moved the Seattle SuperSonics to OKC. Took them a lot longer than Bennetts group. I feel for A’s fans, I saw a game there and the stadium is a dump. I grew up an A’s fan as my hometown was the AAA club for the A’s. What’s happening is wrong for baseball and absolutely awful for Oakland and A’s fans everywhere.

[@paulamcdonald5446]

Same here, MLB is dead to me. My son, Kid Stomper, is eager to become a Ballers fan and see Scrappy (though of course we will love Stomper forever, at least “our” Stomper). I was born and raised in Hayward, graduated from UC Davis and have lived in Sacramento for 20 years, where I started my career at Aerojet, a local rocket company that was in rancho cordova for over 80 years, then moved almost all of it’s business and manufacturing to Huntsville Alabama, for many reasons but the primary one was to boost value in order to sell to someone else. The trade commission blocked our sale to Lockheed Martin but eventually sold for a higher price to L3Harris. I still work there but we are merely a shell of what we once were. Sound familiar?

[@kgroves17]

This documentary was phenomenal. Watching it completely changed my perspective on the A’s relocation. As an outsider and casual baseball fan, I honestly thought the A’s just didn’t have local support and that ownership was trying to put the team in a better position. I was 100% wrong. I can’t believe how bad the A’s ownership is and how horrible they’ve been to the fans for years and years. I have mad respect for A’s fans and will be cheering you all on!

[@stevenleighton97]

That is great to hear! These are the comments I love to see! It’s never too late for someone to learn what us A’s fans have had to go through. While I don’t expect every person to sit through all 3 hours of this, I feel like every single person would be on the side of A’s fans if they knew even just 1/50th of what us A’s fans have had to put up with. So glad you enjoyed it and took something away from it!

[@RBoaz]

This was a really good documentary and needs to be made into a feature film. My wife and I traveled to Oakland for the last series against Texas. I loved meeting the fans. They were friendly and welcoming to two South Carolina travelers. I remember rooting for The Swingin' A's during their 1970s dynasty (I still have the refrigerator magnet to prove it). What a great team with so many special memories. I'll miss the Oakland A's.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@RBoaz thank you for your kind words!

[@lisalanza8365]

You did a wonderful job researching this history. Let's make it go viral!!

[@stevenleighton97]

@@lisalanza8365 thank you!

[@deepaccc69]

Shows how this franchise has tried to leave since the late 90’s. Playing Oakland and the fans like fiddles since then with lies and BS. Fisher and Kaval are snakes.

[@stevenleighton97]

Yep, A’s fans and Oakland never had a chance. Relocation has been the #1 goal for the last 2 ownership groups.

[@mrdpdjr]

@@stevenleighton97this is exactly why this should be stopped. Fisher was sent to do this. How can this be allowed 😡

[@stevenleighton97]

@@mrdpdjr unfortunately in this country billionaires seem to be able to do pretty much whatever they want

[@paganjew0108]

Don't forget that they attempted to leave in 1978, with Finley sold the team to Marvin Davis, but the sale was struck down by Bowie Kuhn.

[@darrenkuhlman6777]

Thanks for all your hard work. Truly amazing video. Any owner that votes yes to relocation has zero shame.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! I hope the list of owners who vote yes on relocation is made public for everyone to see.

[@ronclark9724]

Well EVERY team DID vote to RELOCATE the A's.... EVERY one... As DID the commissioner and the MLB players association...

[@WILDCATDJ]

Listened to this whole thing at work, love what you did man! Amazing work!!

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaelbacchiocchi8111]

I honestly was only mildly aware of this situation. I had my doubts about profitability given the product on the field but your commitment to provide such in-depth information and historic timeline has given me a new perspective. Hope your efforts are rewarded by keeping the team you love in Oakland.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@michaelbacchiocchi8111 thanks for the kind words!

[@paulstamp7586]

You're the man, Steven! Great job recapping the order of events and how they unfolded. Oakland A's fans are the most creative, passionate and driven fans in the world. I've never seen a fan base do what A's fans do, from making documentaries, creating merchandise brands like LDB and organizing a highly attended Fans Fest earlier this year. Wow is all I can say. Be proud A's fans. All you ever wanted was to be shown the same loyalty and love in return. Sadly it never came. Forever Oakland.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@paulstamp7586 thanks Paul!! Glad you enjoyed it! And well said, every word! OAKLAND FOREVER!!!!!!

[@ronclark9724]

The Oakland A's bandwagon fans didn't do one thing, show up in enough numbers to support the team... That is why ALL of your major league teams LEFT. The Golden Seals, the Warriors, the Raiders, and the A's... We shall see whether the Roots can draw 20 thousand fans too soon...

[@stevenleighton97]

@@ronclark9724 say what you want about A’s fans, but Warriors and Raiders fans in Oakland were known as some of the best fans in sports! You don’t know what you’re talking about! And bringing the Golden Seals into this is an unbelievable stretch!!

[@thedude3065]

My favorite baseball player of all time was a man named AJ Kirby-Jones. He played for my local Burlington Bees before Manfred removed them from Single-A. He never made it to the MLB but that didn't matter to me, because when I saw him play, he always made sure I would remember it. One day I got a package. A souvenir. An autographed hat of the team whose system he was in, and a message of gratitude for supporting him. I got more Cub hats than I can keep track of, but this autographed Oakland Athletics hat, is the favorite of them all, even despite small fit. John J Fisher wishes to taint this memory, incentivized by his greed alone. He may own the franchise, but AJ was the one who grew my love for the game. He may own the franchise, but dont mistake that for him caring. The day he dies, I will fucking celebrate it.

[@frankperricone4810]

The fact that Selig is in the HOF is a disgrace.

[@stevenleighton97]

Absolutely. He has no place in the HOF.

[@jesselangham]

This was really a well researched video. I had only part of the picture before this, now I get all the facets. I was in the Treehouse during the first reverse boycott and I knew in my heart this would be my last game. It was a great game, but I will never watch an Mlb game again if they leave.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you! I’m glad I was able to teach you a few things. I just want every A’s fan to have the full story so we can be well prepared when trolls try the “Oakland’s fault” and “A’s fans never showed up” arguments. I’m also hoping to get other fanbases to watch this as well. I’m with you, I’m done with MLB if they leave.

[@thedude3065]

The only green and gold that gaslighter cares about is the kind that affects his bank account Trevor May was SPOT ON with everything he said #FisherOut

[@stevenleighton97]

Agreed. I would have loved to add Trevor’s comments to this video, but unfortunately the project was practically done when they came out. Trevor May is an Oakland legend!

[@BillyMac-ys9ni]

Amazing work! Extremely thorough and I learned a lot. Keep up the good work man!

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you!

[@dorothygale1104]

I echo all the comments about this video being a great and comprehensive documentary. Your work is an important documentation of the decimation of a proud baseball tradition by a small, spineless dreg of a person, John Fisher, who has never created or operated anything of value in his sorry life. Fisher was born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a triple and is the definition of all the worst qualities of those with wealth. You did an excellent job of detailing Fishers immorality by simply stating the facts of what has transpired during Fisher’s ownership of the A’s. The facts indict Fisher’s immorality. Congratulations on this excellent film and Thank You for your exceptional work.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the compliments!

[@527Izzy]

Oh my God, this was EVERYTHING. Thank you for taking the time to do the research and gather the information. Frickin beautiful, man! #OaklandForever 💚

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I wanted to make sure I had included every last detail.

[@527Izzy]

@stevenleighton97 I apologize for taking so long to watch. I've already reached out to others, making sure they've viewed it. The truth must be told!

[@stevenleighton97]

@@527Izzy hey, no worries! I’m sure a lot of people have never heard of the video, and even if they have, it’s a long one! I don’t blame anyone for taking a while to watch it. Thank you for sharing it with others! The more people that know the story, the better!

[@ffjxc1]

Thought it was fantastic. If you could make an "Executive Summary" & send it to every MLB ownership group that would be fantastic. I think 3+ hours is a bit long for that audience who will vote on the move.

[@stevenleighton97]

That’d be a great idea, although I’d argue that those voting probably wouldn’t even want to watch a 30 second video on the subject. I don’t think billionaires will ever listen to anyone that they perceive as being below them.

[@justinaguilar2344]

Hell, look at what Trevor May had to say on the day he announced retirement. Love him for that. Didn't cookie cut ANYTHING about Fisher

[@stevenleighton97]

Trevor May is forever an Oakland legend for those comments!

[@brentduanefoster]

Yeah, Trev established his legend in Oakland after that.

[@paulamcdonald5446]

I deeply regret not becoming aware of this Masterpiece Master Class sooner. My deepest gratitude for the humans like you in the world! The only way I can truly heal from this is to remind myself to push myself to uncover people like this and fight for more common good in our world. We can all do it as long as we dig our heels in and do the work.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@paulamcdonald5446 thank you and well said!

[@RobRochon]

No level of government should ever subsidize major professional sports teams or organizations period. People and corporations who want to support are free to support out of their own pocket. It is stupid for government to support organizations owned by billionaires who employ millionaires and pay all the support staff peanuts.

[@troyhoffman6012]

Bud Selig was behind most of this garbage. He’s the gift that keeps on giving

[@stevenleighton97]

Yep, A’s probably would’ve had a new stadium in Oakland by the early 2000s if he had never been commissioner.

[@santiagoandujar2518]

...And to think he got into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. If they can't kick him out, open a new "wing" in Cooperstown...THE HALL OF SHAME. He's in on HIS FIRST BALLOT INTO THERE!!

[@brentduanefoster]

Yeah, he's complete trash. Biased towards San Francisco the whole time.

[@michaelleroy9281]

@@stevenleighton97 And that same Bud wanted to close out 2 teams

[@Thetitwrench]

Selig is true worm!

[@Avamaria2526]

This the best history of the Oakland A’s that I have ever read or heard! Kudos! Wow what research and this should be concerted to a documentary!

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you for the compliment!

[@craigpeters791]

Great video. Listened to this entire thing while working. Super informative and hits all the points

[@stevenleighton97]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@J-Roy]

Well done. This must have taken hours and hours to do.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thanks man! Always loved your streak video

[@J.robertfrick]

Great video, brother. I hope others see this and get the real story. I’m never interested in playing the victim, but our team and its fans have been beaten down and disrespected for too long

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you! Thats my hope too, because theres too many people out there blaming us fans still. I want other fanbases to see what we’ve had to endure.

[@AllMenAreBrothers.D]

Really a fantastic documentary, too much to compliment you on. But the insight into the political machinations and personal profiles without pulling punches are so commendable. Thank you for the time you put into this.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you, appreciate the compliments!

[@bradleyminoski2020]

Great documentary and as someone who’s a non-As fans you really go into detail to how we got to this train wreck known as relocating to Vegas.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@bradleyminoski2020 thank you!

[@willshipp7339]

Extremely comprehensive look at the corruption of MLB and John Fischer… they deserve to lose their anti trust exemption and I hope they make a sequel to moneyball… this time with a happy ending!!! #Sell Looking forward to the summer of sell documentary too!

[@stevenleighton97]

Glad you enjoyed it! Hoping for a miracle that the owners vote no on relocation, but if they don’t, hopefully that is the final push needed for MLB to lose the antitrust exemption.

[@ronclark9724]

@@stevenleighton97 You do know that if MLB loses its anti-trust exemption prices for tickets will SKYROCKET beyond most fans ability to pay... If you think they are HIGH now, wait to you get what you want...

[@theblackhood4812]

As a former lifelong A’s fan, thank you for making this.

[@stevenleighton97]

You’re welcome! I know my video is long, but I feel like someone needed to make a video that included EVERYTHING A’s ownership has done and that A’s fans have had to endure.

[@theblackhood4812]

That “9 acre” rendering component though is undoubtedly one of the biggest straight to the public’s faces lies told before the vote went down, and all these voters owners still voted in favor of the con artists🤣😭😞

[@stevenleighton97]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@theblackhood4812yep, and now they’re saying they want to model it after Globe Life Field, which not only is a ballpark that people don’t really like, but it also sits on 13 acres, not 9!

[@rudedude985]

Great documentary. Be sure to update this when more news and information come out. Like the move to Sacramento and John fisher saying about Aaron Judge hitting home runs and not mentioning anyone on the A’s.

[@rudedude985]

Also how the city sold its half of the site.

[@ElvisSinatraJr]

This is really good stuff. Hey Fisher...SELL!!!!!!

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you!

[@ronclark9724]

Why would Fisher sell without a NEW STADIUM doubling the value of the A's? He might not be all that bright, but he isn't STUPID!

[@stevenleighton97]

@@ronclark9724 you’re just all over these comments defending John Fisher, aren’t you? Sorry man, he doesn’t know who you are, but he’s happy his boots are now shiny and clean!

[@RUNPMC]

Thank you for such a great video on this matter! Being a lifelong A’s fan it saddens me to see them leave. Only 2 weeks until the final home game

[@stevenleighton97]

@@RUNPMC glad you enjoyed it! Yep, it’s hard to accept we’re almost at the end.

[@RUNPMC]

@@stevenleighton97 Yes so many good memories from there with family. Most vibrant one was being able to attend game 1 of the 2003 ALDS vs Boston with my Dad, Hudson vs Pedro Martinez, walk off bunt by Ramon Hernandez to score Chavez in the 12th. The A’s will be sorely missed and I truly don’t think I will watch or follow the MLB really anymore

[@stevenleighton97]

@@RUNPMC I’m with you. I’m done with MLB.

[@RUNPMC]

@@stevenleighton97 If I’m being honest before this video I wasn’t as informed as I should’ve been throughout this time, but seeing how the MLB and A’s ownership worked together for decades to block the A’s staying in Oakland makes me not want to support them in anyway. The steel corporation at Howard terminal revelation in your video was very telling and how some Nevada legislators flipped within a few hours just highlights a few backroom deals that went on, who knows how many occurred that we don’t know about. Anyways, thank you for this! I hope you enjoy the last 2 weeks.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@RUNPMC thank you! It’s insane how many groups actively worked to undermine Oakland here. Nobody wanted the A’s in Oakland except Oakland and A’s fans. Everyone else was working to get the A’s out of here. Incredibly sad. And it’s also very sad that people out there blame A’s fans and the city.

[@Gnarly_Rc]

Thanks you so much for the time you put in to this informative video!!

[@stevenleighton97]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed it! Just doing what I can do help correct the narrative.

[@JernEye]

@brodiebrazil have you seen this doc??

[@HarryV96]

@CaseyPrattCreations

[@MikeSuth4040]

I’ve been an A’s fan since the late 90s. And I didn’t realize how many ownerships completely shitted on the fans. Not mention Bud Selig’s political posturing and big talk.. to talk bad about the A’s, declining certain ownership groups because he hated the A’s so much. Man, this team can’t get a break.

[@stevenleighton97]

Yep, I don’t think any fans have had it worse with owners than us A’s fans have.

[@josealeman4890]

Wow this explains a lot. I knew some of the history but this is very detailed. Thanks man 👍🏼

[@stevenleighton97]

No problem! My goal is to educate everyone as much as possible with this video. There are lots of common misconceptions out there about all of this.

[@HeavyC78]

Great piece!! Always knew Selig was in on it with Fisher. Then Selig tells Manfruad to see the process through.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@meekoolini]

Great video, Sir. I just subscribed to your channel. Awesome knowledge of my favorite baseball team the Oakland A's.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@meekoolini thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for subscribing!

[@meekoolini]

@stevenleighton97 Yes Sir, I have to check out the rest of the A's videos. I will watch every Oakland Athletics video you complete. Please do more videos on the seasons like you done for the 2012 and 2018 Oakland Athletics seasons . I will make sure I watch it and give it the like 👍🏿 button.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@meekoolini thank you!!

[@JeffroGraham-Massengill]

His name was pronounced "Bouy" not Bowie Kowne, I may have even misspelled his last name! But I am 55 urs old andd I remember ole' "Bouy" ask around! Other than that you are great writer and and hopefully a baseball fan and that's alright with me! I was a full-time Groundskeeper with the Baltimore Orioles for the 2000 season and got to set up the batting cages for each homegames, and got to watch the guys hit from right behind the cage! And shag balls with them ect... Cal Ripken retired the next year It was definitely a very fun experience but a very hard job, tons of hours. great job young man...

[@stevenleighton97]

@@JeffroGraham-Massengill my apologies! He was commissioner well before I was born so I don’t think I’d ever heard his name pronounced before. That’s an awesome baseball experience it sounds like you had! What a great story to be able to tell. And thank you!

[@KnightlyNerds]

As a Vegas native I can tell you most locals don't want to take the As away from Oakland nor do we want to deal with the ownership. But many desperately want a team and are afraid MLB won't let us get an expansion team, something we'd much rather have. So here we are.

[@stevenleighton97]

I just feel like MLB is really blowing this opportunity in Vegas if they continue with force-feeding the A’s there. Its not just that its a team that isn’t original to Vegas, but its perhaps one of the most unpopular teams you could possibly have relocated. A’s fans have been alienated by ownership since 1995. I feel like Vegas would still get an expansion team even if this deal were to fall through.

[@dayolddoughnuts4031]

Blatant lie…..I know many who want it and when the shiny new ballpark renderings are revealed along with the PR to the area blitzing with positives, you know as well as I do that excitement will overcome.

[@stevenleighton97]

⁠@@dayolddoughnuts4031no, I actually don’t. Sorry. As I said in the video, there’ll be a honeymoon phase, but once everyone realizes what kind of owner John Fisher is, enjoy being 30th in attendance!

[@brentduanefoster]

@@stevenleighton97Some of these Vegas/Fisher trolls really give off "We can change them" energy when it comes to this.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@brentduanefoster they’ll find out soon enough that people like him never change.

[@NeiJiaQuanBook]

SELL THE TEAM!

[@stevenleighton97]

Hoping for a miracle and that the owners vote no, because if they did, Fisher might be backed into a corner enough that he has to sell the team.

[@heynowls3058]

Thanks. Well done. As a Yankee fan, who always liked the A’s way back to Reggie… this sucks. F Fisher.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@heynowls3058 thank you! FJF!

[@gboyce975]

Incredible video. My big takeaway is that Fisher has had high cover from both commissioners during his tenure as owner. Almost seems like hes conducting himself exactly as they wish. MLB does not want anorher franchise in the bay area, for whatever reason. I have no confidence Vegas will ever happen, and the Sacramento deal seems to be on shaky ground. I feel this story is far from over.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@gboyce975glad you enjoyed it! You’re right, still a lot of the story left to tell!

[@BobGlassett]

I didn’t realize that all owners except for Haas tried to move the team! Horrible ownership!

[@stevenleighton97]

Most people aren’t! In the 42 non-Haas years of the A’s in Oakland, only 6 of those years WEREN’T spent on trying to relocate the team.

[@Emancipatriot]

Wow! I’ve never even been to Oakland I have been following Brodie brazils channel for about a year now . I had no idea how deep and far the incompetence of this club goes. You guys deserve better. Ideally , the As move and you get a new team. This team will never be successful with this ownership. As a Chicago Bears fan I can definitely relate to that last sentiment.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you for your support of Oakland fans! Yes, since it seems unlikely Fisher will sell, an expansion team almost seems better at this point than the A’s staying, although, its very unlikely MLB gives us an expansion team. They want to be done with Oakland.

[@Emancipatriot]

@@stevenleighton97keep up the good work . Great research you did here.

[@mrdpdjr]

We want the ATHLETICS. The OAKLAND ATHLETICS Lv should get an expansion team.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@Emancipatriot thank you!

[@ronclark9724]

@@mrdpdjr Why do you desire to keep the A's with Fisher as its owner? Better to go the expansion route, ask Kansas City concerning Charlie O. Finley. Of course the main difference with Kansas City is that when they LOST the A's they quickly paid for the construction of TWO NEW STADIUMS, one for the Chiefs and one for a expansion team. Without a NEW STADIUM, the AL would NOT have awarded KC with a expansion team... Apparently Oakland WON"T build a NEW STADIUM... Ask the Warriors, Raiders, A's, and the Golden Seals...

[@sdeepj]

The Golden Knights is owned by the opposite of Fisher. Bill Foley is an owner who made himself available to anyone who wants to talk to him. He’s been a public figure before the NHL announced they’ll be expanding. Also he is knows for not afraid of pulling the trigger when it comes to getting big name players. Hockey fans hate the way the Knights exploited LTIR, which prevents injured players’ salaries counting against the cap. The Knights success is a result of an owner who loves the team, respects the fans, and wants the team to succeed

[@stevenleighton97]

Exactly. Having owners who are committed to winning while being transparent and not extorting hundreds of millions of tax dollars is huge. Additionally, the Golden Knights being an expansion team original to Vegas, who also happened to be Vegas’s first pro sports team, has endeared them to the community. The A’s have no shot of even being in the same stratosphere as the Golden Knights.

[@MikeHunt-fx9rg]

The whole situation is just strange. Fisher buys the team wants out of Oakland strips the team to relocate to the smaller market in Vegas, but the Vegas plan is half assed and not even confirmed and now they’re playing in Sacramento at a minor league ball park. How the MLB and the owners are ok with this baffles me. Especially due to the revenue hits the A’s have been taking since they gutted the team and killed their local fan support.

[@stevenleighton97]

Yep, it’s a TERRIBLE look for MLB. They may be starting to regret going out of their way to defend and help John Fisher.

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Saying Vegas is a “smaller market” is misleading, Vegas has more people in the city proper than Oakland and they have over 120k tourists staying in hotels EVERY DAY. I hate that the A’s are moving but let’s not act like there was more money on the table in Oakland than Las Vegas.

[@RRAMOS95076]

Great work Steven.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@RRAMOS95076 thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@AbeFromanSKC]

Absolutely amazing doc, thank you. My heart breaks for A’s fans and MLB baseball fans. Fisher should sell the damn team. Reminds me of the Seattle SuperSonics move to OKC. Absolute snakes at the highest levels of all pro sports. All about fans MONEY, not fans.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! Yep, the Sonics move from Seattle is right up their with the A’s relocation, the Colts leaving Baltimore, the Browns leaving Cleveland, the Chargers leaving San Diego, and the Rams leaving St. Louis. All were absolute crimes and its disturbing how these billionaires all got their way. Almost want to include the Raiders, but the A’s actually played an enormous role in pushing them out of Oakland. Ironic that the A’s slogan was “rooted in Oakland”, and they uprooted both themselves and the Raiders out of Oakland.

[@michaelleroy9281]

As far as the Sonics go the owner at the time shouldn't have sold the team to a group from OKC

[@AbeFromanSKC]

@@michaelleroy9281 very true, Howard Shultz is a complete idiot when it comes to basketball, he was a terrible owner as well

[@jasonrazon8379]

Lol sounds like the plot of Major League around the 4:00 mark. If attendance falls below a million the team can relocate

[@stevenleighton97]

I like to think that A's owners prior to the release of the movie Major League inspired the movie, and A's owners after the release of the movie were inspired by the movie. Other than Walter Haas, A's owners have been absolutely dreadful.

[@atommy4625]

Great piece on Fisher, MLB, NV/LV corruption. Fast forward to April of 2024, and unfortunately, the recent event of A's relocating to Sacramento has happened which I believe all but seals their fate, even if LV fall apart. Best chance for Oakland is expansion and ONLY under a new mayor and commissioner, a fresh start

[@frankiecastelloncaps]

This is a great documentary.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jennalewis3916]

Wow…. Extremely well put together ✌🏼👏🏼 SELL THE TEAM!!!

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you!

[@outrlmts1879]

Why do we even let people like this have money. They all need to be in prison

[@eyelash6774]

Those 2018-2019 A's teams could've been iconic had they kept the core, even though the A's have a history of moving Vegas is the wrong spot at the wrong time, especially since the city was more than willing to work with such a corrupt owner

[@stevenleighton97]

Absolutely. Howard Terminal was there had Fisher really wanted it, but he didn’t, so he ran away from the negotiating table like a coward.

[@jcorona984]

Shit like this is why I consider Bud Selig to be far more bad and evil a commissioner than Rob Manfred.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@jcorona984 Bud Selig is probably one of the worst commissioners in the history of pro sports.

[@ljhealthfitness]

Thank you for this video... took all the words out of my mouth... it was never about a waterfront stadium, otherwise why move to the desert. They just don't want to be in Oakland... but Oakland wants the A's.... just not John "The Scam" Fisher.

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! Exactly, there doesn’t seem to be much out there to suggest Fisher ever wanted to actually stay in Oakland. We obviously cannot take his word for it, as he’d lied about everything during this entire process.

[@danturner3871]

Appreciate this thank you

[@stevenleighton97]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it! Just trying to get every part of the story told for everyone to hear!

[@KBB4eva]

Reggie and others should’ve had their team as owners. The good ol Boy club won’t allow black owners in baseball

[@brentduanefoster]

Yeah, you can thank Bud Selig for that block job. He chose to sell to his Frat brother (or College friend, at least), Lew Wolff, and we all see how that's panned out.

[@ronclark9724]

Charlie Pride owned a percentage of the Texas Rangers.... Unfortunately Charlie passed away several years ago... RIP Charlie...

[@Avamaria2526]

I mean a documentary for television or streaming on services like Netflix or Amazon Prime!

[@joeljupp]

A’s fans are the best. They shouldn’t get any blame whatsoever. They are passionate!

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you!

[@craigalden6476]

Dedicated fan since Swinging A's Dynasty of the early '70s.... 😭

[@mikereed1096]

Fisher has never cared about the A's or the fans 😢

[@stevenleighton97]

Yep, and he’s never even pretended to care either.

[@mikereed1096]

@@stevenleighton97 agreed. I heard the only person he'll sell the team to is his best friend who also doesn't care about baseball.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@mikereed1096 and which friend is that? Vivek?

[@michaelscott358]

4:20 some things never change

[@bradypaulson4631]

Love this! Sell the team John Fisher! #FisherOut

[@stevenleighton97]

Thanks!

[@ronclark9724]

Unfortunately fans don't get to choose owners... Owners control their team's budget, not the fans...

[@VisualTedium]

Fischer could make alot of people happy. Na, cant do that

[@kpeters964]

How repetitive is history its been the a’s history of poor ownership thats been consistent and has dampened the reputation despite its on field success

[@Eastbayfitteds_]

Here they are today otw to play 3 years in Sacramento, what a complete Mess

[@J-Roy]

I can’t wait until the new Vegas ballpark gets invaded by the fans of every single road team.

[@stevenleighton97]

It’ll be like Raider games only ten times worse. Plus they won’t even come close to selling out. If the Raiders are near the bottom of the NFL in attendance in a much more popular sport, its going to be abysmal for the A’s.

[@waheedo2635]

That won’t hurt the owner. The greedy choade doesn’t care whose ass is in the seat as long as it was paid for

[@robertbriesch]

POS Fisher won't even care about that

[@gb69-38]

1:52:03

[@wubranch1]

Now they’re gone, and dummies from other cities, who know nothing, continue to blame the fans and the city.

[@distantgalaxymusic1447]

The A’s were so talent rich in 1909 that they traded rookie Shoeless Joe Jackson to the White Sox.

[@gerrythrash6563]

The Athletics have to be the most snakebitten franchise in the history of MLB.

[@georgerogers1166]

What about the kc a's ownership that turned them into a minor league club for the Yankees.

[@stevenleighton97]

That’s covered in the video

[@atommy4625]

Sacramento....you called it

[@jeffreywincell3677]

Do one on the Arizona Coyotes.

[@stevenleighton97]

I truly feel for their fans, but I don’t know much about the situation. Hockey has always been my 4th sport. I hope AZ gets an expansion team though.

[@gtcreels532]

Unless the A’s get sold I’m no longer a baseball fan

[@stevenleighton97]

@@gtcreels532 same here

[@gtcreels532]

@@stevenleighton97EXCELLENT JOB You poured your heart into this thank you

[@stevenleighton97]

@@gtcreels532 thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@uttermanbo]

Hey Oakland still has the Warriors.

[@richatlarge462]

The Warriors moved to SF a couple of years ago. The Raiders, Warriors, and A's have all left.

[@stewgotz1]

Bravo!!!!!!!’

[@stevenleighton97]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!

[@FairfaxRailfan2005]

Mmmm Mmm The The Big Lie was the most important story in this series and it

[@ANTHONYLALLI]

I am purchasing a mlb expansion team for oakland. As might not be going anywhere.

[@richatlarge462]

cringe comment

[@TT41401]

MLB should deny relocation of the A’s but vote to put an expansion team in Las Vegas. That’s a double win for MLB if they want a team in Las Vegas at some point. IMO, an MLB team is Las Vegas is a stupid idea. 1. nobody wants to watch baseball in a dome which it would have to be 2. Las Vegas is not large enough to support 80 baseball games a year in a large stadium. Hockey works because it’s a smaller venue and fans are more passionate about their home NHL team than a baseball fan. 3. Attendance at MLB games is declining anyway.

[@AdrianScottty]

Taylor Frank Martinez Sarah Davis Donna

[@bullwinkle2380]

LAS VEGAS ATHLETICS!!! WHAT IF THE DOME DISINTEGRATES??????????

[@darrenmashl5706]

3 hour video?....Really?

[@stevenleighton97]

Yep. Really. I’m well aware a 3 hour video isn’t for everyone, but I am committed to telling the FULL story no matter what. Every baseball fan should know every detail in this video. Many people have no idea what A’s fans have had to put up with for decades.

[@adrianshapiro]

@stevenleighton97 except all you told was one side of a story not the whole thing you're a fan and only see it from that side of things

[@stevenleighton97]

@@adrianshapiro you’ve been replying to nearly every comment on my video for weeks now. Are you okay? Why are you so invested with this? I didn’t tell “one side”. I told what actually happened.

[@adrianshapiro]

I can tell you exactly what happened without a three hour video explaining it. The raiders left, the warriors left now the As are leaving. These three teams have three different owners. You know what they have in common fans and a city that's it. So one of three things happened either the fans didn't support the team 2. The city didn't want to invest in the team so they would stay or 3.its a combination of both city and fans. City and fans the only thing all three teams have in common these would be the only reasons all three teams made the same decision plane and simple

[@stevenleighton97]

Apparently, you DO need to watch the video, because your explanation shows that you know next to nothing about the situation. So, the way you see it, it can be either the fault of the fans or the city, but not the owners? Come on guy, no need to be a bootlicker! Oakland Warriors fans and Oakland Raiders fans were regarded as some of the best fans in sports. While the A’s attendance has diminished, it was directly caused by A’s owners. The A’s had one of baseball’s largest fanbases in the late 80s and early 90s, which is the only time in the A’s history they’ve had a good owner. The video goes very in depth about everything that A’s owners have done to drive fans away, so I encourage you to watch it, although I’m sure you won’t, because you prefer to just ignore the facts. The city of Oakland did not “lose” the Warriors, as once Lacob bought the team, he made it clear his goal was to build the Warriors a waterfront arena in a city that has double the population, a city in which the Warriors formerly played in. Its also important to note, they were and are the Golden State Warriors, and have always been the Bay’s team. The Warriors have routinely honored their time in Oakland with Oakland themed jerseys. As for the Raiders, please read what Mark Davis has said about why the Raiders left for Las Vegas. Look at who he blames the most. Hint: its not Oakland, its the A’s, more specifically, John Fisher, who also happens to be the reason the A’s are leaving! Not A’s fans, and not Oakland! John Fisher has never been interested in keeping the team in Oakland, as he’s spent nearly the entirety of his ownership trying to relocate the team. The only stadium “attempts” in Oakland by the A’s were not ones that they were serious about or put all their effort into. Before Fisher, there was Lew Wolff, and Steve Schott, etc. The A’s have had terrible owners for their entire time in Oakland (except the Haas ownership), so you certainly cannot blame fans for not showing up. The city more than wanted to build the A’s a ballpark at Howard Terminal, in fact, they’d been in support of the A’s building there for over 20 years! They have also supported the A’s building at the existing Coliseum site, along with other sites. You should really watch the video, because pushing these false narratives that can be easily disproven is a bad look.

[@adrianshapiro]

@stevenleighton97 again those teams have three things in common the fans and the city. If fans aren't showing up like you said they weren't then they are part to blame. If you support a team you support them up or down no matter what your thoughts on the owner so that's one. Two the As asked the city for help paying for a stadium and they said no so there's two. The problem is the city and fans it obvious. 3 teams leave, 3 different owners the only thing in common is the city and the fans. It's clear what the problem is.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@adrianshapiro you’re making a blanket statement and not analyzing anything. Thats just being lazy. Sorry, fans have every right to not show up when they are routinely treated like dirt by ownership, ownership never invests in the team, and ownership spend all their efforts trying to rip the team away from its community. You said the A’s asked the city to help pay for the stadium and the city said no? What on earth are you talking about? Are you not familiar with the hundreds of millions Oakland raised? You seem to not have a very good understanding of the actual story here. I’m not going to waste anymore time replying to you.

[@dorothygale1104]

Einstein, the Raiders left L.A. to move back to Oakland. Does anybody say that LA lost the Raiders because LA fans didn’t support the team? NOT. The Raiders had the poorest owner in the NFL and he was going to move the team to the city that would increase his net worth the most. If you knew anything about the Raiders, you would know that fan support in Oakland had never been an issue. The Warriors moved to a new stadium that is 4.5 miles across the Bay Bridge from Oakland. BTW - you know how much in corporate welfare SF gave to the Warriors to lure them away from Oakland? Answer: Zero. The Warriors new home, Chase Center, was 100% privately financed by the Warriors ownership. Also, it is obvious you were blind to the sell-out crowds at Warrior home game while they were winning NBA championships in Oakland. BTW - the Warriors home arena in SF is only 4.5 miles across a bridge from Oakland, while the San Francisco 49er’s home stadium, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, is 32 miles from the the SF city limits (42 miles from Downtown SF). Based upon your logic, such as it is, San Francisco lost the 49ers. You are inherently supporting the biggest loser among MLB owners, which sure doesn’t make you look like a winner for making excuses for such a slime. If Oakland loses the A’s, which is not nearly a done deal, it is solely because John Fisher proposed a huge mixed-use project (Howard Terminal) that in addition to a waterfront stadium included 3,000 residential units, 1.5M sf of commercial space, a 450-room hotel & 1,500 seat performance center and as negotiations with Oakland over the development agreement reached their final stage, Fisher found out that he didn’t gave the financial juice to get financing for that project, so relocation to Vegas for a stadium-only deal located on 9 acres behind the Tropicana Hotel was a face-saving move for Fisher. There is no other reason anyone walks away from a big mixed-use waterfront development in the Bay Area that is fully entitled and has big profit potential for a stadium-only deal in Vegas that won’t be worth the cost to build it, which is exactly why the A’s sought a $380M public subsidy. If a stadium has any potential of being worth more than the cost to build it, a public subsidy would not be necessary. Lady, if you are going to post simplistic, uninformed, unintelligent comments, I would advise you to either learn something about the subject you are commenting upon or restrain yourself from putting your mental shortcomings in a public forum for all to see. That’s All.

[@stevenleighton97]

@@dorothygale1104 very well said!

[@ronclark9724]

You FAILED to mention that the landlord of the Coliseum is the city of Oakland which has FAILED to do a major renovation whatsoever on the property after nearly 60 years! Tenants don't do major renovations, LANDLORDS do and SHOULD! Especially if the landlord desires the tenant to SIGN a new lease! Real Estate 101.

[@stevenleighton97]

You do realize the A’s have been trying to leave the Coliseum for nearly 29 years, right? Why on earth would they spend hundreds of millions on renovations when the A’s public and well known position is that they want to leave?

[@adrianshapiro]

Don't try and make sense to these people they don't get how business works

[@stevenleighton97]

@@adrianshapiro please explain why Oakland should have done a major renovation to the Coliseum when the A’s have spent the majority of the last 29 years trying to relocate and the A’s have said themselves they don’t want to play at that site.

[@Jayaarsworld]

Oakland forever ♾️ 🟩🟨♥️

[@snarfsnarf3062]

FJF!

[@stevenleighton97]

@@snarfsnarf3062 forever and always!

[@mcintyreb3778]

How pathetic: “The city of Oakland has done everything possible to keep the A’s in Oakland…because take my word for it.” Seriously, how about show your evidence to back your claim?

[@stevenleighton97]

Did you try watching the video? The evidence is all there! Check some of the links I provided in the description as well. The evidence is all there! The claims can all be backed up!

[@dayolddoughnuts4031]

You can thank Oakland leadership in the city. I cannot wait for John Fisher to receive the WS trophy from the commissioner and put it in the glass case with the other franchises trophy’s of the past and celebrate the A’s in it’s home of LV.

[@stevenleighton97]

I can tell you didn’t watch the video. If you think a team owned by Fisher will ever win a title, you’re going to spend your entire life waiting.

[@RebeccaGoulet-tf9jd]

Bahaahahaha I literally spit out my drink reading your comment. Watch the video or shut the fuck up

[@santiagoandujar2518]

No matter what city the A's relocate to, with Fisher as owner, THEY'LL NEVER WIN A WORLD SERIES TROPHY. And if the impossible were to happen, to avoid rewarding his players for the Series Title with payraises, he'd dismantle a Championship team much faster than how Wayne Huizenga dismantle the Marlins after they won the 1997 Series.

[@dorothygale1104]

Einstein - John Fisher produced the team that set a club reci🎉d of 112 loses this past season. Either you have a brain defect or you are nothing mote than a troll (with a brain defect). John Fisher has never created anything of value in his life. Fisher is a member of the lucky sperm club, who was born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a triple. You sound like you are his butt boy. Laters Gladys.

[@dayolddoughnuts4031]

@@stevenleighton97sounds like you are acting like a butt hurt little bitch!

[@bullwinkle2380]

LAS VEGAS ATHLETICS!!! OAKLAND A'S OWNER BOBBY FISHER, GET LOST!!!

[@kingmo8789]

Oh look a troll came out of the bridge

[@bullwinkle2380]

You're Goddam straight!!! You'll find me underneath the Bay Bridge!!! Jesus loves you!!!@@kingmo8789

[@mrdpdjr]

🤡

[@michaelleroy9281]

The chess player?

[@mrdpdjr]

We showed up to the boycott 5 of us They scanned 1 ticket. 💔😡🤬🤮

[@stevenleighton97]

Not surprised! 32,604 tickets were sold and attendance was announced in the 4TH INNING, when thousands were still trying to get in, and they claimed only 27,759 were there. There was absolutely 30K there by the end, and so many people couldn’t even make it due to the parking mess. Its funny how every other game ever in MLB they count attendance by tickets sold, but they didn’t for June 13th!

[@mrdpdjr]

Selig, manfred, Fisher, kaval,and Wolff can all rot in hell 🤮🤬💔

[@mrdpdjr]

😢 💔

[@pisstopher4317]

Great work

[@stevenleighton97]

Thank you!