Even though Hunter Pence played across the Bay, there are a decent number of Oakland A's fans that respect the career he put up and enjoyed the sense of humor he had when he played the game.
Yesterday Pence was a guest on Foul Territory, and because of that connection to the Bay Area, he was asked about the A's potential relocation to Las Vegas. "It's sad because I loved playing in Oakland. I thought the fans were passionate, especially when they were good. It's weird that, like the stadium sold out. Obviously they want a new stadium, and people all want a new stadium. But when the A's were good, I played in some packed houses there and the energy was insane. I thought it was one of the most fun places to play.
"Was the clubhouse the best clubhouse? No. But they had the war drums and you felt like you were at a high school football game. I got into it with them a couple of times in the stands in a fun way. They let me have it, man...Obviously I am an advocate for having baseball in Oakland."
Not a bad place to start off the conversation, but Pence also showed that he has a good read on the situation and how A's fans think. Scott Braun, who will be at Fans Fest this weekend, asked Pence how many fans he thinks will convert to being Giants fans if the team leaves for Vegas.
"A's fans are A's fans. They don't want to be Giants fans. If you love baseball, you're going to go watch both, but if you're an A's fan, It's just different. The Bash Bros. and Rickey Henderson. It's just an edgy thing....They have their own rhythm, their own frequency, their own vibe. When they were doing really well, the A's hats were everywhere in San Francisco when I was playing."
Pence nails his assessment of the situation here. Baseball fans on social media and even MLB's Commissioner think that A's fans should just become Giants fans, but they don't understand the dynamics of fandom out here. There is more at play than just the laundry the players wear. As Pence mentions, the A's are a grittier team while the Giants are more polished. Not everyone likes things to be clean.
It's part of the reason A's fans love the Coliseum. It's completely outdated, sure, but when you're watching a game there you're going to watch the baseball game. There aren't all of the distractions in Oakland for casual fans that there are in most other parks. The experience is different, and it's not for everyone. Going to San Francisco to watch a game at Oracle Park isn't worse, but it's different.
Sure, there is still baseball being played and that's great, but at the same time, that's not where generations of A's fans have memories with their friends and family. That's what will be missing if the team leaves town. Switching allegiances will be on the table for some fans, but for most, they'll just leave baseball behind entirely.
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