Athletics

MLB American League West Oakland Athletics 2022

After winning the division in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the A’s were unable to repeat their successes in 2021. They finished with an 86-76 record, good for third in the AL West, nine games behind the division-winning Houston Astros.

Always deemed to be a small market team, there is speculation that the A’s could once again look to unload some of their expensive talent this offseason like Matt Olson and Matt Chapman.

While it did not come to fruition prior to the MLB lockout, it is still possible that the A’s look to offload some of their talent prior to the 2022 season starting.

If not, there is still a strong core of players, including Olson, Chapman, Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, Ramon Laureano, and others that could make a run at the AL West.

In a division that has seen the A’s and Houston Astros have a lot of success in the last several years, teams like the Mariners, Rangers, and Angels are on the rise. For A’s fans, they will continue to hope that their team can stay in contention in 2022 and beyond.

MLB American League West Oakland Athletics History

The Oakland Athletics, also referred to as simply the Oakland A’s, have a long history that predates its time in California.

With its earliest roots found in Philadelphia, the Athletics franchise started in 1901 as one of eight franchises in the American League. Interestingly, the owner at this time, Connie Mack, was also the franchise’s first manager as he managed the team from 1901 to 1950.

In 1955, the team was uprooted to Kansas City and stayed there until 1968, when it moved again to Oakland.

Since the creation of divisions in 1969, the A’s have been a part of the AL West. They are one of just two teams (along with the Los Angeles Angels) that have been in the AL West since it first started.

Going back to their first season in 1901, the Athletics’ franchise has a record just under .500. They are a combined 9,150 – 9,552, good for a .489 winning percentage.

Due to moving cities a few times, the A’s have played in multiple ballparks, including Columbia Park (1901 – 1908), Shibe Park (1909 – 1954), and Municipal Stadium (1955 – 1967). Since 1968, they have called the Oakland Coliseum home.

While others have come and gone, they are currently the lone professional team in any sport that resides in Oakland.