San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics Tickets

The Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants are considered baseball royalty and have a rich history in the MLB. Sharing a unique and friendly regional rivalry, the Giants and the Athletics have comfortably co-existed for decades. But that is not to say the rivalry hasn’t been a competitive one. It has had its moments.

Bay Bridge Series or the Battle of the Bay

Since the two teams moved to the San Francisco Bay Area the games played between them have been nicknamed the Bay Bridge Series or Battle of the Bay. The term was first used in 1989, when they battled for the World Series title. Battle of the Bay has now become a regular event where both teams compete for regional bragging rights.

The World Series Faceoff

The New York Giants and Philadelphia A's squared off in three World Series. The Giants won the title in 1905, while the A's in 1911 & 1913. After becoming San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, they met for a fourth time in 1989, which was the Athletics last World Championship.

1989 – An Unforgettable Season (Oct 14-Oct 28)

This series is remembered for more than one reason. It was to be a season of triumph for both teams because it marked baseball’s only cross-bay series and the first in 33 years between teams belonging to the same metropolitan area. While this was a cause of celebration, it did not turn out to be a good year because of the tragedy that struck Bay Area. Having acquired Ricky Henderson back from the Yankees, the Athletics were dominating the series 2-0. Stewart and Moore were at their best and seemed on a roll, but suddenly baseball took a backseat as the Loma Prieta Earthquake interrupted the series. On October 17, fans were waiting for the first pitch of game 3 at the Candlestick Park, when a massive earthquake (6.9 magnitude) hit San Francisco Bay area, causing 63 deaths. After 10 days, the series resumed. A moment of silence was observed and the crowd sang San Francisco together. The Athletics picked up from where they had left off, winning game 3 and 4. Rickey Henderson's leadoff home run set the tone. Despite Giant’s Kevin Mitchell playing brilliantly the team lost 9-6. This also marked Candlestick Park's final World Series game. It was the first World Series sweep since 1976 that left the Giants with a bitter taste.

The Athletics and the Giants Go Head to Head

Here is how the Giants have fared against Athletics in their head to head encounters

The Athletics lead in the head to head records. In the post season, the Giants have squared off against the Athletics a total of 20 times, scoring 7 wins and 13 losses.

The Legends

The Oakland Athletics have had many Hall of Famers on their roster over the years. These include Chief Bender, Frank "Home Run" Baker, Jimmie Foxx, and Lefty Grove. The 1972 Athletics team was called the Mustache Gang (for sporting mustaches) along with the Bash Brothers – Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire (famous for their homers) who made the franchise and fans proud. Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal are the legends who wore Giants’ jerseys. Mays played in 20 All-Star games. A complete five tool player, his power speed combination was unmatched, earning him MVP awards in 1963 and 1968. Rod Beck nicknamed Shooter was one of Giants’ greatest closers. His career highlights include being a three-time NL All Star (1993, 1994 & 1997) and being 24th on MLB's All-Time Saves list.

The Battle is On!

The upcoming MLB season has some interesting match ups between the Giants and the Athletics. Giants have won the top honors in recent years and look in good shape to face its cross-bay rivals, but the Athletics are no pushovers either. Get San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics tickets. Check the AT&T Park and Oakland Coliseum seating charts to get the best seats. You can also find cheap Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants tickets from here.