Last week I spoke at KCDC which uses the Kansas City Convention Center. The street-level hallways contain a history of Kansas City – heavy emphasis on a larger-than-life civic leader – which also touches the professional sports teams.
The Kansas City Athletics moved from Philadelphia after the Connie Mack era (both owner and manager), spending 13 unremarkable seasons before again relocating to Oakland (winning three World Series in their first eight seasons). Many questionable trades to the New York Yankees – Roger Maris, anyone? – gave the appearance of a Yankee farm club.
Apparently MLB felt that Kansas City got screwed as the city was awarded an expansion team a mere two years later. Conversely, MLB provided no such support to Oakland, allowing what is considered one of professional sports’ worst owners to relocate to Sacramento for (at least) three seasons before a finally move to Las Vegas. For a small, open-air stadium that will be impossible to play in mid-summer.
And, as I’ve said before, my fandom ends once they leave Sacramento. Uggh.
