Chapman and Canha take home touching memorabilia after their final game at the Coliseum, originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Former Oakland Athletics players Matt Chapman and Mark Canha took home some valuable memorabilia from their final game at the Coliseum.
After the Giants’ 10-inning victory over the A’s on Sunday afternoon, Chapman asked to take home the third base bag while Canha picked up some dirt from the home plate area.
Bob Melvin took nothing but a memory of the Coliseum with him, just “one last look.”
Matt Chapman will take home third base from tonight’s game.
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) 18 August 2024
Mark Canha of the San Francisco Giants shovels dust off home plate after their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, California, on August 18, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-2 in 10 innings. This will be the Giants’ final game at the Coliseum after this season. pic.twitter.com/F6NPx6OkFV
— Jose Carlos Fajardo (@FuzyJoe) 18 August 2024
There were plenty of connections between San Francisco and Oakland in the emotional finale of the annual Bay Bridge Series, with the Coliseum nearly sold out with fans from across the Bay Area.
Chapman, who played for Oakland from 2017-2021, couldn’t hide his emotions as he spoke to Carlos Ramirez of NBC Sports Bay Area before the game.
“It’s definitely emotional,” Chapman said. “But it’s definitely going to be emotional for me because this is the last time I play here.”
Canha, a Bay Area native who was with the organization from 2015 to 2021, expressed a similar sentiment.
“Yeah, it’s kind of crazy,” Canha told Ramirez. “I can’t believe this day is here. It’s going to be a day of mixed emotions and something I’ll probably hold onto for a while.”
Giants manager Bob Melvin, who grew up in Palo Alto and played at Cal, coached the A’s from 2011 to 2021 and also mentioned the heightened emotions of his last appearance at the Coliseum.
“First of all, it’s sad because it will be the last game I’m here for, but there’s just a lot going on today,” Melvin said. “There’s a lot of emotion involved today.”
The A’s lease at the Coliseum expires at the end of 2024, and the franchise will play at least three seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento before hopefully moving to Las Vegas.
This decision will end 56 baseball seasons in Oakland, after years of unsuccessful negotiations with the city of Oakland over a new baseball stadium.
For Canha and Chapman, a piece of the old ballpark will always be remembered, along with all the precious memories they have collected over time.
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