I totally perceive Oakland A’s followers frustration with John Fisher. He’s a contender for worst proprietor in MLB historical past.
I do know a factor or two about dangerous skilled sports activities house owners, having labored as a sportswriter within the Northwest for a number of years whereas George Argyros wreaked havoc on the Seattle Mariners from 1981-89.
Like Fisher, Argyros had a nasty behavior of promoting off his group’s greatest gamers and alienating followers at each flip. His groups by no means completed over .500 (the Mariners are nonetheless the one MLB group that has by no means appeared in a World Sequence) and by no means drew greater than 1.1 million followers in a season.
Throughout the summer season of 1983, in what can be a 102-loss season, a pal and I purchased tickets on the Kingdome for a 1 p.m. recreation and sat three rows instantly behind residence plate with out every other followers inside 20 yards of us. The house plate umpire even responded to me between innings once I politely requested if a pitch he known as a ball had been excessive or exterior.
Argyros’ baseball information was, let’s consider, restricted. In 1987, he lobbied his basic supervisor to choose Mike Harkey over Ken Griffey Jr. Harkey did make it to the large leagues, posting a 36-36 file as a journeyman pitcher. Griffey stays probably the most beloved participant in Mariner historical past after an excellent Corridor of Fame profession.
However for all of his faults, Argyros by no means adopted via on his a number of threats to maneuver the group. Nor did any of his groups break the all-time MLB file for many losses in a 162-game season, because the A’s are in peril of carrying out this yr.
Then there’s Harry Frazee, who turned the Boston Purple Sox from World Sequence champions in 1916 and 1918 into one of many worst groups in baseball.
Frazee made what was arguably the worst deal in baseball historical past, promoting Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000. I say arguably, as a result of quickly thereafter he took out a $300,000 mortgage from the Yankees, utilizing Fenway Park as collateral. That’s proper. As soon as upon a time, the Yankees had been in impact Fenway’s house owners and had the facility to log off on Purple Sox trades.
Fisher’s supporters can argue that since he acquired a stake within the A’s in 2005 and have become sole proprietor in 2016, Oakland has completed over .500 9 occasions and made it to the playoffs seven occasions, most lately in 2020. However an argument may be made that the A’s success was extra on account of former Basic Supervisor Billy Beane’s brilliance relatively than Fisher’s management.
Fisher’s web value is estimated at $2.3 billion, which places him in the course of the pack on the record of MLB’s rich house owners — the Giants’ Charles Johnson ranks fourth ($4.4 billion), whereas the Mets’ Steve Cohen ($16 billion) tops the record.
But the A’s payroll is constantly among the many lowest in baseball. In 2023, at $58 million, it’s the lowest of any MLB group. Oakland’s highest-paid participant, reliever Trevor Could, will make $7 million this yr. Greater than 200 gamers will make extra this yr.
In the meantime, the gamers the A’s have both traded or let go in free company underneath Fisher’s reign may simply contend for a playoff spot this yr. 5 former A’s — Sonny Grey, Jason Heim, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson and Marcus Semien — performed within the MLB All-Star Sport in Seattle final month.
But it surely isn’t Fisher’s decimation of the A’s roster that places him within the Corridor of Disgrace of baseball house owners. It’s the utter disdain he has proven for the group’s loyal, educated followers.
In 2022, Fisher had the audacity to double ticket costs on the Oakland Coliseum, one in all baseball’s oldest and most dilapidated stadiums. Coming into Tuesday, the typical attendance at A’s residence video games for 2023 was 8,555, worst in baseball. Then he insisted that if the group was to remain in Oakland, taxpayers must fork over an estimated $1 billion as a part of a $12 billion venture primarily designed to additional line Fisher’s pockets.
Now he’s maneuvering to maneuver the group to Las Vegas, the place Nevada officers have agreed handy over $380 million in public {dollars} to assist him construct what’s regarded as a $1.5 billion stadium.
I’d say good riddance, besides town of Oakland and A’s followers deserve higher.
MLB house owners ought to power Fisher to promote the group. Golden State Warriors’ proprietor Joe Lacob has expressed curiosity in shopping for the A’s and has proven a willingness to spend the cash essential to discipline aggressive groups.
However don’t depend on the MLB house owners to do the proper factor. They’ve an curiosity in baseball having a group in Las Vegas, as a result of MLB groups stand to generate an estimated $1.1 billion a yr from authorized playing pursuits.
No, the almost definitely manner for the A’s to stay in Oakland is that if Nevada officers understand they’re throwing cash at one of many worst house owners in MLB historical past and kill the deal.
Don’t guess on it.
