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| team2logo = San_Francisco_Giants_Cap_Insignia.svg
| team2logo = San_Francisco_Giants_Cap_Insignia.svg
| city or region = [[San Francisco Bay Area]]
| city or region = [[San Francisco Bay Area]]
| firstmeeting = [[1905 World Series|World Series]]:<br>October 9, 1905<br>[[Columbia Park]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]<br>Giants 5, Athletics 0<br><br>Regular season:<br>July 2, 1997<ref name=head2head>{{cite web|title=Head-to-Head Records — Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants from 1997 to 2024 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/head2head-games.cgi?team1=OAK&team2=SFG&from=1997&to=2024 |work=baseball-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=August 19, 2024}}</ref><br>[[Candlestick Park|3Com Park]], [[San Francisco]], [[California]]<br>Athletics 8, Giants 1
| firstmeeting = [[1989 World Series]]:<br>October 14, 1989<br>[[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]], [[Oakland, California]] <br>Athletics 5, Giants 0<br><br>Regular season:<br>July 2, 1997<ref name=head2head>{{cite web|title=Head-to-Head Records — Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants from 1997 to 2024 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/head2head-games.cgi?team1=OAK&team2=SFG&from=1997&to=2024 |work=baseball-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=August 19, 2024}}</ref><br>[[Candlestick Park|3Com Park]], [[San Francisco]], [[California]]<br>Athletics 8, Giants 1
| mostrecent = August 18, 2024<ref name=head2head/><br>[[Oakland Coliseum|Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]],<br>[[Oakland]], [[California]]<br>Giants 4, Athletics 2
| mostrecent = August 18, 2024<ref name=head2head/><br>[[Oakland Coliseum|Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]],<br>[[Oakland]], [[California]]<br>Giants 4, Athletics 2
| nextmeeting = May 16, 2025<br>[[Oracle Park]], [[San Francisco]], [[California]]<!--[[Sutter Health Park]], [[West Sacramento, California|West Sacramento]], [[California]]-->
| total = 168<ref name="m3">{{Cite web |title=mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Oakland Athletics against San Francisco Giants |url=https://mcubed.net/mlb/oak/sf.shtml |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=mcubed.net}}</ref>
| total = 168<ref name="m3">{{Cite web |title=mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Oakland Athletics against San Francisco Giants |url=https://mcubed.net/mlb/oak/sf.shtml |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=mcubed.net}}</ref>
| series = Athletics, {{winpct|89|79|record=y}}<ref name="m3"/>
| series = Athletics, {{winpct|89|79|record=y}}<ref name="m3"/>

Revision as of 15:35, 19 August 2024

Bay Bridge Series
LocationSan Francisco Bay Area
First meeting1989 World Series:
October 14, 1989
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
Athletics 5, Giants 0

Regular season:
July 2, 1997[1]
3Com Park, San Francisco, California
Athletics 8, Giants 1
Latest meetingAugust 18, 2024[1]
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum,
Oakland, California
Giants 4, Athletics 2
TrophyGiants 4
Athletics 3
Statistics
Meetings total168[2]
All-time seriesAthletics, 89–79 (.530)[2]
Regular season seriesAthletics, 76–72 (.514)[1]
Postseason resultsAthletics, 13–7 (.650)[2]
Largest victory
Longest win streak
Current win streakGiants, 1[1]
Post-season history

The Athletics–Giants rivalry, formerly termed the Bay Bridge Series, or the Battle of the Bay, is a series of baseball games played between—and the rivalry of—Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics of the American League and San Francisco Giants of the National League. The formerly termed Bay Bridge Series took its name from the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge which links the cities of Oakland and San Francisco. Beginning in 2018, the winner of the annual series retained a trophy fashioned from a piece of the original bridge.[5]

Although competitive, the regional rivalry between the A's and Giants is considered a friendly one with mostly mutual companionship between the fans, as opposed to Cubs–White Sox, or Mets–Yankees games where animosity runs high, though sections of each fanbase does harbor towards the entirety of the other. This, however, is limited as many people see the opposing team as no threat to their own; hats displaying both teams on the cap are sold from vendors at the games, and once in a while the teams both dress in uniforms from a historic era of their franchises. Many fans actively cheer for both teams when they are not playing against the other. A's fans cite the Giants blocking a potential move to San Jose as a point of contention.

The series was also occasionally referred to as the "BART Series" for the Bay Area Rapid Transit system that links Oakland to San Francisco. However, the name "BART Series" has never been popular beyond a small selection of history books and national broadcasters and has fallen out of favor, likely because BART does not provide direct or easy access to Oracle Park in San Francisco. Bay Area locals almost exclusively referred to the rivalry as the "Bay Bridge Series" or the "Battle of the Bay."

Originally, the term described a series of exhibition games played between the two clubs after the conclusion of spring training, immediately prior to the start of the regular season. It was first used to refer to the 1989 World Series which the Athletics won and the first time both teams had met since they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, it also refers to games played between the teams during the regular season since the commencement of Interleague play in 1997. Through the 2024 season, the A's have won 76 games, and the Giants have won 72.[1]

History prior to Bay Area move

The Giants and Athletics met in the 1905, 1911, and 1913 World Series as the New York Giants and Philadelphia Athletics. The Giants won, 4–1, in 1905, and the Athletics won in 1911 (4–1) and 1913 (4–2), respectively. Hall of Famers such as John McGraw, Roger Bresnahan, Christy Mathewson, Joe McGinnity and Rube Marquard took part on the Giants side while the Athletics had Connie Mack, Chief Bender, Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell, Frank Baker and Eddie Collins.

The Move to the Bay

1989 World Series

The San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics met for the first time in the 1989 World Series. This series was interrupted minutes before Game 3 on October 17, 1989, when an earthquake, measuring 6.9 on the Richter Scale, struck the San Francisco Bay Area. The resulting damage to both Candlestick Park and to a lesser extent the Oakland Coliseum, along with the emotional and economic damage to the area, delayed the resumption of the series for 10 days, the longest interval between games in World Series history. The earthquake caused the collapse of a portion of the Bay Bridge, the centerpiece of many promotions for the "Bay Bridge Series"; however, experts have suggested that the Series actually helped to save countless lives, as many would-be commuters from both sides of the Bay had left work early or stayed in the cities to watch the game. As a result, traffic on the roads below collapsed portions of the Bay Bridge and Cypress Street Viaduct portion of Interstate 880 in Oakland (while this disaster killed one person on the Bay Bridge and 42 people on the viaduct, local officials initially assumed that the death toll would be well into the hundreds) was significantly lighter than it would normally be at rush hour.[6]

The Athletics swept the Giants to win their most recent World Series championship.

Interleague play

Both teams met for the first time in the regular season in June 1997.[7]

The Giants' Barry Zito started 0–4 against his former team, finally beating the Athletics on June 12, 2010 at AT&T Park.[8]

Athletics San Jose relocation controversy (aka The Bay Blackjack Series)

The A's have been considering relocating to San Jose, California, for 13 years but have reportedly met resistance from the Giants. San Jose is located in Santa Clara County, which is considered to be the Giants "territory".[9] The Athletics claim that former owner Walter A. Haas, Jr. agreed for the Giants to take over the Santa Clara area when the Giants were considering moving to Florida and needed revenue. The Giants contend that the agreement was not based upon actually relocating the team to Santa Clara as the A's contended. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who was fraternity brothers with A's managing partner Lew Wolff at the University of Wisconsin, stated that the A's would not be able to survive as a franchise if they remained at the Oakland Coliseum. The Giants claimed that the territorial rights were "explicitly reaffirmed by Major League Baseball on four separate occasions," when former managing partner Peter Magowan bought the team in the early 1990s. The Giants stated "upon purchasing the team 20 years ago, our plan to revive the franchise relied heavily on targeting and solidifying our fan base in the largest and fastest growing county within our territory. Based on these Constitutionally-recognized territorial rights, the Giants invested hundreds of millions of dollars to save and stabilize the team for the Bay Area, built Oracle Park privately and has operated the franchise so that it can compete at the highest levels.

Future

With the A's leaving Oakland after the 2024 season for Las Vegas in 2028 (and West Sacramento in the interim), due to issues with their stadium, the rivalry in the form of the Bay Bridge series and Bay Area series ended in 2024 (the final Bay Bridge Series game took place on August 18, 2024 with the Giants winning 4–2). Instead of being focused on the Bay Area, the rivalry will continue as one over Northern California. When the team does move to Las Vegas as planned, however, the teams may still meet in 6 games annually due to the other West division teams being paired up in Interleague rivalries (barring a swap of the forced pairings). Even still, the teams would at least still meet in an annual 3-game series with alternating venues each season.

After plans for Cisco Field were shuttered due to the Giants blocking the plan with the decision upheld by the United States Supreme Court, the A's attempted to build their new waterfront stadium. With John Fisher not willing to come into an agreement with the City of Oakland, the A's instead purchased land near Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders (who also formerly played in Oakland) and T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights in April 2023. The plans later shifted to a new stadium built on the Tropicana Las Vegas and were approved by the Nevada State Legislature and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo by June.

Despite the rivalry, following the Athletics plans for relocation, Athletics and Giants fans during a July 25, 2023 game at Oracle Park chanted "Sell the Team" as part of an event known as "Unite the Bay" in the hopes that the rivalry would be saved.

Club success

Team World Series Titles League pennants Division titles Wild Card Berths Playoff Appearances World Series Appearances All-time Regular Season record Win Percentage Seasons played
Oakland Athletics[10] 4 6 17 4 21 6 4,545–4,294–1 .514 56
San Francisco Giants[11] 3 6 9 3 13 6 5,394–5,039–6 .517 66
Combined 7 12 26 7 34 12 9,939–9,333–7 .523 66 in SF Bay
122 total

Note: Giants records only from 1958 when they moved to San Francisco, as are Athletics records from 1968 when they moved to Oakland.
As of October 2, 2023.

Summary of results

OAK vs. SF Athletics wins Giants wins Athletics runs Giants runs
Regular season 76 72 649 631
World Series 4 0 32 14
Total 80 72 681 645

Updated to most recent meeting, August 18, 2024.

Season-by-season results

Athletics vs. Giants Season-by-Season Results
1900s (Giants, 4–1)
Season Season series at Philadelphia Athletics
NYG‍–‍PHA
at New York Giants
PHA‍–‍NYG
Overall series Notes
1905 World Series Giants 4‍–‍1 3‍–‍0; 9‍–‍5 3‍–‍0; 0‍–‍1; 0‍–‍2 Giants
4‍–‍1
First World Series match-up.
1910s (Athletics, 8–3)
Season Season series at Philadelphia Athletics
NYG‍–‍PHA
at New York Giants
PHA‍–‍NYG
Overall series Notes
1911 World Series Athletics 4‍–‍2 1‍–‍3; 2‍–‍4; 2‍–‍13 1‍–‍2; 3–2(11); 3–4(10) Tie
5‍–‍5
1913 World Series Athletics 4‍–‍1 3–0(10); 5‍–‍6 6‍–‍4; 8‍–‍2; 3‍–‍1 Athletics
9‍–‍7
1980s (Athletics, 4–0)
Season Season series at Oakland Athletics
SF‍–‍OAK
at San Francisco Giants
OAK‍–‍SF
Overall series Notes
1989 World Series Athletics 4‍–‍0 0‍–‍5; 1‍–‍5 13‍–‍7; 9‍–‍6 Athletics
13‍–‍7
First Oakland–San Francisco match-up.
Interrupted by earthquake in Game 3
1990s (Tie, 7–7)
Season Season series at Oakland Athletics
SF‍–‍OAK
at San Francisco Giants
OAK‍–‍SF
Overall series Notes
1997 Tie 2‍–‍2 8‍–‍2; 3‍–‍12 8‍–‍1; 4‍–‍6 Athletics
15‍–‍9
First regular season meetings
1998 Tie 2‍–‍2 12‍–‍8; 4‍–‍2 7‍–‍6; 5‍–‍2 Athletics
17‍–‍11
1999 Tie 3‍–‍3 9‍–‍11; 2‍–‍4; 7‍–‍2 3–4(15); 0‍–‍8; 7‍–‍6 Athletics
20‍–‍14
First year of 6-game home-and-away format
2000s (Athletics, 32–28)
Season Season series at Oakland Athletics
SF‍–‍OAK
at San Francisco Giants
OAK‍–‍SF
Overall series Notes
2000 Tie 3‍–‍3 4‍–‍5; 7‍–‍9; 18‍–‍2 2‍–‍4; 2‍–‍4; 6‍–‍2 Athletics
23‍–‍17
Both teams qualify for post-season for first time since 1989
2001 Giants 4‍–‍2 2‍–‍4; 4–3(11); 2‍–‍6 1‍–‍3; 1‍–‍2; 0‍–‍3 Athletics
25‍–‍21
First time in which regular season series is not a tie
2002 Athletics 4‍–‍2 6‍–‍10; 5‍–‍3; 0‍–‍7 3‍–‍2; 2‍–‍6; 2‍–‍1 Athletics
29‍–‍23
Both teams qualify for playoffs
Giants lose 2002 World Series
2003 Tie 3‍–‍3 3‍–‍5; 6‍–‍4; 5‍–‍6 0‍–‍6; 7–8(10); 5‍–‍2 Athletics
32‍–‍26
2004 Tie 3‍–‍3 6‍–‍4; 7–8(10); 5‍–‍2 3‍–‍7; 6‍–‍2; 9‍–‍6 Athletics
35‍–‍29
2005 Athletics 4‍–‍2 3‍–‍4; 3‍–‍6; 0‍–‍16 8‍–‍4; 2‍–‍3; 1‍–‍3 Athletics
39‍–‍31
2006 Tie 3‍–‍3 0‍–‍1; 4–2(10); 6‍–‍0 4‍–‍3; 7‍–‍8; 10‍–‍4 Athletics
42‍–‍34
Barry Bonds ties Babe Ruth for second on the all-time home run list with 714th home run; A's reach ALCS
2007 Athletics 5‍–‍1 3‍–‍15; 2‍–‍4; 4‍–‍1 5–3(10); 6‍–‍0; 2‍–‍0 Athletics
47‍–‍35
2008 Athletics 4‍–‍2 1‍–‍4; 1‍–‍0; 11‍–‍1 5‍–‍1; 4‍–‍0; 5‍–‍3 Athletics
51‍–‍37
Athletics win seven straight meetings in San Francisco.
2009 Giants 5‍–‍1 1‍–‍5; 4‍–‍1; 6‍–‍3 0‍–‍3; 2‍–‍5; 1‍–‍7 Athletics
52‍–‍42
2010s (Tie, 25–25)
Season Season series at Oakland Athletics
SF‍–‍OAK
at San Francisco Giants
OAK‍–‍SF
Overall series Notes
2010 Tie 3‍–‍3 1‍–‍6; 0‍–‍1; 0‍–‍3 2‍–‍6; 4‍–‍5; 2‍–‍6 Athletics
55‍–‍45
Home team wins all six meetings
Giants win 2010 World Series
2011 Tie 3‍–‍3 2‍–‍5; 2‍–‍4; 1‍–‍2 1–2(10); 0‍–‍3; 4–5(11) Athletics
58‍–‍48
Home team wins all six meetings for second straight year
2012 Giants 4‍–‍2 5‍–‍4; 9‍–‍8; 2‍–‍4 6‍–‍8; 0‍–‍4; 6‍–‍2 Athletics
60‍–‍52
Giants win 11 straight home meetings.
Both teams qualify for playoffs
Giants win 2012 World Series
2013 Athletics 3‍–‍1 1‍–‍4; 3‍–‍6 9‍–‍6; 2‍–‍5 Athletics
63‍–‍53
Series changed to four-game format with two in each city except in years the AL West plays the NL West (2015, 2018, 2020, & 2021).
2014 Athletics 3‍–‍1 0‍–‍5; 1‍–‍6 2‍–‍5; 6‍–‍1 Athletics
66‍–‍54
Both teams qualify for playoffs
Giants win 2014 World Series
2015 Giants 5‍–‍1 4‍–‍5; 14‍–‍10; 5‍–‍4 3‍–‍9; 1‍–‍2; 3‍–‍4 Athletics
67‍–‍59
2016 Athletics 3‍–‍1 1‍–‍7; 12‍–‍6 8‍–‍3; 13‍–‍11 Athletics
70‍–‍60
2017 Tie 2‍–‍2 5‍–‍8; 10‍–‍4 6‍–‍1; 2‍–‍11 Athletics
72‍–‍62
2018 Athletics 4‍–‍2 5‍–‍1; 3–4(11); 5–6(10) 1‍–‍7; 4‍–‍3; 6‍–‍2 Athletics
76‍–‍64
Athletics win inaugural Bay Bridge Trophy
2019 Giants 3‍–‍1 10‍–‍5; 5‍–‍4 2‍–‍3; 9‍–‍5 Athletics
77‍–‍67
Giants win Bay Bridge Trophy; both teams have earned the trophy once
2020s (Tie, 12–12)
Season Season series at Oakland Athletics
SF‍–‍OAK
at San Francisco Giants
OAK‍–‍SF
Overall series Notes
2020 Athletics 5‍–‍1 0‍–‍6; 0‍–‍6; 14‍–‍2 8–7(10); 7‍–‍6; 15‍–‍3 Athletics
82‍–‍68
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, season is shortened to 60 games and each division played its interleague counterpart for 20 games, which is why both teams play three times in each city instead of two. Athletics reclaim the Bay Bridge Trophy.
2021 Giants 4‍–‍2 1‍–‍4; 6‍–‍5; 2‍–‍1 0‍–‍2; 5–6 (10); 6‍–‍2 Athletics
84‍–‍72
On August 21 and 22, the Giants make history by becoming the first MLB team to hit lead-changing pinch-hit home runs in the eighth inning or later in back-to-back games. Giants win Bay Bridge Trophy; both teams have earned the trophy twice.
2022 Giants 3‍–‍1 7‍–‍3; 6‍–‍4 2‍–‍8; 1‍–‍0 Athletics
85‍–‍75
Giants win Bay Bridge Trophy for a third time
2023 Tie 2‍–‍2 1‍–‍2; 6‍–‍8 1‍–‍2; 3‍–‍8 Athletics
87‍–‍77
Home team wins all four meetings
Athletics win Bay Bridge Trophy by winning the final game of the series[12]; both teams have earned the trophy three times.
2024 Tie 2‍–‍2 0‍–‍2; 4–2 (10); 5‍–‍2; 0‍–‍1 Athletics
89‍–‍79
Final Bay Bridge Series
Giants win the final Bay Bridge Trophy by winning the final game of the series,[13] having earned the trophy for a fourth time over the Athletics' three.
Summary of Results
Season Season series at Oakland Athletics at San Francisco Giants Notes
Philadelphia Athletics vs New York Giants Athletics 9‍–‍7 Giants, 4‍–‍3 Athletics, 6‍–‍3
Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants Athletics 80‍–‍72 Athletics, 44‍–‍32 Giants, 40‍–‍36
Regular season Athletics 76‍–‍72 Athletics, 42‍–‍32 Giants, 40‍–‍34
Postseason Games Athletics 13‍–‍7 Athletics, 6‍–‍3 Athletics, 6‍–‍4
Postseason Series Athletics 3‍–‍1 Athletics, 2‍–‍1‍–‍1 Tie, 2‍–‍2 World Series: 1905, 1911, 1913, 1989
Overall Regular and postseason Athletics 89‍–‍79 Athletics, 48‍–‍35 Giants, 44‍–‍40

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Head-to-Head Records — Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants from 1997 to 2024". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Oakland Athletics against San Francisco Giants". mcubed.net. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  3. ^ "San Francisco Giants vs Oakland Athletics Box Score: June 26, 2005". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  4. ^ "San Francisco Giants vs Oakland Athletics Box Score: June 4, 2000". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  5. ^ Slusser, By Susan. "A's take last game to win Bay Bridge Series with Giants". Sfgate. SF Gate.
  6. ^ Haberman, Clyde (13 April 2014). "Promises of Preparedness Followed Devastating Earthquakes. And Yet". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "1997 Oakland Athletics Schedule". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac, Inc. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  8. ^ McCauley, Janie (June 12, 2010). "Giants' Zito finally beats former team in 5th try". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Nowhere men". espn. 15 June 2011.
  10. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/ Oakland Athletics history at baseball-reference.com
  11. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/ San Francisco Giants history at baseball-reference.com
  12. ^ "A's top Giants to win 2023 Tom Pellack Memorial Bridge Trophy". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  13. ^ Field Level Media (August 18, 2024). "Giants top A's in 10, win final Bay Bridge Series". Reuters. Retrieved August 19, 2024.