Me, my Grandpa, and the Oakland A's!

This is a part of baseball that is truly special, the part that brings the generations together. Thanks for writing this.

It sounds like you have some great memories of him.

I think we can all relate to baseball, family and the bonds that form within and because of them.

Sorry for the loss of your grandfather. It’s wonderful that you have so many warm memories together.

My grandfather is also the reason I’m a diehard A’s fan.

I grew up in the Bronx, as did my grandfather. But he rooted for the Athletics in Philly, Kansas City and Oakland.

He was born in this country, but his parents were born in Europe. He wanted to be a real American and a baseball fan. In 1929, he rooted for the underdog Athletics against the Cubs and once they won, he was hooked for life. What’s more American than to root for the underdog who overcomes great odds and wins? (He was also a socialist.)

My dad grew up in the Bronx, rooting for the KC A’s when the Yankees literally won the pennant every year. He got beat up a lot. But he passed a passion for the A’s on to me.

My Grandpa was a good man, but I always found it easiest to talk to him about the Athletics. It was an easy entre into the rest of our conversations and our relationship. He died a few years ago.

My son was born last year, in San Francisco. My wife said we’ll have to explain that we’re A’s fans for much stronger reasons than geography.

For professional reasons, we moved back to New York in July. Back here, people keep telling us we should free the little guy of the curse of being an A’s fan. I tell them we can’t; it’s heredity. Plus, I would never want to disrespect my grandpa like that.

Your Grandpa sounds like he was just a great guy and I’m glad you and he shared some hobbies. I’m sorry you lost your running partner.

He sounds like a he lived a full life. Thanks for celebrating it with us.

Born near Chernobyl before Chernobyl, Ukraine, grandpa came over as a kid around 1910 or so and in between living in NY and LA he spent a couple years near San Antonio, TX (which as a Jew wasn’t always easy in those days, but i digress.)

Anyway, while in San Antonio he attended a barnstorming “spring training-ish” tour of major leaguers, including Babe Ruth, who’s hand he shook.

Grandpa would tell me how they used to bet a nickel on outcomes of ABs and the such, and i can just imagine the baggy uni’s as i write this.

Anyway, years later before his death at 94, my brother and i took him to an A’s game in the “they’re young, but they can play” slogan year (when was that again?) After getting a foul ball (i tell myself and defend with a passion) due to the luck grandpa gave me that day, on the way out (after a loss,) he looks up at the banners and says “they’re young.”

The man was a communist, then socialist, and finally humanist, and he lived a full life of early on young labor union organizer followed by catching the economic post WWll boom as an electrician. Progressive, activist youth (in and out of jail for labor union organizing, shot at by cops, etc) making the world better for working people, then fairly well off older life….the man had stories and experiences that we just don’t see much anymore and i miss him dearly.

Thanks OP for this great trip down memory lane and for sharing your very cool grandpa with us. My sympathies for your loss, but he’ll always be with you.

Each of us probably has a similar tale of the person that taught us to love baseball. These memories and what he shared with you over the years will keep his love alive in your heart. May he rest in peace.

but ultimately feel good that you got to share so much quality time with such a great guy… beautiful story, thanks wacchamps.

He always had a great comment for my kids coming through the gate.
Very sorry for your loss.

In the last few years of my Grandpa’s Alzheimer’s embattled life, one of the few things we could still do was go to the A’s game. Coming full circle from my youth, it was me leading him to his seats and putting the ketchup and mustard on his hot dogs like he used to do for me as a young child. Great (and later sad but worth it) memories!

Pretty much gonna echo what the others have already said and add that my grandmother liked watching the A’s too and we’d talk about the team sometimes or I’d explain something to her that was going on. She’d played softball back in school and would sometimes tell me that she took a ball off one of her fingers one time and it never fully healed the right way so there was always a little stiffness or something in it that the others didn’t have. Either way, there was a connection there that we could talk about so I know exactly what that’s like, and there are times I miss it in addition to everything else about her.

Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into your grandfather’s wonderful life.

Sorry for your loss, but happy that you have great memories. Made me think of my Grandpa. He introduced me to baseball, and was a great baseball player himself in the early 1900’s. Thanks for making me think of him.

…I’m so sorry about the loss of your awesome grandfather. I’m glad that you are carrying on the A’s traditions. :-)

Great tribute, and it’s great that your grandfather lived into his nineties, PLUS>>>>> he bought those bets on the pennant and WS. That is a great finish, and a future flourish.

to me the greatest part of sports is the connection it gives you to your family and friends and even to a place.

We need all the good, hardworking Raider and A’s fans we can get so I know your Grandpa will be missed. Thanks for sharing this with us wacchampions.

I wish I could say I remember seeing him. What a great face and smile. My condolences.

I’m sorry for your loss— what a great story!

I knew as soon as I started reading this that I was going to be trouble, and sure enough, I couldn’t read the last paragraph from the tears in my eyes.

I am sorry for your loss. I can only hope that I am blessed with a relationship like this with my son and future grandkids.

I was hoping the story wasn’t going to end like that but it was a pretty good Eulogy, of sorts.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us.