Bring Your A’s Game Community Takes Over in 2012

What better way to start off the 2012 MLB season than with a little publicity, right? First I had the chance to chat with Ed Condran over at the Philly Post about the prospects of the A’s returning to Philadelphia and then I had a nice little interview down at my favorite baseball memorabilia shop Mitchell & Ness this morning. I’ll be sure to share the details on that one when it gets closer to airing. Needless to say it’s a good get — possibly my best yet — and I’ll be sharing it here and Twitter and Facebook and probably a few social networks that haven’t been invented yet.

So how are things going, you ask? Pretty well, actually! No, I wasn’t crushed after being bested by PhillieBot at the Philly Geek Awards, though I feel like Pennant was totally robbed! I’ve just been insanely busy with work and family, as you’ve probably noticed by the lack of posts here, to say nothing of the diminished volume on Twitter and Facebook. You’re following and liking, right? (If not, it’s ok; get started on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you. That’s better.)

So the A’s were back in town last season and it was pretty cool. Dunno about you, but for me I couldn’t help but think how cool it would be if the team in the visiting dugout were actually just a few blocks away, rather than across the country in a situation that’s probably best described as precarious. While A’s owner Lew Wolff looks to San Jose, we’re right here, waiting for the A’s to return to their rightful home. Yet while they basks in its Oscar-nominated afterglow, Billy Beane has to sell off their best pieces. Can’t help but think that Connie Mack would completely understand, considering he tore apart some great teams simply because he knew he couldn’t afford to keep them.

Back then there was at least the implicit promise that he’d rebuild the team. The Athletics had not one but two legitimate dynasties while they were in Philadelphia. The same can’t be said of the Oakland A’s, who after a flash of brilliance in the ’70s and ’80s have dimmed considerably. The Coliseum’s empty seats mock them. Ownership is practically begging for a way out of town. But who’s to say that San Jose will cure what ails them?

When I started this project nearly two years ago, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I knew it would be an ongoing campaign to let Philadelphians know that their town was once and should be again a two-team town. There’s still a long way to go. This is only the beginning.

For 2012, we need new tactics. We’ve celebrated the A’s while they were here last summer, but what can we do next? I want ideas from the Bring Your A’s Game community. I want to join forces with the Philadelphia A’s Historical Society in a major way this summer and see what we can do together. We’ll need all the help we can get. I can’t wait for a new season to begin!