The San Francisco Giants rolled out a new souvenir for their weekend series against the Oakland Athletics—well, technically West Sacramento Athletics. Fans at Oracle Park could snag a white T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Highway 80 Series,” complete with a Bay Bridge graphic and the logos of both teams. A tongue-in-cheek nod, perhaps, to the evolving rivalry now that the A’s have left Oakland after 57 years and temporarily call Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento home. Fun fact: the actual freeway linking Sacramento and San Francisco is officially Interstate 80, not “Highway 80.”
This weekend marked MLB’s inaugural “Rivalry Weekend,” a league-wide celebration of regional baseball matchups. For decades, the Giants-A’s rivalry peaked in moments like the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series, but the dynamics have shifted. With the A’s no longer just across the Bay, players now face full road-trip routines, including hotels and long flights—far from the comfort of their former Oakland digs.
“It’s different,” said A’s GM David Forst before Friday’s opener. “Generations of fans will still see this as A’s-Giants, but for the players, it’s just another road trip.”
Adjusting to West Sacramento has presented challenges. Pitcher Luis Severino admitted to struggling with the unusual layout, where the clubhouse sits a 400-foot walk from left field, rather than just behind the dugout. Catcher Shea Langeliers echoed the sentiment, noting that media questions about the temporary home are “more bothersome than playing there.”
Despite the adjustment period, the A’s have excelled on the road, boasting MLB’s top road-winning percentage at 14-9, while their home record of 8-13 lags near the bottom. Forst remains optimistic that performance at Sutter Health Park will improve as players settle in.
On the field, the Giants dominated Friday night, 9-1. Wilmer Flores crushed three homers to drive in eight runs, and Rocklin native Logan Webb pitched eight strong innings. After the game, players acknowledged that the A’s home-away-from-home situation creates a stark contrast with their road experiences, with Langeliers noting, “It feels like two different atmospheres.”
Severino, the team’s highest-paid player, is receiving special attention to help him adjust. Forst and manager Mark Kotsay have discussed ways to keep him comfortable, including potential clubhouse access tweaks during home innings. The team remains committed to finding solutions while maintaining professionalism on the field.
As the series continues, the “Highway 80 Series” T-shirt may just become a collector’s piece—a symbol of a rivalry in transition, proving that even baseball traditions can evolve along with the game.
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