PROGRAMMING NOTE: NBC Sports California is looking back at the A's 50 Memorable Moments since the franchise relocated to Oakland in 1968. Below are the next two moments you can vote on. Tune into A's Pregame Live today at 4:30 p.m. to watch highlights of the two moments. After the A's and Astros conclude, tune into A's Postgame Live to see which moment will move on to the next round!
1. Dallas Braden's Perfect Game on Mother's Day 2010 (17-time winner -- Matt Olson's five-game home run streak in 2017)
(From Dallas Braden)
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Well, they haven’t taken it away yet so I guess it might not be a dream after all. It’s still insane to think that on such a special day for so many people, my teammates and I were able to etch ourselves into the hearts of A’s fans everywhere.
In the moment, I had no clue. At the same time, I was fully aware. Completely focused and emotionally distracted at the same time. Hell, I talked myself into the wrong count in the last at-bat of the game. The 27th out. In that moment I had no clue. No clue I’d become the vehicle for such an emotional moment shared between mothers and their families across baseball that special day. I do believe that’s what I was -- merely a vehicle to connect people through our beautiful game. My mom, along with the baseball gods, and Landon Powell, I guess, all steered us down the path of history and to be able to share and relive those special moments and memories is a blessing a young little leaguer can only dream of.
I hope that through my passion for the game you feel the same love I, myself, my wife, baby girl, and grandmother have felt from each of you, the fans of the Green & Gold. We couldn’t be happier to share this Mother’s Day and every Mother’s Day from here on out, TOGETHER! It’s a perfect fit if you ask me.
VS.
2. A's clinch AL West on final day of the season in 2000
After failing to reach the postseason for seven straight years, the A's needed a win in their final game of the 2000 regular season to clinch the AL West title. Behind eight shutout innings from second-year starter Tim Hudson, Oakland beat Texas 3-0 to officially end the playoff drought.
Oakland Athletics
The A's finished the regular season 91-70, half a game ahead of Seattle. Hudson went 20-6 with a 4.14 ERA, finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting, behind Pedro Martinez. The 2000 season also marked the rookie campaigns for Barry Zito and Mark Mulder.
Jason Giambi was named AL MVP after batting .333 with 43 home runs and 147 runs batted in. The A's would go on to reach the postseason four of the next six years.
VOTE HERE