Associated press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mark Kotsay treated this moment, this intimidating day, like the World Series he’s never had as a player or manager.

Kotsay fought back tears, like so many others Thursday, as the A’s said an emotional farewell to the beloved Coliseum they’ve called home since 1968, complete with all its quirks like plumbing problems and rally possums — and those stray cats that inspired Hall from Famer Tony La Russa’s former Animal Rescue Foundation.

“I’ve never been to a World Series before,” Kotsay said. “But I feel like today is one of those days where you can experience the emotion of that, the magnitude of it. When I drive through the gates today and see the fullness of a parking lot, and feel the energy and the emotion, it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Longtime supporters and children alike sneaked away from work or school to be here for the matinee final against the Texas Rangers, a sellout crowd of 46,889 performing under a cloudless blue sky in September.

Kotsay made one request for a memento: he takes home three bases, which were changed every inning, leaving 27 available as a memento — with longtime, outgoing groundskeeper Clay Wood donating the first-inning bags.

From Kotsay’s days playing the field and way back to the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series when the A’s defeated the Giants, to Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire and that special 20-game winning streak of 2002 and the Big Three by Tim Hudson. Mark Mulder and Barry Zito before “I Believe in Stephen Vogt” later became a rallying cry, this building has been home to so many moments of glory that transcend eras and span stars across generations.

Zito sang the national anthem to loud applause, while Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart threw out the ceremonial first pitches.

Not far from the A’s dugout, Kelly Mattson of the grounds crew had fans shoveling dirt from his shovel.

Hours before the first pitch, A’s bullpen catcher Dustin Hughes and his Oakland scout father John played catch in left field before walking to Mount Davis and then exploring the inside of the scoreboard and other hidden spots beneath the center field stands.

Hundreds of fans have walked through the hall in recent days, taking photos or making videos of all the photos and memories from over the decades. The parking lots were full before breakfast, with the tailgaters taking everything just once.

Marcus Semien, former A’s fan favorite and current Rangers second baseman, expected 10 to 15 family and friends, including his parents and grandparents, in the stands for the special occasion.

“Thank you to all the security guards and concession workers, everyone who turned this place into a Major League stadium,” Semien said on the field. “I really appreciate you welcoming me into your workplace as an East Bay kid. I feel very sorry for anyone who can’t move on with Oakland, but continues to grind like you always have been.”

Bruce Bochy, a longtime manager and former catcher, became emotional in the visiting dugout. The Colosseum is also so important to him.

The A’s plan to play in Sacramento for the next three years, hoping to open a new ballpark in Las Vegas before the 2028 season.

“Big day,” said Bochy, a former catcher who guided the San Francisco Giants to World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14. “A momentous day for so many people, I think, but for me it’s starting to dawn on me now that baseball is done here. It’s a bit sad. Because I love this place, the field and everything.”

Of his team, he added: “I think they really appreciate this place.”

Kotsay planned to take it all in.

“It’s a day that will come and go quite quickly,” he said, “and you just don’t want to miss any opportunity to express your gratitude to the fans, to the people who mean everything, the workers in the stadium. It was hard to share moments with them today. There are a lot of people here who have invested their lives and souls in this organization and in this stadium and in the game of baseball. The love for baseball, but more for the love for the people and the relationships that have been built in this stadium over the past 57 years.”

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