Oakland Athletics tickets are on sale to see if a Cuban defect, a career malcontent, and a host of youth is enough to drag the A’s out of the bowels of the AL West. Yes, Billy Beane courted Yoenis Cespedes and Manny Ramirez and now this roster will have a decidedly Latin flavor to begin the 2012 MLB season. TheSeats has the A’s tickets for this new season at the O.co Stadium to witness just how successful this new combination of young talent and veterans in search of redemption will work.

Oakland Athletics Tickets for Sale

Cespedes is definitely the most exciting addition to the A’s roster. He is a center fielder with enough power to potentially hit 30 to 40 homeruns. Though almost every person who sees this baseball player agrees that he is going to be a force in the future, it is unknown just how well he will be in his first season against MLB pitching. The addition of Manny with a minor league contract is perhaps not the mystery many have made it out to be. Cespedes wanted to play beside Manny Ramirez and now he gets his wish.

In addition to Cespedes and Ramirez, the Oakland Athletics also added outfielder Jonny Gomes, outfielder Seth Smith, outfielder Josh Reddick, right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock, and right-handed pitcher Bartolo Colon. Basically, the outfield could be packed and providing the majority of the offense.

The starting rotation is going to be led by Dallas Braden, but he needs to mend completely before taking over the ace role from Brandon McCarthy. Add another valuable starter returning from injury in Brett Anderson and the front three are not looking too bad. Colon is ancient but could have a few good starts left in the tank. Then, it is up to whichever young arm distinguishes himself in spring training.

Oakland Athletics History

The Oakland Athletics began their professional life back in 1901 in Philadelphia. As the Philadelphia Athletics, the franchise enjoyed 54 seasons and two dynasties. The Athletics won six American League pennants in the league’s first two decades and won three World Series from 1910 to 1913. This era featured Eddie Collins, Frank Baker, and Eddie Plank. The Athletics would return to prominence from 1927 to 1933. Starting pitcher Lefty Grove and first baseman Jimmie Foxx won MVP awards as the A’s would play in three World Series and won two.

The organization began to move west. Starting with a brief interlude in Kansas City, the Athletics found its current home of Oakland in 1968. The years in Kansas City were less than fruitful. The move to Oakland quickly proved an advantageous one, as the A’s took first in the AL West within four seasons of moving to the Oakland. Pitcher Vida Blue took the MVP and CYA in the 101-win 1971 season. Reggie Jackson and “Catfish” Hunter were the key to the three straight World Series from 1972 to 1974.

The next great era came in the late 1990s. Jose Conseco, Mar McGwire, and Rickey Henderson became the Bash Brothers and Bob Welch and Dave Stewart fronted an exceptional pitching staff. The Athletics played in three World Series from 1988 to 1990 and won one, in 1989. That season they swept the Giants.

Those great seasons would pass and the budget shrank after Steve Schott purchased the baseball team. General Manager Billy Beane began following the Moneyball rules, as the ownership would not for its star free agents. Oakland would reach the playoffs five times from 2000 to 2006, losing in the ALDS from 2000 to 2003 and advancing to the ALCS in 2006. TheSeats has the Oakland Athletics tickets for the new season as the club tries to return to the postseason.