OAKLAND -- Almost 30 years have passed since the A's swept the Giants in the World Series in 1989, a series that was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake and turned the Bay Area's attention away from baseball.
There was no parade at the time, and understandably so. But on Saturday, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Coliseum, players from the 1989 team gathered to be honored in an on-field ceremony, receiving a belated parade ceremony for their championship.
"Out of respect of what was going on in the city, we understood," said Mike Gallego, who was then the A's starting second baseman. "As far as celebrating at the time, it wasn't appropriate."
He added: "But it's history, and we're proud to be part of history."
The heroes of that team, including Jose Canseco, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley and Rickey Henderson, gathered outside the A's dugout before the game. They shared handshakes, hugs and laughs. Then, they rode around what is now Rickey Henderson Field in classic cars, getting the parade they never had. A large number of fans arrived early for the ceremony, including those in Mount Davis, which was open for the first time in 13 years, bringing capacity to 56,782.
"We've had a blast at the hotel the last couple days and last night at the game," said Carney Lansford, then the starting third baseman. "Some of the guys I haven't seen since the '90s, so it's really nice."
The players still feel a bond with the fans and recall the friendships they made both on and off the field.
"They treated us like their own kids. They treated our kids like their own," Gallego said. "We always felt safe here. Very proud to be a part of the Oakland A's organization."
Lansford, a Golden State Warriors fan, said he feels a bit cheated the A's never got to celebrate their championship. He's glad they could on Saturday.
"To watch those guys celebrate three of the last four years, just feel a little bit cheated there, so it's nice that they're doing this tonight," Lansford said.