1968 04-17 Orioles at Athletics

The Thomas Paine Podcast presents a detailed play-by-play broadcast of the opening game of the 1968 American League season, held at the newly opened Oakland Coliseum. The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Oakland A's 4-1 in a tightly contested game that marked the first Major League Baseball game in Northern California. The Orioles' offense was powered by home runs from Boog Powell, Mark Belanger, and Brooks Robinson, while their starting pitcher, Dave McNally, delivered a dominant two-hitter, striking out four and allowing only one base hit. The A's managed only one hit—a solo home run by Rick Monday—and left just one runner on base. Despite strong defensive plays and a record-breaking crowd of 50,164—the largest in Northern California history—the A's were outpitched. The broadcast features commentary on player performances, team strategies, and promotional segments for upcoming events, including a youth cap giveaway and an exhibition game with the University of California Golden Bears. The episode concludes with reflections on the game’s significance as a milestone for the A's franchise and the Bay Area’s baseball culture.