The Bay Area is home to some of the most popular teams in American sport. The San Francisco 49ers are known across the world as champions of the NFL. The Oakland A's are one of baseball's historically richest teams with nine World Series wins since their inception in Philadelphia. The Giants are steeped in history as well. And who could forget the little team that could, the San Jose Sharks hockey team, one of the more successful NHL teams since their inception in 1992.

But to focus on the history of these teams would neglect some of the teams that came before.

BASEBALL

Oakland Oaks (Pacific Coast League) 1903-1955

Founded in 1903, the Oaks were a homegrown organization, named for the city of Oakland. They played in Oaks Park from 1911 until their departure for Vancouver, BC in 1955. The Oaks won five league titles in 1912, '27, '48, '50 and '54. The Oaks were the first team to break the color barrier when they 'accidentally' hired African American and Native American player Jimmy Claxton.

Future Oakland A's manager Billy Martin played second base for the Oaks in 1948. Eventually the Oaks were associated with the Yankees and managers Casey Stengel and Mel Ott were both promoted to the Yanks from Oakland. Ironically, the A's would serve a similar function for the Yankees throughout their history. A dilapidated Oaks Stadium and dropping attendance allowed for the team to move in 1955, ending baseball in Oakland until the A's arrived in 1968.

San Francisco Seals (Pacific Coast League) 1903-1957

Founded in 1903 by the same owner of the Oakland Oaks club. The Seals played in several venues including Recreation Park 1903-1913 and from 1915-1930, Ewing Field for the 1914 season and Seals Stadium from 1931-1957. They won 14 PCL titles in San Francisco before moving to Phoenix, AZ in 1957, after winning their final title. In 1905, the Seals set a major league record by playing in 230 games in one season. The late summers on the West Coast allowed for a much longer season. A year later, the Seals were forced to play across the Bay in Oakland's Freeman's Park when the 1906 Earthquake destroyed Recreation Park. When the New York Giants announced their move to San Francisco, it forced the Seals to move.

San Francisco Missions (Pacific Coast League) 1914

In 1914, a Sacramento team looking for greener pastures headed to San Francisco finishing the 1914 season as the Missions. They headed for greener-greener pastures the next year in Salt Lake City where they became the Bees. They were off again to Hollywood in 1926.

Mission Reds (Pacific Coast League) 1926-1938

The Missions, as they seem to have been called came up from Los Angeles in 1926. Attempting to appeal to San Francisco's southern Mission District, the team never could surpass the well established Seals and Oaks and the team was moved to Hollywood, to replace the old Stars, who moved to San Diego... it's like the hat game they show on Diamond Vision.

 

FOOTBALL

Oakland Invaders (USFL) 1983-1985

The Oakland Invaders were a short lived franchise that played in the Oakland Colisseum for three years. Hoping to take the place of the recently departed Los Angeles Raiders, the Invaders made themselves at home in Oakland in the newly formed USFL. The league folded quickly but spawned a few players, including Gary Plummer, who was picked up in 1983 by the Invaders. After merging with a Michigan Panthers team the Invaders lost the 1985 championship game to the Baltimore Stars, in what was the last game of the leagues history. Future NFL quarterback Bobby Hebert led the Invaders for the 1985 season. An anti-trust lawsuit with the NFL ended play.

San Francisco Demons (XFL) 2001

The Demons were a part of one of the wackiest sports concepts in history. It was like a merger of pro-wrestling and football. Gimmicks like allowing players to put their own words on their jerseys, allowing fans to keep errant footballs and cameras in the locker room at halftime, were supposed to make this league more accessible and ‘Xtreme’. Somehow, it just made it silly.

 

Our local Demons put a smack down on the league with the highest attendance at Pac Bell Park and an appearance in the “Million Dollar Game,” which they lost to the Los Angeles Xtreme (original). The Demons featured two Cal quarterback favorites in Mike Pawlawski and Pat Barnes.

San Jose Sabercats (AFL) 1995-2008

Probably one of the Bay Area’s most dominant teams ever, the SaberCats enjoyed great success in San Jose. Having won three titles and eight division titles in 12 years the fans were heartbroken when the AFL stopped play in 2008. There is great hope for the squad to return in 2011. The SaberKittens dance team was also a major draw for the team.

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