Semien hopes his tenure with the A's had a “positive” impact on Oakland

Semien hopes his tenure with the A's has had a “positive” impact on Oakland. Originally published on NBC Sports Bay Area

OAKLAND – Marcus Semien is as East Bay as it gets.

The current Texas Rangers shortstop – and member of Oakland's last Coliseum opponent – grew up in El Cerrito, Calif., and attended St. Mary's College High School. Semien also played three seasons at Cal before making a name for himself in the MLB by playing for the A's for six years.

The 34-year-old is not a fan of the A's move to Sacramento and ultimately Las Vegas. He's also concerned about the role models the kids are losing. Semien made it clear that he wouldn't be who he is today — a three-time MLB All-Star, 2019 AL MVP finalist and 2023 World Series champion — without being inspired by local icons like Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada.

Semien hopes that as a player for Oakland, he similarly inspired the youth of East Bay to pursue their major league dreams.

“Well, that's definitely something I've tried to do,” Semien told NBC Sports California before Wednesday's game. “You know, I looked up to the guys that were on the A's and Giants as a kid, so I think it was my duty to do that.”

“In my last two years in Oakland, we had some pretty good teams, and that definitely created some excitement. And hopefully it helped the kids want to play baseball.”

Semien used to take BART from El Cerrito Plaza to watch the A's play in Oakland. As of Wednesday night, he leads all active players with 409 games played at the Coliseum. Semien also collected 758 hits and 107 home runs with the A's and was part of their last three MLB playoff runs from 2018-2020.

This brings us full circle.

Semien lived his dream of a hometown team with the Green and Golds, but he knows that today's local baseball protégés don't have the same opportunity. So what can Semien do to get the East Bay's young talent excited about the game? He offers advice.

“I mean, look at the Golden Bears. They have lights now and it's definitely a better atmosphere than when I was there,” Semien said with a grin. “The team seems good. The Giants are still here, [but] it's a little difficult to get there. I would say … just keep watching the game as best you can, even though the A's are gone.”

Semien, the son of two Cal graduates, helped the Golden Bears make their first College World Series appearance since 1992 (2011) – a feat that came months after UC Berkeley's baseball program was all but shut down due to budget constraints. Semien's point: Cal's Stu Gordon Stadium is about 11 miles from the Coliseum. Perhaps former Oakland fans can support the kids from the streets.

San Francisco, on the other hand, will be a difficult city and team for loyal A's fans to keep an eye on, given the geographic rivalry, history and the Giants' decision to let owner John Fisher leave Oakland. Plus, for decades, “The Town” and “The City” enjoyed the Bay's battles between the Raiders and 49ers and the A's and Giants. Those are no more, though.

Still, Oakland has treated Semien well. And while the Coliseum may not be the most glamorous arena in America, the two-time Silver Slugger grew up there, and the 63,000-seat arena has allowed him to develop from a flawed infielder into a Gold Glove Award winner.

There's nothing Semien can do about the looming vacancy in Oakland, which is above his pay grade. But Semien wants the fans – who are screaming his name as extinction looms on their doorstep – to know that he gave them everything.

“Any positive applause for me is always great, you know?” Semien explained. “As an opponent, they're not all going to be positive now, but hopefully I had a positive influence on those fans.”

“I know it wasn’t always nice, but I tried to do my best every day.”

Oakland loses its team, but the city's love for Semien remains. He, too, will always love Oakland.

Semien doesn't have a favorite teammate; he loves them all. The shortstop also cited the A's 50th anniversary “free game” as his favorite memory.

The A's may no longer have roots in Oakland, but Semien always will.