Bryan Cantrill reflects on the Oakland Ballers' 2025 Pioneer League championship victory, weaving together his family's history as Oakland A's fans, the trauma of the A's relocation by owner John Fisher, and the redemptive emergence of this independent league team. The essay explores how sports teams become vessels for family memories across generations, and how the scrappy Ballers—staffed largely by local NorCal players—provided Oakland with an unexpected path to healing after losing their MLB franchise.
Oct 4, 2025 Career ReflectionsLeadership & Culture