Who Are the Oakland Ballers?

They are Oakland’s Professional Baseball Team: After the Oakland Athletics left the Town after 57 years, two friends from high school put together California’s first expansion team from the Pioneer League. They turned a city park into a baseball gem in two months and helped continue a revival of sports, culture, food, and volunteerism in the Prescott neighborhood of West Oakland.

They are the 2025 Pioneer League Champions: In their second year of existence, the B’s set the modern era Pioneer League record for regular season wins and won four win-or-go-home games in the playoffs to capture Oakland’s first professional baseball championship in 36 years. The team was given the key to the city and hosted a parade—complete, of course, with a fire-breathing snail.

So, What is the Pioneer League? The Pioneer League is an MLB-partner league, which means they are not in the affiliated minor league pipeline (A—AAA, etc) but maintain connections to the major leagues. There are twelve teams spread out across Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and California. The league began in 1939 and runs a “short season”—from the end of May to early September—and has formal agreements with MLB to test new innovations for the game, including automated balls and strikes and replay, AI and video use, and the most visible: a “knockout round” home run derby instead of extra innings to settle tied games.

Where Do Ballers Players Come From? In the past, the league would have been called a “rookie league,” allowing players their first professional experience out of college or the MLB Draft League, but the player-development goals remain the same: an early-career showcase to provide avenues to minor and major-league futures. Most players in the Pioneer League must have fewer than three years of professional experience. The Ballers in particular have prioritized signing athletes from the greater Bay Area, and last season saw players from Cal, Cal State East Bay, and Berkeley High. Three stars on the 2025 team had been playing with or against each other since they were kids!

Where Do Ballers Players Go? Players have signed with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, White Sox, and Giants organizations. They frequently sign with other independent leagues as well. In 2024, Kelsie Whitmore became the first woman to start a Pioneer League game, and she went on to pitch in the Savanna Bananas organization.

What Do Ballers Players Do in the Offseason? Many players work in baseball on other teams or camps. Some take a break from baseball working construction or taking internships or driving a Zamboni. Some players travel the world playing in other seasonal leagues (looking at you, Mumbai Cobras!)

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, but Tell Me More About Scrappy: Scrappy the Rally Possum is the mascot of the Ballers. Back in the terminal days of baseball at the Oakland Coliseum, possums made regular appearances in the press boxes. Scrappy escaped the Coliseum and found his new home at Raimondi Park. And yes, the team has also fostered baby possums.

Can I Wear My Athletics or Giants Gear? Sure! Everything and everyone welcome. What about vintage base-ball threads? Highly encouraged. What about my SELL shirt? Also fine, though the B’s want you to BUY in whenever you can. (I can highly recommend saving that SELL shirt for other opportunities.) Oaklandish and Last Dive Bar make some incredible B’s merch—the team ranks among the most sales in the partner leagues—so check that out in-stadium and online too.

They Say Lead Paint Chips Really Aren’t That Bad For You and Are Quite Delicious Should I Eat Them? No.

Helpful B’s Vocabulary:

Anything in a Helmet: A real promotion—you can get anything sold at Raimondi in a replica helmet—and a life philosophy. See also: Hennything is Possible, referencing both a team love of Hennessy and a nearly-impossible run to the championship.

Beer Batter: A beverage-based Pioneer League innovation where each game a player on the visiting team is unluckily chosen—if that batter strikes out, beer is discounted for the rest of the inning. Don’t think of it as schadenfreude; think wir lieben bier. Colloquially, used when life has picked you as its loser for the day.

“Ice Cold”: You’ll hear Ice Cold Kenny’s signature sell throughout the stands delivering, indeed, the best coldest drinks in town. He’s also the B’s champion at Knocker Ball, a Bay Area vending institution, and he famously called the B’s victory in the 2025 championship, Ballers in 5.

Last Dive Bar: A nickname for the Oakland Coliseum and a celebrated fan community, advocacy group, store and B’s partner, Last Dive Bar.

Mayor Mike: Where else is your celebrity hot dog vendor Mike Davie also the informal mayor of Oakland? You’ll always get the best dog in town, and if you’re lucky, he might have a coveted sticker for you or your little one.

Scrappy’s Sanctuary: The fan area behind the right field bleachers featuring concessions and food trucks and a kids’ playground open only to fans during games (my five-year-old’s approval: it is the best thing in the park.) Also features most of the team’s rescued Stomper statues from around Oakland.

68’s or Oakland 68s: A fan community, advocacy, and volunteer group whose name references the first year of Athletics baseball in Oakland. They widely support Oakland sports and culture, and their drums and organized cheers are the heartbeat of fan life at Raimondi—find them all the way down the right field bleachers; they welcome all newcomers!