Guardians' manager Stephen Vogt cherishes Oakland memories

Jason Burke | Mar 30, 2024

Sep 24, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Stephen Vogt (21) walks / Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

OAKLAND -- New Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt is living a baseball fairytale. He started his career in Tampa Bay, but really latched on with the Oakland A's in 2013. His first big-league hit was a home run to right field at the Coliseum. He had a walk-off hit against the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the 2013 ALDS. He was named to two consecutive All Star games in 2015 and 2016 as a member of the A's during their rebuilding years.

After spending some time with Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Arizona, Vogt returned to Oakland for his final season in 2022. Veterans Stephen Piscotty and Jed Lowrie saw their time with the team cut short that year, but Vogt was around until the end. In his final career at-bat, he smacked a home run to right field in almost the same spot that his first career hit landed a decade before.

It's fitting that the 39-year-old it beginning his managerial career where he had so many great moments as a player. He's also 3-0 against his former team to begin the season.

In the first three games against his old club, Vogt has shown that he is ruthless as a manager. In Thursday's 8-0 win, he challenged whether or not former teammate Seth Brown made a catch in right field in the ninth inning with an eight run lead. On Saturday, his Guardians stole six bags off rookie catcher Kyle McCann, who was making his MLB debut.

These Guardians make contact, they run, and their manager loves it.

With the A's planned relocation to Las Vegas and the team's lease at the Coliseum running out this year, there is a chance that this weekend's games will be the last time Vogt gets to visit the place that he has made so many memories. Before Saturday's game we asked him if there was something from the Coliseum that he would like to have as a memento if given the opportunity.

"I've got the memories. I've got plenty of mementos. Even just picturing things and remembering what this place looked like with 55,000 people waving their towels in the playoffs. Just the friends and memories and loved ones that are here. That's plenty of a memento for me."

Baseball is a game of memories, and Vogt has quite a few here at the Coliseum.