What’s the best way to commemorate a team’s historic move to a glittering new city? For Oakland Athletics’ owner John Fisher, the answer was apparently cheap cowboy boots—a gift with a surprising connection to Fisher’s own family business, the Gap. This bizarre and seemingly insulting gesture sparked understandable outrage from players and fans.

Former A’s pitcher Trevor May recently shed light on the incident in a revealing conversation with Foul Territory, offering a glimpse into the strained relationship between players and ownership.

Oakland Athletics’ Frugal Gift

In the interview that was posted by FT on their Twitter page with the caption “Trevor May “reveals the “gift” A’s players found at their lockers after the relocation announcement…Cheap cowboy boots 😭,” May’s account paints a picture of bewilderment and disappointment.

“We were given a gift… after the announcement,” May recalled, describing the boots that mysteriously appeared in player lockers. May discovered not only that the gift was random and ill-fitting but also that a Gap-owned brand made them—an ironic detail given Fisher’s status as heir to the Gap fortune, with an individual net worth of $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.

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The boots arrived without any explanation. “There was no letter or nothing,” May said, expressing the confusion the gesture caused amongst the players of the Oakland Athletics. The lack of communication further amplified the tone-deaf and impersonal nature of the gift, making it feel like a half-hearted attempt to appease the team amid a tumultuous move.

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Foul Territory commentators were quick to draw the connection between Fisher’s notorious frugality and the origin of the boots. “Here’s a little gift that cost us nothing, because we own the company that made these,” they quipped, highlighting the seemingly calculated nature of the gesture. This angle adds another layer of insensitivity to the story, especially in light of the A’s history of low payroll and the perceived unwillingness to invest in the team.

Trevor May’s Motivation and Legacy

For May, the boots became a symbol of his mounting frustration with the Oakland Athletics’ ownership. His initial desire to “put this all over the internet” speaks to the depth of his dissatisfaction. While he ultimately chose to keep the boots as “historical memorabilia,” the incident undoubtedly contributed to the strained relationship between players and management.

Likely to be remembered as the ‘cowboy boot fiasco,’ this exposes John Fisher’s tumultuous tenure as the owner of the A’s. The ill-conceived gift highlights a disconnect between ownership and players and speaks volumes about the perceived lack of value placed on the team’s on-field talent.

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As the Oakland Athletics prepare for their Las Vegas debut next season, it remains uncertain whether Fisher’s approach will adapt to the team’s new location or if this signifies another chapter in a legacy of strained relationships and questionable decisions.