OAKLAND, Calif. — After a thrilling walk-off win against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night, Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay entered his office, tore his lineup sheet in half, and was about to throw it away when panic struck him.

“I suddenly thought, ‘What if this is our last victory at the Coliseum as a team?'” Kotsay shared. “So, it’s still in my office, torn but not thrown away. It’s one of those thoughts you don’t usually have, but it’s something to be mindful of right now.’

The players, fans, and staff of the A’s are all feeling the weight of the moment as the team’s last game at Oakland Coliseum approaches, set for Thursday afternoon at 3:37 p.m. ET against the Texas Rangers.

Fans have already begun sneakily trying to take seats as keepsakes, as shown in videos of them hoisting a cluster of seats proudly in the air.

So, what are the players planning to take as they say goodbye?

“We’ve been discussing what would make a good keepsake,” Athletics reliever T.J. McFarland told YSL News Sports. “I think everyone has their eye on the pitching rubber from the mound or at least one from the bullpen.”

All-Star closer Mason Miller mentioned: “I’ll be taking some jars of dirt since my debut happened here less than two years ago. Coming back to where it all started holds special meaning for me, and I get what the fans are experiencing.”

In the clubhouse, the A’s players are brainstorming distinctive items to take home rather than just their locker nameplates, pointing towards the upper right region of the stadium where Dave Stewart’s retired number covers an entire section.

Someone joked that Stewart should take the tarp with him.

“Come on, man,” Stewart replied. “What am I going to do with that? Use it to cover my house? People will just think I’m dealing with termites.”

Tyler Nevin plans on collecting dirt from the batter’s box, viewing it as a meaningful keepsake.

How about taking a urinal?

“Uh, I don’t think I could pull that off,” Nevin laughed. “I’ll just grab dirt instead.”

Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler has his sights set on peeling off one of the Athletics logos from the wall in the tunnel leading to the field.

“I know a lot of guys are going for dirt,” Butler stated, “but I wouldn’t want to lose that. A sign would be a good reminder for me.”

Jacob Wilson, an A’s shortstop, feels that taking some dirt from the field would come full circle for him, especially since he wants to bring it back to his home in Arizona.

“Having dirt from the exact spot where I first stepped onto the field as a big leaguer would mean a lot. That’s what I’ll be looking for,” he said.

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers expressed interest in taking home the home plate but is prepared to settle for some dirt behind the plate if necessary.

“It would be so amazing to have home plate, if I can get it,” said Langeliers. “If not, dirt will have to do. Whatever I end up with, it’s definitely going to be emotional. I can’t help but think about all the legendary Hall of Famers and World Series games that have taken place here, filled with historic moments.”

While players appreciate the idea of souvenirs, they agree that the memories they’ve made at the Coliseum will last a lifetime.

On Thursday, A’s will open their parking lot at 8 a.m., expecting around 46,000 fans to fill the stadium. This crowd will be the largest any current player has ever experienced while playing at home.

The record average ticket price of $121 is a 146% increase compared to what fans typically paid for A’s games this season, according to TickPick.

“The players are really looking forward to playing in front of a full house,” Kotsay mentioned. “The biggest audience we faced in the past three seasons was at the reverse boycott event, which drew 33,000 fans. This is going to be a remarkable day. I don’t think the fans will want to leave once the game finishes.”

“This is a chance for the fans to come and appreciate the Coliseum one last time, to make lasting memories with their families as they remember its history and significance.”

The A’s are preparing for the large crowd with proper precautions.

And the array of feelings that fans will experience. To manage the situation, there will be 500 security personnel, including 200 police officers, present to deter overly enthusiastic fans from attempting to take items as keepsakes.

“I don’t expect any issues,” Nevin comments. “Typically, at the end of a season, it involves thanking the fans with a farewell wave. However, this particular occasion holds special significance.”

“The team is very mindful of what this franchise represents to the community.”

Kotsay is confident that fans will express their sadness in a calm manner, without rushing the field or throwing items in frustration. The Athletics will distribute miniature replicas of the Coliseum to the first 25,000 attendees, but these will only be handed out upon exiting the stadium after the seventh inning. This strategy helps prevent any throws onto the field while encouraging fans to leave before the game concludes.

Kotsay, who had tenures with the Athletics from 2004 to 2007, has no plans to take the microphone to address fans post-game. Regardless of whether he speaks, he assures that the team will make sure to acknowledge the crowd.

“I believe the frustration has subsided,” Kotsay states. “We plan to honor our fans. Speaking to the audience might not change the situation much; our performance is meant to serve as a heartfelt farewell. I perceive that the acknowledgment of the fans acts as a final send-off.”