SAN FRANCISCO — For the first four innings, the first Bay Bridge series matchup of 2023 between the A’s and Giants was not very different from past years.

Oracle Park was more full than usual for a Tuesday night, with a healthy mix of green and gold-clad A’s fans and orange-and-black Giants fans. “Let’s go Oakland” chants battled with “Let’s go Giants” chants, as has happened in so many of these interleague battles.

But for A’s fans, Tuesday night’s anti-Josh Fisher protests had a bigger purpose than the game. And when the top of the fifth came around, a healthy amount of Giants fans in the ballpark joined them in calling on Fisher to sell the A’s.

“Sell the team” chants broke out in force from many of the sellout crowd of 40,014 fans at Oracle Park after the first pitch of the top of the fifth, easy to hear from anywhere inside the ballpark and came through loud and clear on every broadcast of the game.

It didn’t go exactly as planned, as A’s fans were hoping to hold off on the chants until after Cody Thomas’ at-bat to start the fifth ended instead of after the first pitch. But if anything, that quick start shows the exuberance people have toward the movement.

The protest was another joint collaboration between two A’s fan groups, the Oakland 68s and Last Dive Bar. It didn’t go exactly as planned, as A’s fans were hoping to hold off on the chants until after the first at-bat of the fifth instead of the first pitch. But if anything, that shows the exuberance people have toward the movement.

“People are into it,” said Paul Bailey, one of the founders of Last Dive Bar. “I think the whole ‘Sell’ movement is catching on. We did the All-Star game, we did it here. People are excited to get out there and yell at John Fisher. … People like to protest. It’s very punk rock to be an A’s fan right now.”

Hundreds of fans for both teams came to the two groups’ hangout just north of Oracle Park in the hours ahead of the game, picking up one of Last Dive Bar’s 8,500 “Unite the Bay” posters and pick up one of 1,000 black “SELL” t-shirts — a Giants version of their kelly green ones — the 68s made to give away.

The shirts were gone within an hour of arriving, and even several Oracle Park workers came over to grab one. The solidarity across the fan bases was evident, with hundreds of fans mixing gear for both teams.

“Honestly, before, that would make me want to puke a little bit,” said Michelle Leon, one of the leaders of the Oakland 68s. “The split caps are something that I have always loathed, but it’s heartwarming to see people bring it out to support us.”

San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics fans get “SELL” t-shirts hand out by members of Oakland 68s and Last Dive Bar at South Beach Park before their game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

Fans came to the shores of McCovey Cove from all over the Bay Area — and even beyond. A’s fan Tito Martinez of Woodland and Giants fans Eston Gonzalez of Truckee and Malcolm Burns of Davis all took time off of work to drive down together early and each get a t-shirt.

“To see them go, it just hurts my heart,” Burns said, adding that he’s attended A’s games with his dad growing up. “I want to continue the Bay Bridge series. It kind of sucks, what the owners are doing. They have great fans, we have great fans and it’s a great rivalry.”

For many, the ballgame between (entering Tuesday) the worst team in baseball, the A’s, and the team with the longest losing streak in MLB, the Giants. felt secondary. Instead, it was another chance to send a message toward Fisher, MLB and commissioner Rob Manfred and everyone else

“We’re gum on Major League Baseball’s shoes,” said Gino Sunnen, a 74-year-old A’s fan from Oakland Hills. “I fear so much the concept of the smoke-filled back room, where deals are going to be made. We’re doing everything we can to show our love for this team and to try to hold on. But the flippancy of it is just disgusting to me.”

Several Giants fans expressed support over their past similar plight to get a ballpark in their region and the two previous threats of relocation (Toronto in 1976, Tampa Bay in 1992). But even more than that, it seems like Giants fans enjoy having a local rival.

“Having two baseball teams in the Bay Area is good for the fan base, it’s good for social interaction, it’s good for baseball,” said Mike Casdia, a Giants fan from Rio Vista who grabbed a black “SELL” shirt and immediately put it on. “I grew up in New York, and when the Giants and Dodgers left, it left a big hole in the community. I don’t want to see that happen here in the Bay Area.”

San Francisco Giants fan Nathalie Alfaro, left, and Oakland Athletics fan Hanna Capurro hand out “Unite the Bay” posters to fellow fans at South Beach Park before their game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

A’s fans even have support from Giants manager Gabe Kapler, who said pregame that he understands the sentiment and is “all for” the peaceful protest.

“I know that it would be challenging for A’s fans [if the team leaves]. It’s part of the reason why A’s fans are so upset right now and I think for good reason,” Kapler said. “It’s challenging to see a team that you may have grown up supporting, you may have spent your most formative years rooting for, and potentially not having them around anymore. That’s going to be challenging for any fan base.”

That challenge will continue for A’s fans, but they already have their next plans set in what they  have now dubbed the “Summer of Sell.” At the first Bay Bridge series game in Oakland on Aug. 5, they’ll hand out rally towels that say “Sell the team,” stylized similarly to the 1989 World Series logo.

That’ll be another chance for the Bay Area’s two baseball fan bases to come together.

“We’ve put our rivalry aside to keep the rivalry alive … it is beautiful to see,” Leon said. “There are so many people going through it with you and are experiencing the same pain as you.

“It may not make a difference, but it feels good to fight.”

Oakland Athletics fan Gabriel Hernandez, center, and fellow members of Oakland 68s and Last Dive Bar hand out “SELL” t-shirts to Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants fans at South Beach Park before their game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)