Billie Joe Armstrong, Too $hort Join Oakland Ballers

Bay Area music icons Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and rapper Too $hort have joined the ownership group of the Oakland Ballers, an independent minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League. This move follows the departure of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, leaving the Ballers as the sole professional baseball team in the East Bay. The team's community investment round aims to raise $2 million, after a successful initial round that involved over 2,200 fan investors. Armstrong and Too $hort emphasize the importance of maintaining Oakland's rich sports culture and providing a family-friendly baseball experience. The Ballers, who play at Raimondi Park, achieved playoff success in their inaugural 2024 season and are preparing for their second season beginning May 20, 2025. The involvement of Armstrong and Too $hort is seen as a local effort to keep baseball alive and vibrant in Oakland, rather than a celebrity-led rescue operation.