The A’s found a way to bring their players' families to the Coliseum on Saturday afternoon ... from a distance.
The starting lineups before Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Angels featured a special touch, as each player in the A’s lineup was announced by members of their family on the Coliseum big screens. Some way-too-adorable highlights included Marcus Semien’s two sons yelling out their dad’s name while wearing oversized Semien jerseys and Stephen Piscotty’s wife holding the couple’s cat, Bubs.
A’s players were caught off guard by the surprise announcements; they had big smiles on their faces as their loved ones appeared on the video boards situated above left and right field.
While it may seem like a small gesture by the club, it meant the world to the players, many of whom were used to seeing their families at the ballpark on a near-daily basis for home games before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That was great,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It kind of took us by surprise early on and next thing you know, you’re fixated on it. A lot of guys aren’t seeing their families this year. That was really a cool moment and well done.”
Once A’s third baseman Matt Chapman figured out what was going on, he began to wonder which member of his family would emerge on the screen as his spot in the lineup got closer. It turned out to be his father, Jim, and mother, Lisa.
“That was a cool surprise,” Chapman said. “I was wondering who was going to do mine when I saw most people had their kids or wife. They didn’t tell me that was coming, so that was cool. I haven’t seen them in a while.”
A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt, who started Saturday’s game, was surprised by his wife, Jessica, and 11-month old daughter, Landry Jayne. It was a special moment for Bassitt, who is away from them for the entirety of the 2020 season in the Bay Area while mother and daughter remain home in North Carolina.
“It was awesome,” Bassitt said. “I think everyone is missing their families. I know everyone had fun with that. They’re all missed, big time.”