News & notes About the A's upcoming homestand
On Friday, July 17, the A's return home after the All-Star break for a six-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, which features two of the most highly anticipated events of the 2015 season: the Hello Kitty Bobblehead Giveaway (Saturday, July 18) and the A's 16th Annual Root Beer Float Day (Wednesday, July 22).
The three-game Twins series marks the return of former A's fan favorite Kurt Suzuki, along with sluggers Torii Hunter and Joe Mauer. Beginning Tuesday, July 21, the A's face off against Josh Donaldson and the Jays for Toronto's lone visit to the Coliseum this season.
The complete homestand schedule is below.
DATE OPPONENT TIME TELEVISION
FRIDAY, JULY 17...................................... MINNESOTA TWINS................................ 7:05 P.M....................... CSNCA
- Topps Friday Family Pack
- CSNCA Authentic Fan Friday
- First Pitch: Stonebrae Classic
- National Anthem: Jessica Johnson
- Pre-Game Presentation: A's All-Stars (Employees of the Month)
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales (ends after top of third inning)
SATURDAY, JULY 18................................. MINNESOTA TWINS................................ 6:05 P.M....................... CSNCA
- Giveaway: Hello Kitty Bobblehead (15,000 fans)
- Cache Creek Saturday
- National Anthem: Semoine Sykes
- First Pitch: Hello Kitty
- A's Amigos Program Visit
- Chevrolet Youth Baseball Coaches Clinic (on field from noon to 2 p.m.)
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales (ends after fifth inning)
- A's Community Fund Silent Auction, behind Section 120, benefitting Mended Hearts
SUNDAY, JULY 19..................................... MINNESOTA TWINS................................ 1:05 P.M....................... CSNCA
- National Anthem: Radney Foster
- First Pitch: Round Table Pizza
- Take the Field with the A's program, presented by Wells Fargo
- Wounded Warriors Flag Raising
- Post-Game Race Around the Bases, driven by Chevrolet
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales (ends after fifth inning)
- A's Community Fund Silent Auction, behind Section 120, benefitting ALS Golden West Chapter & ALS TDI
TUESDAY, JULY 21................................... TORONTO BLUE JAYS............................ 7:05 P.M....................... CSNCA
- Free Parking Tuesday, driven by Chevrolet
- National Anthems: San Francisco Men's Yacht Club Choir
- First Pitch: Comcast SportsNet California
- Pre-Game Presentation: Jefferson Awards Student in Action
- Pre-Game Presentation: A's Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (A's winner: Selina Saliba)
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales (ends after top of third inning)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22............................. TORONTO BLUE JAYS............................ 7:05 P.M....................... CSNCA
- 16th Annual Root Beer Float Day (5:05 - 7:05 p.m. in the Eastside Club)
- BART $2 Wednesday ($2 tickets sold out)
- First Pitch: Olympic Figure Skater Polina Edmunds
- American National Anthem: Adam Lasher
- Take the Field with the A's program, presented by Wells Fargo (youth from JDRF)
- Food Bank Wednesday
- PLAY Athletic Trainers Clinic on the field during the afternoon
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales (ends after top of third inning)
THURSDAY, JULY 23................................. TORONTO BLUE JAYS.......................... 12:35 P.M....................... CSNCA
- Throwback Thursday presented by Chevron ExtraMile (5,000 fans get a Bert Campaneris commemorative button)
- National Anthems: Nessa Laverty
- First Pitches: PG&E and a Youth Radio participant
- A It Forward: Youth Radio Media Day
- Little A's program, presented by Bank of America and supported by the Oakland Zoo and Clorox
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales (ends after top of third inning)
- A's Community Fund Silent Auction, at Section 120, benefitting Freedom Alliance and Wounded Warrior Project
**For additional information about all promotions and special events, please visit http://www.athletics.com/promotions
Promotions & Special Events
Hello Kitty Bobblehead: The beloved worldwide phenomenon of Hello Kitty is now an Oakland A's bobblehead. On Saturday, July 18, 15,000 fans will take home the A's-themed Hello Kitty bobblehead that is dressed in an A's jersey and wearing elephant ears. Hello Kitty herself will throw out the first pitch prior to the 6:05 p.m. game against the Twins.
A's 16th Annual Root Beer Float Day: On Wednesday, July 22, A's players, coaches, and local celebrities will serve root beer floats to fans at the 16th Annual Root Beer Float Day, with proceeds benefitting JDRF. Floats are $3 each, or fans can get unlimited floats and a souvenir mug for an additional donation. This event has raised more than $400,000 over the years, and this year Dreyer's Ice Cream, Whole Foods Market, and Zevia will be donating ice cream and soda. Sugar-free floats will be available.
Community Relations
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table: At each game throughout the homestand, fans will have the opportunity to purchase Breast Cancer Awareness Day pins, caps and necklaces with proceeds benefitting breast cancer education, research and awareness. Also, once again the A's will be raffling off a custom-made autographed quilt; raffle tickets for the quilt are $5 each. The fundraising table will be set up behind section 120.
A's Community Fund Silent Auctions: Every Saturday and Sunday home game (and other select games), the A's Community Fund hosts a silent auction featuring signed and unsigned A's memorabilia as well as game-used items. The silent auctions are located in the A's fan center behind section 120 and end with the last out in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Little A's: On Thursday, July 23, as part of the Little A's program, deserving youth and their chaperones of non-profit organizations will have the opportunity to attend an A's game free of charge. In addition to a game ticket, each child receives a Bank of America souvenir and child-admission pass to the Oakland Zoo. The Little A's program is presented by Bank of America and supported by the Oakland Zoo and Clorox.
Take the Field with the A's: The Take the Field with the A's program gives youth baseball and softball teams the chance to live out their Major League dreams. On Sundays throughout the season, youth players from a local you baseball or softball team will join Oakland A's players on the field during the National Anthem. Each participant receives an autographed baseball and t-shirt, courtesy of Wells Fargo.
Food Bank Wednesdays: During select Wednesday home games in July, August and September, A's fans can donate five cans of food or $5 to the Alameda County Community Food Bank at Gates C, D, and the BART Plaza. Each fan that contributes receives a 2-for-1 plaza level ticket voucher for a future A's game.
Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team: The Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team was formed in 1996 and is a partnership established by the Golden State Warriors, Oakland A's, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Earthquakes and San Jose Sharks. The team consists of seven student-athletes, with each award recipient earning a $3,000 scholarship and recognition at various events, including the A's vs. Blue Jays game on July 21. This year's A's winner is Selina Saliba, a recent graduate of College Park High School who will be attending Santa Clara this fall.
PLAY Program Clinic: The PLAY program-which stands for Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth-is a public awareness campaign developed by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) in 2004 to combat child obesity. In conjunction with the A's athletic training staff, PLAY will host a clinic for local youth on Wednesday, July 22.
PG&E #AItForward Media Day: The A's and and PG&E are hosting students from Youth Radio (Oakland) for a special #AItForward Media Day on July 23. Youth Radio is an award-winning media production company that trains young people in digital media and technology with the mission to launch them into careers in those fields. These students participating in the Media Day will have unique opportunities to interact with A's front office, radio & TV broadcasters, and beat writers to get insight on what it takes to be successful in professional sports media. Fans can follow the story with the hashtag #AItForward.