Athletics announce 2013 Spring Training schedule

With pitchers and catchers due to report to the team's Phoenix training complex in 100 days, the Oakland Athletics today officially announced their Spring Training schedule for 2013.

Official travel packages and season tickets for A's spring training home games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium will be on sale Friday, Nov. 9 on-line at www.oaklandathletics.com/spring. Single-game tickets will be on sale by calling (877) 493-BALL (2255) or visiting www.oaklandathletics.com on Friday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. The Box Office at Phoenix Municipal Stadium will open Thursday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m.

The Athletics christen the Cactus League season Saturday, Feb. 23 against the Milwaukee Brewers in Phoenix, the earliest date for a first Spring Training game since the franchise moved to Oakland in 1968. The previous earliest date was Feb. 25 in 2009, which like 2013, is a year where Major League Baseball adjusted spring schedules due to the World Baseball Classic.

The 2013 A's will play 32 games in the desert -- including a home exhibition against a still-to-be-determined World Baseball Classic opponent on March 5 -- this spring before returning to Northern California for the traditional three-game Bay Bridge Series against the San Francisco Giants March 28-30. Following an off day, Manager Bob Melvin's club opens defense of their AL West title by hosting the Seattle Mariners on Opening Night at the O.co Coliseum Monday, April 1 at 7:05 p.m.

The A's will play a total of 17 home games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium this spring, including such attractions as the defending National League champion Giants Friday, March 1, NL Central Division champion Cincinnati Reds Monday, March 18 and the AL West rival Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers on Monday, March 4 and Thursday, March 14, respectively. In addition, the Chicago Cubs pay the A's a visit to Phoenix Muni on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) and the Los Angeles Dodgers make an appearance Sunday, March 24. The remaining home games include the Cleveland Indians Feb. 25, Seattle Mariners Feb. 27 and March 16, San Diego Padres March 2, Arizona Diamondbacks March 10, Kansas City Royals March 12, Chicago White Sox March 22 (the spring's only night game at 7:05 p.m.) and Colorado Rockies March 7 and March 27.

Oakland completes the preseason schedule by playing its traditional three-game Bay Bridge Series against the San Francisco Giants March 28-30. The Giants host 7:15 p.m. games at AT&T Park Thursday and Friday, March 28-29, while Game 3 will be played at O.co Coliseum in Oakland at 1:05 p.m. Saturday March 30.

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training Monday, Feb. 11 and participate in their first workout in Phoenix Feb. 12, while the remainder of the team reports Saturday, Feb. 16, with the first day of full squad workouts Feb. 17.

Tickets will be available at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium Box Office beginning Thursday, Jan. 31 at 10:00 a.m. MST. The Phoenix Municipal Box Office will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST. Base ticket prices are as follows: Field Box $25, Lower Box $24, Upper Box $18 and Outfield Reserve $12. Suites and group tickets can also be booked by calling 602-392-0074 or e-mailing [email protected]. Complete Oakland Athletics' Spring Training information is available at www.oaklandathletics.com/spring.