News & Notes About the Upcoming Homestand

April 17, 2014

The first-place Oakland A's look to extend their American League West division lead as they welcome a pair of divisional rivals to the O.co Coliseum beginning Friday night.

First, the upstart Houston Astros visit Oakland from Friday, April 18, through Sunday, April 20. Led by diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve, a 2012 All-Star, and speedster Dexter Fowler, the Astros come to town hungry for redemption after a rebuilding year in 2013.

Beginning Monday, April 21, the Texas Rangers make their first visit to the Bay Area this season looking for revenge after finishing in second place to the A's in each of the last two seasons. Newcomers Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo will join ace Yu Darvish as these two clubs continue one of the fiercest rivalries in Major League Baseball.

The homestand also features a giveaway of one of the most unique bobbleheads ever created, the Josh Donaldson diorama bobblehead, presented by Comerica Bank (Saturday, April 19), which commemorates Donaldson's famous "Tarp Catch" from last season. Saturday's game will also feature "First Pitch For Diego," a ceremonial first pitch honoring a lifelong A's fan from Pinole who was killed by a drunk driver this February (details below).

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 VS HOUSTON ASTROS AT 7:05 P.M. (CSNCA)

XFINITY Friday Family Pack
CSNCA Authentic Fan Friday
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for Athletics batting practice
National Anthem: Clayton Valley Charter High School
First Pitch: Season Ticket Holder Kent Portue
Green Stampede Homework Club
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table, behind Section 120
Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 VS HOUSTON ASTROS AT 1:05 P.M. (CSNCA)

Giveaway: Josh Donaldson Diorama Bobblehead, presented by Comerica Bank (20,000 fans)
First Pitch: "First Pitch For Diego," honoring the life of late A's fan Diego Garcia
Cache Creek Saturday
National Anthem: Felicia Zapata
Little A's program, presented by Bank of America and supported by the Oakland Zoo and Clorox
"A It Forward" program, presented by PG&E, hosts families from the Family House
A's Community Fund Silent Auction, with partner Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, behind Section 120
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table, behind Section 120
Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

SUNDAY, APRIL 20 VS HOUSTON ASTROS AT 1:05 P.M. (CSNCA)

"Salute to Service Sunday" presented by GovX
National Anthem: Lorraine De Arco
First Pitch: Mark Matheny, representing Chevron
Take the Field with the A's program, presented by Wells Fargo
Post-Game Race Around the Bases, driven by Chevrolet
A's Community Fund Silent Auction, behind Section 120
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table, behind Section 120
Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

MONDAY, APRIL 21 VS TEXAS RANGERS AT 7:05 P.M. (CSNCA)

National Anthem: Campolindo High School
Green Stampede Homework Club
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table, behind Section 120

TUESDAY, APRIL 22 VS TEXAS RANGERS AT 7:05 P.M. (CSN Plus)

Free Parking Tuesday, driven by Chevrolet
First Pitch: 2014 NCAA National Champion Cal Men's Swim Team, led by Head Coach David Durden
National Anthem: James Logan High School
Green Stampede Homework Club
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table, behind Section 120

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 VS TEXAS RANGERS AT 12:35 P.M.(CSNCA)

BART $2 Wednesday
Pre-Game Presentation: BARONS Diamond Player Award
First Pitch: Robert Raburn, BART Director
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table, behind Section 120

**For additional information about the promotions or events listed above, please visit athletics.com

Promotions & Special Events

Josh Donaldson Diorama Bobblehead: On Saturday, April 19, 20,000 fans will receive a Josh Donaldson Diorama Bobblehead, presented by Comerica Bank. This bobblehead commemorates the famous "Tarp Catch" from 2013, widely regarded as one of the best plays in Major League Baseball from last season.
"First Pitch For Diego": Marcos Garcia-the brother of Diego Garcia, a lifelong A's fan from Pinole who was killed by a drunk driver this offseason-will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game on Saturday, April 19. After Diego's death in February, Marcos and the Garcia family spearheaded a social media campaign to honor Diego's memory at an A's game, and A's fans, players, and local media helped spread the message.
Cal National Champion Swim Team First Pitch: The 2014 National Champion Men's Swim Team from Cal will be honored prior to the game on Tuesday, April 22. The Golden Bears' National Coach of the Year David Durden will throw out the first pitch with members of the team, which recently won its fifth NCAA national championship and third in the last four years.
Early Gates for Athletics Batting Practice: Fans are invited to watch 2013 Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Céspedes and the rest of the A's take batting practice prior to the game on Friday, April 18. Stadium gates will open at 4:30 p.m., one hour earlier than the normal time.
"Salute to Service Sunday" presented by GovX: Every Sunday at the O.co Coliseum, veterans, active duty and first responder personnel can purchase tickets at a discounted rate, courtesy of GovX. They will receive $7 off plaza level tickets and $5 off plaza reserved tickets at all 13 Sunday home games in the 2014 season. More information can be found at athletics.com/military.

Community Relations

"A It Forward" presented by PG&E: On Saturday, April 19, "A It Forward" will host a group of 50 A's fans from Family House, an organization that houses families who have children in the hospital with cancer or other life-threatening diseases. The "A It Forward" program, sponsored by PG&E, incorporates a surprise element at the game to make the experience more special for the children and their families.
Green Stampede Homework Club: On select games throughout the season, elementary school students will visit O.co Coliseum to receive help with their homework from tutors and aids. An A's player will visit and sign autographs for the students as a way to congratulate them for their hard work. After the students have finished their homework, they are able to sit in the stands and watch the game.
A's Community Fund Silent Auctions: Every Saturday and Sunday home game, 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 5^th inning.
Breast Cancer Awareness Day Fundraising Table: At each game leading up to Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, May 11, fans will have the opportunity to purchase Breast Cancer Awareness pins ($10), caps ($25) and necklaces ($15), with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society and Cancer Prevention Institute of California. Also, the A's once again will be raffling off a custom-made, autographed quilt on Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Fans can purchase raffle tickets for the quilt for $5 each at all games leading up to May 11. The fundraising table will be set up behind Section 120.
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 Sunday, April 20, youth players from the Sebastopol Junior Giants 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.
Little A's: On Saturday, April 19, 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.