The Oakland Athletics and their advertising agency, Hub Strategy & Communication of San Francisco, are launching the seventh season of their award-winning marketing campaign, "Green Collar Baseball," a fully-integrated program featuring television commercials, and print, outdoor and digital advertisements.
The 2016 advertising campaign highlights the hard work that embodies the 2016 A's team and illustrates how the organization welcomes an innovative and unconventional approach in order to win. The team's marketing slogan, "Green Collar Baseball," will be integrated throughout the A's marketing and advertising campaign again this season.
"As we head into the 2016 season, we couldn't be happier about how the campaign fits our players and how our players fit the campaign," said Jim Leahey, A's vice president of sales and marketing. "We know that our fans will enjoy the personal connection with our players through the campaign."
"This is our seventh year writing and producing these ads, and I've had a blast directing the TV spots every season. But I think this year was the most fun - the players were just so into it and so good, "said DJ O'Neil, Creative Director/Founder of Hub Strategy & Communication. "I have to say that I think this is my favorite crop of TV ads yet."
This year's campaign will feature the following unique commercials that will appear on television and online:
The Shift: Mark Canha wakes confused after dreaming of Sonny Gray, Ron Washington, and Stephen Vogt in shifted roles around the ballpark.
Unflinching Trust: Sonny Gray, Josh Phegley, Stephen Vogt and Sean Doolittle emphasize the importance of the pitcher-catcher relationship with a trust fall.
    
Tuning Up: Sean Doolittle uses his pitching talents to replicate the bell in For Whom the Bells Toll by Metallica.
    
Fireworking: Stephen Vogt teaches Josh Reddick, Josh Phegley, & Mark Canha firework inspired dance moves.
    
Climbing Wall: Josh Reddick gives a lesson to Marcus Semien on climbing the outfield wall.
    
Questions: Sonny Gray and Mark Canha drill Ron Washington with questions on what life was like in the '80s.
    
Meetings, Meetings: Battery mates, Stephen Vogt and Sean Doolittle, have meetings to stay on the same page.
    
Social Media Graduation: Sean Doolittle concludes social media best practices lessons, presenting diplomas to Bob Melvin, Curt Young, and Ron Washington.
Last year's campaign took home first place in the television category at the 2015 National Sports Forum ADchievement Awards, the most recognized advertising competition in the sports industry. This marks the sixth straight year that the A's and Hub Strategy & Communication have won national acclaim from the National Sports Forum.