OAKLAND -- The A's hosted a special quintet on Friday ahead of their three-game series opener with the defending World Series champion Royals.
In honor of Jackie Robinson Day, the A's staged an African-American Franchise Five Night, on which they paid tribute to the five greatest African-American players in A's franchise history: Vida Blue, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, John "Blue Moon" Odom and Dave Stewart.
:: Jackie Robinson Day coverage ::
Blue, Henderson, Odom and Stewart threw out the ceremonial first pitches, with Coco Crisp, Khris Davis, Marcus Semien and Ron Washington on hand to catch them, before taking the field donning No. 42 with the rest of the league to honor Robinson.
"One of the great people and influences in all of baseball, and I know everybody reflects some when they put that uniform on today," A's manager Bob Melvin said, "and I think that's great everyone is wearing his number."