OAKLAND -- The A's are celebrating the inaugural Players Weekend at home, staging a three-game series against the Rangers that began Friday.
For three days, as part of the newly introduced event from MLB and the MLB Players Association, all players are wearing colorful, non-traditional uniforms by Majestic Athletic featuring nicknames on the back, and use uniquely colored and designed spikes, batting gloves, wristbands, compression sleeves, catcher's masks and bats.
Players are also wearing specially designed caps by New Era, and unique socks from Stance. During pregame workouts and postgame interviews, they will wear T-shirts highlighting a charity or cause of their choice.
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In the A's clubhouse, that means "Baby Prince" and "Rock N Fire" is on display, amongst others. Some players opted to stick with their last names on their jerseys, while a couple are donning their first names.
In addition, the jerseys feature a special patch displaying the progression of a child evolving into a Major Leaguer, with space below it for players to mark the name of a person who helped them advance their careers. A few players opted to leave this space blank.
• All you need to know about Players Weekend
Game-worn jerseys from Players Weekend will later be auctioned at MLB.com/auctions with 100 percent of net proceeds donated to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation.
Here's a player-by-player breakdown for the A's:
Paul Blackburn: "Blackie"
Influenced by his last name.
Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Coaches, Friends, Family, G-ma, G-pa
Santiago Casilla: "Willi"
Nickname since childhood.
Tribute patch: Family, Valer, Moises, Manul
Simon Castro: "Castro"
Tribute patch: God y my Family
Matt Chapman: "Chappy"
An easy play on his last name.
Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Family & Friends
Jharel Cotton: "Squeaky"
As a young boy in the British Virgin Islands, Cotton rode a bike that would routinely squeak. Thus, "Squeaky" was born, thanks to classmates from school who had fun with it. Cotton still goes by "Squeaky" when he returns to his homeland.
Tribute patch: Emma Supanich, Jamaine Cotton, Trevor Jones, Tiara Jones, Coaches, Family, Dodgers Organization, Athletics Organization
Daniel Coulombe: "Frenchie"
The reliever's oft-mispronounced last name is of French origin.
Tribute patch: Mom and Dad
Khris Davis: "Khrush"
It's fairly obvious why this power hitter has earned and taken on this nickname.
Ryan Dull: "Dullsnacks"
When the 5-foot-9 Dull reached college, teammates told him he was snack-sized.
Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Drew, All my coaches & trainers
Dustin Garneau: "Dustin"
Garneau came to the A's following MLB's deadline to submit nicknames, leading the league to choose his first name for him.
Daniel Gossett: "Goose"
An affectionate play on the pitcher's last name.
Tribute patch: Presky, Mom, Dad, Ray Lancaster, Ken Tuck, Chris Carter
Kendall Graveman: "Digger"
A shorter version of "Gravedigger," one of the many names thrown around by college teammates, relating to his last name.
Chris Hatcher: "Hatch"
Like many players, his nickname is a variation of his last name.
Ryon Healy: "Heals"
Yet another variation of a last name.
Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Family & Friends
Liam Hendriks: "Slydah"
Former Blue Jays teammate Robert Osuna came up with the nickname because of the way the Australian Hendriks pronounces "slider."
Tribute patch: Wife, Mum, Dad, God, Australia, Perth Heat, Wanneroo Giants, Carine Cats, Wais, ABF, Team AUS
Matt Joyce: "DJ SS"
Sweet Swinging Disc Jockey is in charge of the music on the team bus.
Tribute patch: God, Mom & Dad, Sis, Wife
Jed Lowrie: "Jed"
No-nonsense Jed sticking with … Jed.
Tribute patch: GG
Sean Manaea: "Da Kid"
While in the Royals organization, former teammate Kevin McCarthy would enter the same room as Manaea and say, "Da Kid's back, and he's better than ever." "The first time I heard that," Manaea said, "I was dying laughing. I couldn't get enough of it."
Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Bush Nono, Tim Luse, D. Pishkur, R. Keller, B. Smiky, Wanatah, Hammond, Terre Haute, Mag
Bruce Maxwell: "Baby Prince"
A name given to him by Khris Davis, it's a nod to the toe-tap he uses at the plate, a la Prince Fielder.
Tribute patch: Parents, Family, Coaches, DNG, Teammates
Matt Olson: "Oly"
Classic shortening of last name.
Chad Pinder: "Chi"
Pinder's older brother, Clark, couldn't pronounce "Chad" when he was younger, only getting out "Chi."
Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Taylor, Clark, Chase, Avery
Boog Powell: Using last name.
Marcus Semien: "Mahkus"
This is how former A's infield coach Ron Washington, who worked extensively with Semien during the previous two seasons, pronounces his name.
Tribute patch: Grandma Carol
Chris Smith: "Rock N Fire"
A nickname bestowed upon Smith as a youngster by his father and stitched on his glove. It evolved into a running joke, since the pitcher doesn't throw a "rock and fire fastball."
Tribute patch: Mom
Blake Treinen: "B-Lockay"
Treinen constantly hears fans call him this, referencing a famous Key & Peele skit, "Substitute Teacher."
Tribute patch: Kati, Addison, Jesus, Mom, Dad, Zach, GPA Ike, GPA T, South Dakota State U