News and Notes About the A's Upcoming Homestand

The Oakland A's, still owners of the best record in Major League Baseball at 66-40 (.623), return home Friday evening for a 10-game homestand against the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins.

The homestand begins on Friday, Aug. 1, with a 6:35 p.m. game against Kansas City. Following Friday's game, fans will be treated to a Superhero Fireworks Show, presented by Sunrun. The series continues with a pair of 1:05 p.m. matinees against the Royals on Saturday and Sunday, before Evan Longoria and David Price lead the surging Tampa Bay Rays into the O.co Coliseum for a three-game series beginning Monday evening.

The homestand concludes with a four-game set against former Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki and the Minnesota Twins, highlighted by Tony La Russa Hall of Fame Bobblehead Night on Saturday, Aug. 9.

The entire schedule for the homestand is as follows:

DATE - OPPONENT - TIME - TELEVISION

FRIDAY, AUG. 1 - KANSAS CITY ROYALS - 6:35 P.M. - CSNCA

• Superhero Fireworks Night presented by Sunrun
• XFINITY Friday Family Pack (Family Packs sold out this date only)
• CSNCA Authentic Fan Friday
• Italian Heritage Night (Sold Out/Special Ticket Required)
• National Anthem: Pasquale Esposito
• Wounded Warriors Flag Raising
• Ballpark entry gates open early at 4:35 p.m.
• Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

SATURDAY, AUG. 2 - KANSAS CITY ROYALS - 1:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• Giveaway: Yoenis Céspedes/La Potencia T-Shirt Giveaway, presented by NetSuite (10,000)
• National Anthem: Chelsea Dyer
• First Pitches: Dylan Smith (NetSuite) and Daymond Huxley Coleman (Comcast)
• Take the Field With the A's, presented by Wells Fargo
• Post-Game Player Appearance: Sonny Gray will be signing autographs at BARONS in Dublin
• A's Community Fund Silent Auction, behind Section 120
• Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales, behind Section 120
• Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

SUNDAY, AUG. 3 - KANSAS CITY ROYALS - 1:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• "Salute to Service Sunday" presented by GovX.com
• National Anthem: Ann Lucena
• Take the Field With the A's, presented by Wells Fargo (NOLL/SOLL Little League)
• UMPS Care Visit
• Post-Game Race Around the Bases, driven by Chevrolet
• A's Community Fund Silent Auction, with partner Lions Center for the Blind, behind Section 120
• Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales, behind Section 120
• Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

MONDAY, AUG. 4 - TAMPA BAY RAYS - 7:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• National Anthem: Jiana Fiche
• First Pitch: Roberta Gonzales, KPIX

TUESDAY, AUG. 5 - TAMPA BAY RAYS - 7:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• Free Parking Tuesday, driven by Chevrolet
• Chevron Youth Baseball Clinic, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Martin Luther King Baseball Field in Richmond
• National Anthem: Music Matters Programs
• First Pitch: Keanu Moss, NOLL/SOLL Little League
• Pre-Game Presentation: Jefferson Awards

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6 - TAMPA BAY RAYS - 12:35 P.M. - No TV

• BART $2 Wednesday
• National Anthem: Lisa Parente
• First Pitch: Damon Bruce, 95.7 FM The Game
• Little A's program visit, presented by Bank of America
• Food Bank Wednesday

THURSDAY, AUG. 7 - MINNESOTA TWINS - 7:05 P.M. - No TV

• Patelco Throwback Thursday (5,000 fans receive a commemorative scorecard and Charlie O. button)
• National Anthem: Diablo Vista Chorus    
• First Pitch: Representative from Comcast SportsNet
• Pre-Game Presentation: Josh Donaldson to receive Major League Baseball's 'Heart and Hustle Award'

FRIDAY, AUG. 8 - MINNESOTA TWINS - 7:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• XFINITY Friday Family Pack
• CSNCA Authentic Fan Friday
• Ballpark entry gates open early at 4:35 p.m.
• National Anthem: Stacey Bellone
• First Pitch: Harlan Miller, Comcast SportsNet
• A's Amigos program visit, supported by Kelly-Moore Paints and XFINITY
• Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

SATURDAY, AUG. 9 - MINNESOTA TWINS - 6:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• Giveaway: Tony La Russa Hall of Fame Bobblehead (20,000)
• Cache Creek Saturday
• National Anthem: Jessica Johnson
• First Pitch: Tony La Russa
• Check Presentation: Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation
• UMPS Care Visit
• A's Community Fund Silent Auction, with partner UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, behind Section 120
• Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales, behind Section 120
• Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

SUNDAY, AUG. 10 - MINNESOTA TWINS - 1:05 P.M. - CSNCA

• "Salute to Service Sunday" presented by GovX.com
• Law Enforcement Day
• National Anthem: Semoine Sykes
• Wounded Warriors Flag Raising
• Take the Field With the A's, presented by Wells Fargo
• Post-Game Race Around the Bases, driven by Chevrolet
• A's Community Fund Silent Auction, with partner Special Olympics Northern California, behind Section 120
• Breast Cancer Awareness Day sales, behind Section 120
• Sims Recycling Solutions Used Phone Recycling Program, Guest Relations Booth behind Section 120

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

Promotions & Special Events

Superhero Fireworks Night, presented by Sunrun: On Friday, Aug. 1, after the A's vs. Royals game, the A's will host their fourth fireworks show of the year with Superhero Fireworks Night, presented by Sunrun. There will be superhero-themed music during the show, and fans can enjoy the show from the outfield grass (space permitting).

Italian Heritage Night: At the A's vs. Royals game on Friday, Aug. 1, fans who purchased a special ticket will receive an A's Italian Heritage T-Shirt and a traditional food item served in the Bar & Grille.

La Potencia T-Shirt Giveaway, presented by NetSuite: At the A's vs. Royals game on Saturday, Aug. 2, 10,000 fans will receive a Yoenis Céspedes "La Potencia" T-Shirt, presented by NetSuite. Celebrate the 2014 All-Star and two-time defending Home Run Derby champion with this limited-edition t-shirt.

BARONS Player Appearance: After the 1:05 p.m. game on Saturday, Aug. 2, A's pitcher Sonny Gray will be signing autographs and taking pictures at BARONS in Dublin to help celebrate the store's one-year anniversary.

Patelco Throwback Thursday: On Thursday, Aug. 7, 5,000 fans will receive a commemorative scorecard and a Charlie O. throwback button as part of Patelco Credit Union's Throwback Thursday. This is the sixth of the seven-game button giveaway featuring various characters from the A's colorful history.

Tony La Russa Hall of Fame Bobblehead Night: On Saturday, Aug. 9, 20,000 fans will receive a Tony La Russa Hall of Fame Bobblehead to commemorate the former A's skipper's 2014 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. La Russa led the A's to three-straight World Series from 1988-90, and led the 1989 team to a World Series title. The recently enshrined manager will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch that evening.

Law Enforcement Day: Prior to the 1:05 p.m. A's vs. Twins game on Sunday, Aug. 10, the A's will honor local law enforcement officers with a pre-game motorcade on the field.

Community Relations

Chevron Youth Baseball Clinic: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, current and former A's players and coaches-in conjunction with Chevron-will host a youth baseball clinic at Martin Luther King Baseball Field in Richmond. The clinic will feature five stations for 50 children ages eight to 15, and each child will receive an A's cap, t-shirt and boxed lunch during the three-hour camp.

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. Youth teams get to run onto the field with the A's prior to select games, and each participant also receives an autographed baseball and t-shirt, courtesy of Wells Fargo.

Wounded Warriors Flag Raising: Overstock and the Wounded Warriors Foundation have partnered with the A's to help honor the work of injured veterans and service professionals across the nation. Wounded Warriors will be at the games to raise the American flag during the National Anthem on Aug. 1 and Aug. 10 as part of this season-long partnership to recognize our country's brave men and women of the military.

Jefferson Awards Presentation: Prior to the game on Tuesday, Aug. 5, two Bay Area students will be honored with the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, in recognition of their community service leadership.

UMPS Care: Prior to the games on Sunday, Aug. 3 and Saturday, Aug. 9, participants in the UMPS Care program will receive great seats to the game, a goody bag of "all things baseball," and the unique opportunity to step onto the field for a photo opportunity with the umpiring crew from that night's game