The A's showed love to their Oakland neighbors with Warriors-colored batting practice jerseys
The A's rallying cry this season is #RootedInOakland, a hashtag and general ethos that has been implemented in a variety of ways. They named their playing surface Rickey Henderson Field, added Jose Canseco, Dave Stewart and Dallas Braden to the broadcast team, constructed a massive mural in downtown Oakland, and so on.
Ahead of Friday night's matchup with the Mariners, the A's added a new batting practice jersey that honors their neighbors the Golden State Warriors, who are playing the Portland Trail Blazers in a first-round playoff matchup this week.
The new gold uniforms featured a Warriors logo sewn onto the front, and the stitching across the back says "Warriors" and the player or coach's corresponding jersey number -- in Warriors' blue. Quite slick:
Guess you could say that today's batting practice jerseys are...
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 21, 2017
...a slam dunk. ??? #BayAreaUnite pic.twitter.com/z7shH2xygt
Said manager Bob Melvin to MLB.com's Jane Lee of the new digs:
"We certainly support our neighbors next door. If we can get a little Warrior mojo on our jersey, I'm all for it."
Here's bench coach/former outfielder Mark Kotsay modeling his jersey, as photographed by Lee:
Mark Kotsay graciously modeling today's Warriors-themed BP jerseys: pic.twitter.com/qQxCzgL9Uy
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) April 21, 2017
And some pregame hangs:
Pregame vibes. #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/f1uhQutuux
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 21, 2017
If you were wondering, yes, the Warriors definitely gave a thumbs-up to this display of neighborly love:
Looking sharp, @Athletics! #BayAreaUnite https://t.co/OKUlqaZEdD
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2017
So, what will happen to these jerseys, since the A's aren't actually going to keep them? Well, fans might have a chance to own one themselves later:
We'll be holding an auction at a later date with proceeds going to charity.
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 22, 2017
