A’s FanFest – A Behind the Rails Look

As I write this my feet are aching from being on them all day after working my 20th Oakland A’s FanFest being assigned to an autograph table. Despite the smarting, this is an event I look forward to every off-season.

In my prior life, when I was a law enforcement officer, I was afforded the opportunity to be part of the A’s volunteer corps that oversaw the stadium giveaways and other team events. This assignment has given me the chance to be part of FanFest interacting with the players, getting a behind-the-scenes, off-the-field look at the various A’s players through the years.
(The team has us be the “bad guys” telling the fans only one item, not to hold up the line for pics, and assuring that those coming through have the right ticket, etc.)

My take away from all of this every year is that the players are regular guys that appreciate their fans as much as the fans appreciate them.

Being with the players is always a thrill as I get an up close chance to “just talk” – baseball or otherwise – and be part of their conversations as we pass the time before and during the signings.

This has made for some great memories such as at last year’s ’89 reunion Dennis Eckersley and Tony Phillips talking about making the last out of Game 4 to win it all, or at the 2013 FanFest being able to just chat with my childhood heroes of Sal Bando, Bill North, Vida Blue, or Ray Fosse about the glorious Mustache Gang.

Prior FanFests with Eric Byrnes, Jason Giambi, and Rich Harden always had them showing great enthusiasm for the event and having them at my table seemed to make their time fly by.

Other times include the “Big 3” of Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, and Barry Zito talking about their interests and a plethora of many other A’s players over the last 20 years.

I’ve never been an autograph hound using the opportunity to get player signings myself except for one year in 1998 on a get well card for my father-in-law where I obtained the likes of Kurt Abbott, Mike Blowers, Blake Stein and others who were a mere scratch in the surface of Oakland A’s lore.

This year was no different as 22 players and coaches, ten new to the organization, appeared to greet the fans and I had the pleasure of having Josh Reddick, Chris Bassitt, Stephen Vogt, Sean Nolin, Coco Crisp. Darren Bush, Ryan Cook, and Nate Freiman – all great guys who did what they could to appease their fans– with me for part of the day.

Highlights from this year’s autograph station D include fan favorite Josh Reddick showing off his Georgia Bulldog tattoo or laughing as he explained, after one fan talking about her long following of the A’s as her favorite team asked, “So, who are you and where do you play?”
(I was thinking, “Hey Lady, here’s a hint; Gold Glove, Silent Whisper, Spiderman….”)

Stephen Vogt’s appearance brought out several repeated renditions of “I believe in Stephen Vogt” echoing off concrete area second deck concourse as he made sure to greet every fan coming through the line. When he asked one young A’s fan who his favorite player was, the little guy answered, “Sam Fuld.”
“Mine too,” replied Vogt giving the lad a high-five.

Though not one of the players fans came to see, A’s new hitting coach Darren Bush did a great personable job talking with the crowd asking the younger ones their name or age, or who their favorite team was.

Coco was a favorite, not only interacting with his fans at the table, but making sure those on the other side of the rail, without tickets, were even included as he fielded questions, posed, and signed who-knows-how-many Coco gnomes, Bernie Lean Bobbleheads, and jerseys.

I could go on about the other players but space prevents me from sharing my joy. To sum it up, all the players seem excited about the start of the new season, which along with the fans, now has me excited for what 2015 will bring.