OAKLAND - As the A's celebrate 510 Day, representing both the date and the area code for the East Bay, it comes to mind that this will be the last May 10th with three professional teams still residing in Oakland.
At this time next year, the Golden State Warriors will be playing in San Francisco and the Las Vegas Raiders will be -- well, you know. As Oakland's last professional franchise, the A's are making it clear they are rooted in Oakland.
"This team has always been very important to the community," said manager Bob Melvin. "It's been great that we've had three teams here. Unfortunately, that's not going to be the case. It's just kind of a little bit more focus on the fact that we're here, we've been here since 1968, and we continue to want to be here."
The 510 has special meaning to Melvin, a Bay Area native who attended the University of California, Berkeley. He has managed the A's since 2011 and is very involved in the East Bay community.
"So many great players have come from 510," Melvin said. "We're rooted in Oakland. We're trying to stay here. We're doing everything that we possibly can to celebrate that area code."
The A's went all out honoring the East Bay on this 510 Day, from the food trucks and East Bay themed music in Championship Plaza to honoring local heroes on the field. The grounds crew even imprinted the word "Rooted" across the outfield grass.
Nice touch in the outfield for #510Day pic.twitter.com/cvcdfljg3Q— Ben Ross (@BenRossSports) May 10, 2019
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The A's roster does have a distinctly local feel. In addition to Melvin, Marcus Semien, Stephen Piscotty, and Mark Canha are all from the area. Semien and Canha both played at Cal, while Piscotty went to Amador Valley High School before playing for Stanford.
During the game Friday night, A's players will feature East Bay artists for their walk-up songs. After the game, Bay Area DJ/VJ Mike Relm will provide the music for East Bay Hip-Hop Fireworks, presented by Cal State East Bay. Not a bad way to celebrate the 510.
