A’s begin to embrace more Sacramento fan gear. Here’s what the team is selling
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A's merchandise now features Sacramento branding despite prior team statements.
- Fans increasingly buy unofficial gear as demand grows for regional identity items.
- Local leaders and fans reflect on team's presence amid future move to Las Vegas.
The A’s have begun selling more team merchandise with the name of its temporary hometown, though makeshift gear with Sacramento branding continues to dominate at games.
An official team baseball shirt with Sacramento written five times first appeared last month, according to a Reddit post. On Friday night, during the team’s 5-4 win against the Baltimore Orioles, more team merchandise with “Sacramento” lettering could be found throughout Sutter Health Park.
At the team store, fans could purchase a varsity-style jacket or a gray sweater with an embroidered logo of the Tower Bridge and the words “Sacramento.” More gray shirts with the same emblem were seen at multiple stands around the park. Hats with the logo were sold out, with an A’s official saying they would return in two weeks.
The new gear comes despite the team announcing in the offseason that it would only be known as the “A’s” or “Athletics” during its three-year stint in West Sacramento. The decision makes them the only MLB team without a location identifier in their official title.
“They’re slowly eating their words, realizing that they may have to show some love to Sacramento,” said West Sacramento resident Dharmendra Sharma, who is a season ticket holder.
Sharma donned a gray shirt with the slogan “SAC” on Friday. He bought the T-shirt on Facebook months ago, following what he called a “slap in the face” by the Athletics for not using Sacramento branding.
Online retailers and people selling makeshift A’s gear with capital region branding have been a constant since the beginning of the season. At the game against the Orioles, dozens of fans were seen wearing these types of attire including shirts, jerseys, hats and chains.
Since the release of the team’s new gear, Sharma said he has bought an A’s hat and tee with the embroidered logo of “Sacramento.” He expects to buy more attire in the coming months should the A’s continue to support its capital region ties.
“If they had more Sacramento gear, I would buy it,” Sharma said. “They just have to do it. They have to suck it up and do it. It’s going to be three years.”
Leaders in the Sacramento region remain committed to bringing an MLB expansion team permanently to the city. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero threw out the ceremonial first pitches at Friday’s game.
On Friday many fans opted against the new tees and sweaters, instead focusing their attention on a pin with the embroidered logo “Sacramento” released that day.
Jesus Delgado called the pin a “memento” in what may be his first and only time coming to Sutter Health Park to watch his beloved A’s. Delgado made the drive from his home in the Bay Area alongside his 12-year-old son Armando.
“I don’t know if I will ever come back,” said Delgado.
Delgado said he remains disheartened by the team’s decision to move out of Oakland. He grew up an A’s fan and created lifelong memories by taking his two children to their first baseball game at the Coliseum. Armando went as a 6-month-old baby, Delgado said.
“It just sucks to see that they’re not there anymore,” Delgado said. “Nothing against Sacramento. It’s just different.”
But other A’s fans are relishing every moment they can while their team is in California, regardless if there’s Sacramento gear.
Stephen Washburn attended Friday’s game with his 9-year-old daughter Norah. Both wore the trucker hats with the patch of Tower Bridge given out during the A’s home opener this season. Each bought one of the team’s newest pins.
Washburn, who is a season ticket holder, said he has gone to roughly 15 games this season with his family.
“My plan is to be at least one game out of every series so that I can see every team that comes,” said Stephen, who lives in Elk Grove.
Most Washburn visits usually start with a stop at the team store, where one of the three children will ask for a new pack of baseball cards or another hat.
On Friday, Norah pushed for a notebook featuring a photo of the A’s mascot Stomper. She ended up compromising for her dad buying two packs of baseball cards.
Stephen said he is cherishing these experiences given the team’s uncertainty in the coming years. He is still unsure if the family will attend any games in Las Vegas.
“I’m gonna enjoy them while they’re closer and while I can…This may be a little bit of my swan song with the team,” Stephen said.
A’s pick up second straight win
Friday’s game was only the Athletics’ second victory since May 25 and follows the team’s commanding 14-3 win against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
The Orioles game was much closer, however, with both teams scoring most of their runs during the first three innings.
Baltimore got on the scoreboard first after outfielder Dylan Carlson, who is from Elk Grove, slammed a two-run homer in the second inning. The Orioles extended their lead in the next inning with fellow outfielder Ramón Laureano hitting a sacrifice fly to left field.
The A’s (25-40) came on strong in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to take the lead.
Right fielder Lawrence Butler got the scoring started with an RBI double to center field. Shortstop Jacob Wilson, who is the current odds favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year award, then tied the game with a single to score two runners. First baseman Tyler Soderstrom soon after brought Wilson home with a groundout to first.
A’s outfielder Denzel Clarke had a highlight play in the fourth inning when he held on to a deep fly ball after slamming into the center field wall.
Both teams went on to add one run each in the fifth inning. Starting pitcher JP Spears exited that inning after allowing four hits and four earned runs.
The Orioles loaded the bases in the eighth before the A’s called on closing pitcher Mason Miller, who struck out back to back batters. Miller now has 13 saves on the season.
Before Thursday, the team had lost 20 of its last 21 games, including nine in a row. Only the 1943 team, which lost 24 of 25, strung together a worse losing stretch in franchise history.
The A’s continue their three-game home series against the Orioles on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM.
