The anticipation is killing me....

WhoNeedsReligionWhenYaGotBaseball — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:34:18 -0000

I should be working on a paper for my history class, but to be honest, it is impossible to concentrate right now on anything BUT the A's. I am decked out in all my A's gear (5:o'clock here in Colorado), with a huge grin on my face knowing that I will be watching the A's season opener in approximately 10.5 hours. After I eek'd out my thesis statement, my mind raced away to some of my best A's game moments. Thus, the purpose of this post is to share with all of you my favorite A's game moment, and of course, to hear all of your awesome A's game memories!

My favorite memory to this day was (drumroll....) Jason Giambi's first game back in Oakland, wearing the pinstripes. Wow, what a day that was. To this day I have never seen the Coliseum filled with so many people than that game - If I remember correctly, the attendance was around 65,000! It was easily the loudest game I have ever been to. I was sitting in section 218, which is 2nd deck along the third base line, really close to home plate. I vividly remember the plethora of signs everywhere in the stadium, all with a common theme - can you guess? There were so many clever Giambi poster's, ranging from the "$ellout" in the right field bleachers, to the older nostalgic woman sitting stadium level with a "Thank's for all the memories Jason" poster. However, the majority were definitely voicing their displeasure about Jason heading over to the greener pastures, which just happened to grow over on the Dark Side.

When Giambi's name was called introducing him in the starting lineup, the coliseum filled with the tantalizing "boo's" that I couldn't even hear the person next to me. When Giambi started walking out of the dugout towards the batter's box in the first inning, it ensued again. Complete hysteria! Alas, Giambi was up to bat, with of course the boo's serenading the coliseum to the delight of every A's fan in attendance. The Bulldog Huddy was on the mound, with that deathly stare to home plate while waiting for the signs from the catcher. The next two events were my favorite part of the night by far. Hudson's first pitch was a fastball - up and in. The crowd went absolutely nuts as Giambi was brushed back off the plate. Hudson definitely set the tone with that pitch. A few pitches later, Giambi fouls a ball back behind the A's dugout. A few seconds later, that ball is heaved back towards the third base line, landing on the infield grass! At this point, the Coliseum was absolutely-a'-rocking! The combination of serenading Giambi with boo's once he stepped out of the dugout, to Hudson's first pitch up and in, to the fan who would rather forego a great souvenir in the name of loyalty to the A's, complete my favorite memory of attending an A's game. It is moment's like that which make you appreciate watching the Green and Gold in person.

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The anticipation is killing me....