Oakland Coliseum (9-4-2013)

Oakland Athletics-Texas Rangers Baseball Game
7000 Coliseum Way, O Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

Preface: While loving baseball, I went to only three live baseball games. A friend took my brother and me to see our favorite Brooklyn Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ebbets Fields (circa 1954-1955). Then in 1956 my brother and I got free tickets from Kelloggs cereal boxes to see the Dodgers play the Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Fields. Beside our favorite Dodgers, we wished to see the Reds first baseman Ted Kluszewski with his big muscles. The last live game was going with my brother to Shea Stadium seeing my favorite LA Dodgers Sandy Koufax pitching a 5-0 shutout against the New York Mets (June 12, 1965). Fast forward to July 29, 2013— I went to Mountain View Senior Center (266 Escuela Ave) with Rudy Perez to pick up 4 free tickets (127R-37:18-21) "Senior Day with Oakland A's" on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, wrapping up three-game series with Texas Rangers. Al Guzman (Foothill College Student Coordinator) and Dave Huseman (Foothill College EMT & Paramedics Director) expressed interest in going to the baseball game. My friend Jack Mullen loves baseball and is an avid Oakland A's fan. We'll talk baseball for hours after he drives me home when Foothill Computer Lab closes. When Nancy announced that she has the last free ticket (127R-36:21) later, I claimed it for Jack. Since Jack wrote sports columns for Oakland Tribune, he had gone to hundreds of baseball games at the O Coliseum. He gave me traffic directions (I-880 North to Oakland, Bear right after Hegenberger Road Overpass, Make 45^o turn at Coliseum Way, Make right at 66th Avenue, Take 66th Ave Entrance to Parking Lot A, Enter Stadium through D Gate). On Sept. 4, Al Guzman drove his VW, picking up Rudy in Sunnyvale and me in Mountain View at 10:30 am. We made the trip in 50 minutes. Al was hungry and found Wendy's in town for burger and coffee. We got to D Gate at 12:30 pm and met Dave who lives in Fremont. The game began at 12:35 pm and we found our shady seats at lower deck by the third base line. Jack got each of us "Oakland Athletics Game Information Sheet" that broadcasters use. It has latest info with Rangers beating the A's 5-1 yesterday to claim 1st place in the A.L. West. Today the Rangers has their ace Yu Darvish pitching (major league strikeout king with 236). However, after reading an article "Texas Rangers starter Yu Darvish tries to battle negative thoughts" (Evan Grant, Dallas News, 9-2-2013), I knew he would throw more home run balls. ("If someone tell you not to think of an elephant, that's all you're going to be thinking about!"). Sure enough, Darvish gave up homers to Moss (1st inning) and Barton (6th inning). Jack noticed Darvish arguing with his catcher Pierzynski at the mound, with Darvish probably saying "Don't say anything negative, I'm trying to think positively." After Darvish left, A's Donaldson homered off Robbie Ross (6th inning) and Coco Crisp homered off Cory Burns (8th inning) as A's won 11-4 and tied Rangers for first place (both 80-69) in the A.L. West. After reading "The Secrets Behind Baseball's Walk-up Music" (Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, June 11, 2013), tried to focus on batters' music to make them hit better. Al left after 6th inning with A's leading 9-2, since he had to work. After the ballgame, Jack had to meet colleagues at Oakland Tribune. Dave drove Rudy & me to Mountain View's Sweet Tomatoes (1040 Grant Road) where we had a late salad and soup lunch. It was a great day outing enjoying baseball live at O Coliseum with four good friends. Below are 33 photos from the Oakland A's-Rangers 9/4/2013 baseball game.