06/25/2008 8:00 AM - Former Kansas City Athletics players will come together at CommunityAmerica Ballpark Saturday, August 16 for the first KC A’s Appreciation & Reunion Night.

The T-Bones are partnered with the Kansas City Athletics project and Sports Radio 810 WHB to bring you a public autograph session from    2 – 5 p.m.  Autograph tickets will be sold the day of the signing at the stadium.  Each individual autograph is $10, seven different autographs of your choice are $45, and an all-player autograph is $100, which equals 22 player signatures and all five personality signatures.  A maximum of three signatures per KC A's member has been installed during the autograph session to ensure that fans receive autographs in a timely manner.

KC A’s commemorative items will be for sale, with a silent auction of some unique A’s memorabilia.  A special piece of merchandise – “The Kansas City Athletics: A Baseball History 1954-1967,” by John E. Peterson will be sold.  Peterson will also be available to sign copies of his book during the signing.  All proceeds go to the public television program documenting the KC A’s 13 years of baseball.  The autograph session will end with the last signature signed at 5 p.m., so come early to ensure you receive the autograph you want.  

Merle Harmon, former KC A's broadcaster, will introduce the former A’s players on the field prior to the 7:05 p.m. home game against the Gary-Southshore RailCats.  Betty Caywood Buschman, the first female major league broadcaster, will be on the T-Bones radio during the game with Tommy Thrall, the voice of the T-Bones.  Game tickets are sold separately from autograph tickets.  For game tickets call (913) 328-2255 or click here.  After the game is a colorful fireworks show courtesy of Helzberg Diamonds.  Join us at the ballpark for this reunion with one of Kansas City’s most important historic baseball teams.

Here is a tentative list of former KC A’s members attending so far.

Don Buschhorn	Jerry Lumpe
Wayne Causey	John O'Donoghue
Bob Cerv	Alex George
Bud Daley	Diego Segui
Chuck Dobson	Norm Siebern
John Donaldson	Rollie Sheldon
Ernie Fazio
Bill Fischer	Larry Stahl
Joe Grzenda	Dave Wickersham
Jay Hankins	Groundskeeper George Toma
Billy Kirk	Broadcaster Merle Harmon
Lew Krausse	Batboys: Gerry Gleissner Jim Jay Ron Turley

Formerly known as the Philadelphia Athletics, who played from 1901 – 1954, the A’s moved to Kansas City in 1955 and lasted until 1967 as part of the American League.  The KC A’s played ball at the Kansas City Municipal Stadium, formerly known as the Blues Stadium, home to the Yankees’ top farm team.  During the KC A’s era, fans topped attendance records that remained until the 15th season as the present Oakland Athletics. The KC A’s finished in 1967 with a 62 – 99 record, with their best, 74 – 86, the previous year.  The KC A’s produced four Hall of Famers, Jim Hunter (’65-’67), Reggie Jackson (’67), Satchel Paige (’65) and Enos Slaughter (’55-’56).   

During the A’s era, the team had two different logos (pictured above).  Athletics or “A” was the first symbol used in Philadelphia. The white elephant mascot was adopted when rival New York Giants manager John McGraw told Philadelphia manufacturer Ben Shibe that he had a “white elephant on his hands.”  From ’63 – ’67, Kansas City used the KC logo in green and gold, but the elephant returned and is now Oakland’s mascot.  

The Kansas City Athletics have partnered with Midwest Airlines so you can take up to an additional 10% off your airfare if you are traveling to KC for the Kansas City Athletics Appreciation & Reunion Event at the T-Bones.  
The applicable dates are August 12-20, 2008, for travel to Kansas City from any city served by Midwest Airlines.  Here are three easy ways to save when booking your flight.
-Visit midwestairlines.com and enter promo code CMZ7115
-Call Midwest at 800.452.2022 and provide CMZ7115 to the agent
-Purchase ticket through a travel agent and mention CMZ7115