The Wildcard Game is Upon Us!

Today, IS the WildCard Game for our Oakland Athletics, and yet I woke up this morning feeling unusually calm and ready for the day. The typical nervous butterflies are pretty tame, which meant I actually got a good night sleep. What does this all mean? 

This isn’t the playoff nervousness I’m accustomed to feeling.  There is a different energy that we experienced entering into game 5 in either of the 2012 or 2013 divisional series, even with all of the A's struggles and disappointment since the All-Star break this season. 

I have ONE reason that I don't feel nervous and that is because.... today is Lester Day! 

That’s right, all the talk about "the infamous trade" comes down to this game, to this guy.  The best big game pitcher of the 21st Century is on our side!  And even better yet, he loves pitching against the Royals.  He’s dominated them this year and during his entire career. He never quits!

Of course, we have to score some runs to win, but at least we’re not facing Jason Vargas, who could have easily started tonight for the Royals. And anytime our guys can dodge a known A’s offense killer, All is Right in the World... 

I'll be wearing my #NeverQuit shirt tonight in support of Lester!  If you haven't purchased this limited edition #NeverQuit shirt, there's no better time then the present!  Don't forget, 50% of the salse will be donated to Jon Lest'ers pediatric cancer research foundation, NVRQT.org.  Grab yours HERE.

Let’s just get to 5:00PM tonight and hopefully, we will be celebrating our first elimination game victory in recent years! Lets Go Oakland! 

 

-- Wes

Get your Champion Gear at www.Section148.com

NEVER QUIT - A Memorable Series, A Worthy Cause

In light of the unprecedented adversity the Oakland Athletics had been facing for the past several weeks, we felt compelled to keep the motivation from a recent "Welcome Home" message to the Athletics’ team that some die-hard fans from RF Bleachers Section 149 greeted the team with when the A's private plane arrived at the Oakland Airport at the conclusion of the final regular season road trip in Seattle. Simply put, the sign reminded the team, managers, and players to "NEVER QUIT".  

The motivational phrase, "NEVER QUIT" is also connected to Jon Lester’s personal battle against lymphoma earlier on in his career and his winning attitude.  Jon Lester started the charity “NVRQT”. Jon’s philanthropic foundation supports the "strikeout" of pediatric cancer with research against the disease!
 

Click image above to visit: www.NVRQT.org

We felt this was an opportunity for our fan based company to bring more awareness to our fellow fans, friends and families for a great cause and continue the positive energy and motivation in support of the team we love! So we asked our fellow A's fans to join us on last Friday night's home game, with Jon Lester on the mound, to join us in wearing a simple "NEVER QUIT" shirt.  The amount of people wearing the NEVER QUIT shirts and support received was overwhelming.  

It wasn't just the numbers of people wearing the shirts that was impressive, it was the expression on their faces - the words on their shirts carried over into their demeanor and energy at the game!  If you were a newcomer to the RF bleachers that night, you would have never known that the A’s were just swept by the Rangers only a day before! There was a new-found intensity of team loyalty and belief in the green and gold.

Jon Lester was brilliant as usual as the starting pitcher on Friday night! Jon pitched 7 strong innings despite giving up a few weak hits to start the game. Jon Lester embodies so much contagious passion, as a pitcher and team player. He responds to every pitch. It’s refreshing to see his emotion and we the fans are grateful to get to experience it with him.   

Needless to say, the NEVER QUIT campaign was a celebrated success with the team and fellow fans! Most importantly, with 50% of sales from every shirt order going to the NVRQT charity, we are thrilled that this fan initiative that was born of a motivational message, and regardless of any post season results will conclude with a donation to a cause that affects many of our friends and family.  Win, Win! 

Again, we would like to thank Jon Lester (@JonLester31), himself for giving a shout out "S/O" on social media to #Section148 fans for its show of NEVER QUIT love at his last start on Friday night. We would like to thank all of the fans who purchased one or more NEVER QUIT shirts and joined us at any of the games this weekend to show their support for not only our guys in green & gold but to "Strikeout Pediatric Cancer" too! #MakeCancerQuit

The NEVER QUIT shirt is still available with limited quantities left, so be sure to purchase your today in our SHOP! We hope the spirit of this event and support to Jon Lester’s campaign NVRQT will carry into the rest of the home-stand and beyond. Lets Go Oakland! 

-- Wes

Get your Champion Gear at www.Section148.com

NEVER QUIT - We Are Oakland Athletics Fans!

After a great showing by the Athletics in Seattle, where the A’s claimed a pivotal series win against the surging Mariners, a group of fans from Section 149 came up with the idea to greet the team as they landed at their private hanger in the Oakland Airport on Sunday night. About 20-30 A’s fans greeted the team on their arrival.

One of the signs that was made for the team to see said, “NEVER QUIT”.

The players saw this sign as they deplaned and began taking pictures of it on their phones. Impressive!

No phrase better defines what the A's fought for to earn those two big W's in Seattle last weekend. Let's keep this inspirational message alive for the last regular season home-stand! 

As a tribute, we’ve released the Limited Edition “NEVER QUIT” t-shirt for everyone to partake in spreading the encouragement and represent our loyal pride to The Oakland Athletics!

Join us this Friday, September 19th against the Phillies at the O.co Coliseum, when we wear this “NEVER QUIT” t-shirt TOGETHER! Show that we, the fans, believe in this team to the end! Get yours at www.Section148.com/products/neverquit while supplies last.

And with the special connection that “NEVER QUIT” has to our pitching ace, Jon Lester’s campaign “NVRQT”, which is a rally cry for the fight against pediatric cancer, Section148 is going to donate 50% of each “NEVER QUIT” t-shirts sold to his campaign. Learn more how “NVRQT”, www.nvrqt.org  raises money for children’s cancer research.  Jon Lester is more than a great baseball player, he is a cancer survivor.  He is an inspiration of hope to individuals and families across our country.  We’re very proud that he is with the A’s ballclub.

Remember to use to the code “PICKUP” for Free Shipping and to arrange pickup at the game on Friday, September 19th, where we wear this shirt TOGETHER, as loyal fans and as a symbol of unity supporting the Guys in Green and Gold!! We look forward seeing you there and showing off your Oakland A's Section148 pride!

(Please note, in light of the last minute production of this shirt, we cannot guarantee shipping & delivery in time for the upcoming games).

-- Wes

Get your Champion Gear at www.Section148.com

Did You Tune In To GJD Last Night?

Last night’s episode of Gold Jersey Dynasty (GJD) Radio was an explosive one! Full of intense opinions and healthy debate, meaning a quick recap here is a MUST.

We urge you all to listen to last night’s episode "There's Nothing to Drum About" because it was one of the best shows we’ve had! Of course, please tune in live every Sunday from 8PM -10PM. Click the pic of Adam and I above to our GJD online channel. Listen via desktop and mobile!

GJD’s regular and guest/call-in hosts discussed what went wrong during this past home stand against the Houston Astros, and what needs to happen to give the A’s fans some hope for the Pennant and World Championship races. Bottom line for the guys in Green and Gold, JUST GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS.

Another common theme that came from this episode was that we are all in un-chartered territory... The A’s have never had a season like this, and as human beings we are always afraid of the unknown. Many callers joined the program and discussion, including one fellow fan, who flew all the way from Philly to see the A’s play this past weekend.  We also had the return of our good friend, Dreamkiller aka DK.  He offered us fellow A’s fans a new perspective about what could very well be going on with the Oakland Athletics, as a team, an organization and a business. When it comes to these developments and insights, Dreamkiller is always good for unique outlook. We thank everyone who contributed via phone, Twitter, etc. and made the show what it was last night! We look forward to hearing from YOU!

IN OTHER NEWS...

The Oakland Athletics have officially released the 2015 Season Schedule on their website, where the Green and Gold fans got a look ahead to more National League West matchups and concluding the season with a Battle of the Bay series against the SF Giants. Opening Day is April 6th, 2015 vs. the Texas Rangers!! Have you SAVE THE DATE yet? 

As the A’s will be playing the NL West in interleague next season, this means many exciting road trips against the Dodgers, Padres, and D’Backs are to come! 

We, at Section148 look forward to joining our fellow A’s fans to bring together the group of all groups of traveling fans to these road games, LOUD, PROUD and FAITHFUL! We are ready to make the statement across baseball of how much we love our team of Green and Gold. We are the Heartbeat of Oakland, no matter what city they play in! 

-- Wes

Get your Champion Gear at www.Section148.com

7 Daily Deals In 7 Days!

We can't believe it's already September! The regular season is coming down to the wire and the team at Section148 has been stirring up ways to mark this occasion.  We want to do our best to add some retail therapy to what can be a very stressful time for our fellow Oakland A's fans. To celebrate, we’re having this week long promotion called, “7 Deals in 7 Days!”

These deals won't break the bank! We give you all an epic opportunity to save on some of your favorite original Oakland A's inspired fan gear. Remember that many of the awesome items featured in this 7 Deals in 7 Days sale will NO LONGER be available on our website! So be sure to shop now before they’re gone!!

Follow our Facebook and Twitter @Section148 each day during the 7 Deals in 7 Days to see what the daily deal will be! It just might be the discount you've been waiting for!

Happy Shopping, Everybody! Let’s Go Oakland!

-- Wes

Get your Champion Gear at www.Section148.com