A's fans treasure memorabilia

By Denis Cuff  CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Long-time Oakland A's fan Michael Alvarez will dress in a uniform of his own before heading off to the playoff game today.

He will wear a three-decade-old team jacket with a donkey logo and fasten on several A's pins, including one from the last World Series the A's won in 1989.

For many A's fans, the memorabilia they bring to the park or keep at home is not just a sign of their team allegiance, but also an album of their lives.

"It reopens the memories," said Alavarez, a Fremont dentist, who has been a season ticket holder most of his adult life. "The jacket reminds me of the times when I took my son to the games and changed his diapers. He's 27 now."

His gear also reminds him how he and a friend wore tuxedos to several opening nights some 25 to 30 years ago and played drums and a trumpet to the delight of other fans.

"It makes me feel young again," Alvarez said.

Many A's fan are hauling out team hats, pins, jerseys, and coats with pride as the team takes on the Detroit Tigers for the American League Championship.

And in their homes, many A's fans have increased pride in the team collectibles they keep under glass, on walls and dressers.

Phil Davis of Oakley hauled out his favorite A's jersey and cap to wear to the game Tuesday.

Meanwhile, he kept his most valued A's items in a spare room at home that has been converted to a mini-sports shrine. His wife used fabric decorated with the A's logo to make curtains for the room.

"I'm not the rah-rah-type fan out in public. I just love baseball," said Davis, an Amtrak ticket agent.

He has several autographed jerseys and baseballs, plus many of the A's player bobble-head dolls given out as a promotion to early arrivals at some games

Davis said his most treasured collectibles are jerseys or balls with autographs that he personally got from former A's slugger Mark McGuire and other top players.

"It's more meaningful if it's something signed for you rather than something you bought," Davis said. "It's a moment between you and the athlete."

Davis said he wouldn't sell his prized A's collectibles.

But for those who do, winning a playoff series and especially a World Series can increase the price of baseball memorabilia, said Steve Lipary, owner of Lipary Collectibles in Martinez.

"Winning translates into more sales and higher values," Lipary said. "People want a winner."

Demand increased for A's items after the team clinched their divisional championship this year, he said.

A World Series win would sharply escalate prices, he added.

Lipary said the consumer demand for current players is highest for slugger Frank Thomas and ace pitcher Barry Zito.

Autographed A's items don't fetch higher prices because the team often trades its top veteran players when they can demand high salaries, Lipary said.

It took years for Lipary to sell a Jason Giambi jersey after the former American League most valuable player left the A's to become a Yankee.

Many diehard fans, though, say, collecting A's item is not about money but mostly showing team allegiance and enjoying a common bond with other fans

"It's chance to support the team," said Stephen Catalya, a 19-year-old Walnut Creek resident who has amassed a large collection of A's jerseys, T-shirts, caps, bobble-head dolls, posters, cups, bats, and mitts since he started attending games at age 5.

The junior at University of Santa Clara and his friends wear A's jerseys when watching televised games.

Catalya said Tuesday morning he was considering wearing an A's 2006 divisional champion jersey to the game later in the day. "It's just more fun to show you're rooting for the A's."