Who is the biggest celebrity A's fan?

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Oakland pride runs deep for sports fans with ties to the East Bay. The Athletics can count famous faces among their fans -- some of whom even worked for the team in their youth! Here’s a look at some of the biggest celebrity A’s fans:

MC Hammer

MC Hammer’s love of the A’s runs in the family: In the 1970s, one of his brothers was the assistant clubhouse manager, and another was a bat boy. The hip hop artist got his own opportunity with the team as a kid when then-owner Charles O. Finley, who lived in Chicago, asked young MC Hammer to call him from the owner’s box in Oakland and give him the play-by-play.

MC Hammer has remained a fan ever since and has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch several times, most recently in 2019.

Tom Hanks

Another famous former A’s employee is none other than Academy Award-winning everyman actor Tom Hanks. One of his first jobs was selling peanuts at the Coliseum, and he reprised the role last summer, albeit virtually. 

MLB teams had to get creative without fans in the stands in 2020, and hearing Hanks’ voice advertising concessions and programs was a fun way to do it. Now that fans are back enjoying live games, maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of Hanks at the Coliseum this summer.

Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard, a perennial NBA All-Star in Portland for the Trail Blazers, often speaks of his upbringing in Oakland and is a vocal supporter of the city's teams. He wasn't pleased when the Golden State Warriors left Oakland Arena or when the Raiders decamped for Las Vegas, asking, "Where's the pride?"

In 2019, he donned an A's jersey when the Blazers arrived in the Bay Area to take on the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. It's safe to say he's one of the many Oakland fans hoping the A's stay in town.

Bruno Mars

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In 2016, Bruno Mars appeared on the Super Bowl 50 halftime show at Levi’s Stadium. The singer shared a photo of himself in an A’s hat and matching green jacket during a rehearsal session with Coldplay and Beyoncé.

Mars is from Honolulu, Hawaii, so perhaps he adopted the A’s because they were one of the nearest options when he didn’t have a local team to support.

Barack Obama

Former president Barack Obama is well known for his support of Chicago’s sports teams -- but he hasn’t always supported the White Sox. Like Mars, he grew up in Hawaii, where his childhood favorite team was none other than the A’s.

While Obama was likely supporting the White Sox in last year’s AL wild card series against the A’s, at least they lost to another team he has a soft spot for.

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