Written By Mauricio Segura // Photo: Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
SEP 28, 2025
The Athletics made headlines this morning by unveiling a bold new alternate jersey for the 2026 season, one that finally puts their current home front and center. For the first time since the team’s relocation limbo began, the word “Sacramento” will be emblazoned across their chests. It is a move that feels both overdue and perfectly timed: a public acknowledgment of the city that has hosted them while they await their long-planned move to Las Vegas. Whether it is a heartfelt gesture or a calculated marketing play, the reaction around baseball has been instant and intense.
The jersey itself is classic A’s with a twist: a gold base, the word Sacramento scripted in the familiar A’s green with white trim, green piping on the sleeves, and the team’s iconic logo on the left shoulder. This is an alternate uniform, not the standard everyday kit. It will be worn primarily on Saturdays at home as part of a “Sacramento Saturdays” program, though the team may choose to wear it on other home or even road dates. According to team president Marc Badain, the jersey is intended as a “thank you” to Sacramento and a recognition of the loyalty local fans have shown in embracing big-league baseball. To kick things off, the club announced that every fan attending the April 4, 2026 home game against the Houston Astros will receive a replica jersey. That is a savvy move. Baseball fans love free stuff almost as much as they love a fresh storyline, and there is no faster way to get a new look into the stands and onto the streets.
The A’s have been in a complicated spot since leaving Oakland after the 2024 season. In 2025 they officially dropped “Oakland” from their name, referring to themselves simply as “The Athletics (ATH).” While technically accurate, it left them feeling like a team without a home, as if they were biding their time until the Las Vegas chapter began. Sacramento largely welcomed them, selling respectable ticket numbers at Sutter Health Park despite it being a hastily upgraded minor-league venue. But the A’s hesitated to embrace their temporary home. Their uniforms carried no city name, which many locals saw as a missed opportunity to show commitment. The new jersey feels like an overdue olive branch, a way of saying, “We see you, Sacramento.”
That hunger for local identity has been clear for a while. Shops like Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs in Old Sacramento began selling unofficial “Sacramento A’s” gear months ago, and locals and visitors bought it up in droves. It was a sign that fans wanted the team to have roots in the city, even if only for a few years. The team’s new jersey finally catches up to that sentiment.
Still, the timing raises questions. Was the team reluctant to appear too anchored in Sacramento for fear of muddying their future in Las Vegas? Or were they simply focused on logistics, such as stadium upgrades, travel schedules, and housing, over symbolism? Either way, this rollout feels more like the A’s following the fans’ lead than setting the tone themselves.
The fan reaction underscores the divide. Sacramento supporters see the jersey as validation, proof that their city is not just a waystation but part of the A’s story. Some former Oakland loyalists view it cynically, as a shallow attempt to buy affection while memories of their decades at the Coliseum still sting. On social media, more than a few Bay Area fans have said they will not travel to Sacramento to see the team, no matter what is on the front of the jersey.
Context matters here. The A’s future is still in Las Vegas, where a new domed stadium on the Strip is expected to open in 2028. Their stay in Sacramento is slated to last through 2027, with an option for one more season if construction is delayed. The 2026 schedule even includes a couple of home series played in Vegas, a not-so-subtle reminder to Sacramento that they are still a temporary host. That makes the alternate jersey even more intriguing. It may be a genuine effort to connect with the local community during this bridge period, or a smart PR tactic to keep seats filled at a modest-sized ballpark.
Whatever the motive, symbols matter in sports. A jersey with the name of the city where you actually play gives fans something tangible to wear, to wave, to post on social media. It tells Sacramento kids that their city belongs on the field, not just in the stands. In a sport so steeped in tradition and ritual, details like this go a long way.
Of course, uniforms will not win games. The A’s on-field performance in 2026 will matter far more than their wardrobe. But this is a step in the right direction, a recognition that sports teams are more than brands; they are temporary custodians of civic pride. By literally putting Sacramento on their chests, even if only some of the time, the A’s are finally acknowledging the city that is keeping them afloat during an awkward transition.
This jersey will not heal the wounds left in Oakland, nor will it guarantee a honeymoon in Las Vegas. But for a few seasons, Sacramento is not just a dot on the map between two baseball homes. It is part of the A’s story. If the team can match this symbolic gesture with competitive play and genuine community engagement, the gold alternate with Sacramento stitched across the front might be remembered as more than just a novelty. It could be the moment the A’s truly embraced where they were.
For fans eager to show their support for more Sacramento Athletics designs, Sacramento Sports and Souvenirs at 1035 2nd Street in Old Sacramento, between Fanny Anne’s Saloon and The Chocolate Factory, is the place to grab the latest gear. (916)443-0556 (Not a paid endorsement.)
