'A lot of good memories': Chapman reflects on A's tenure

This story was excerpted from Martin Gallegos' A's Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

OAKLAND -- A visit from the Blue Jays earlier this week sparked a trip down memory lane for the A’s with Matt Chapman returning to the Coliseum for the first time since being traded to Toronto this spring.

A season-high attendance of over 24,000 fans, many of whom were decked out in No. 26 green Chapman jerseys, showed appreciation for the former A’s star in Monday's series opener. They greeted him with a loud ovation during a pregame video tribute on the Coliseum scoreboards and later stood and cheered as Chapman walked to the plate for his first at-bat of the contest, to which he responded with a quick tip of the helmet in acknowledgment.

Chapman had already reconvened with his former teammates during an A’s road trip to Toronto in April. But being back in Oakland for the first time in a different uniform certainly had a unique feel.

Nostalgia struck as Chapman walked onto Rickey Henderson Field at the Coliseum. It’s the stadium where he often dazzled fans both on the field and at the plate over a five-year period to begin a Major League career that includes three Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Glove Awards and an All-Star selection in 2019.

“This is the only place I ever played before Toronto,” Chapman said. “I made my debut here. Won a lot of games here with some of my best friends. A lot of good memories. They’re always fun to look back on. I’m really happy that I got to experience everything I did here and I’m just happy for the opportunity to come back.”

The Coliseum memory that immediately sticks out for Chapman is the 2019 American League Wild Card Game. Though the A’s came up short that October night against the Rays, Chapman will forever remember the raucous atmosphere and energy produced from the 54,005 that packed the Coliseum for what became the highest-attended Wild Card Game in MLB history.

“I know how excited all of us were for that,” Chapman said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t come out on top. But I think just moments like that, being able to make the playoffs, we were always kind of counted out, but we always found a way to find ourselves in the thick of it at the end of the season. That’s what I look back on and appreciate the most -- the guys I played with. Despite not having the highest payroll, we always found a way to win games and be a threat.”

Though the core from those successful A’s squads that reached the postseason in three straight years from 2018-20 is now broken up, Chapman carries lifelong relationships created from those years. This offseason, Chapman invited several current and former A’s to his wedding in Mexico, even enlisting best friend James Kaprielian -- who allowed a game-tying homer to Chapman on Wednesday -- as his wedding officiant and DJ.

“It’s weird being on the other side,” Chapman said. “It’s emotional. I think we’re all still really happy seeing each other. I stay in touch with a lot of those guys. The fact we’re all still friends means a lot.”