Among the thousands of homes destroyed by the fires in Northern California last week was one occupied by an avid young fan of the Oakland Athletics.
Nine-year-old Loren Jade Smith of Santa Rosa is safe, but heartbroken over the loss of his collection of A’s baseball cards and memorabilia.
The youngster wrote the team a letter which was posted on the website of KGO-TV:
“I love watching your A’s games… I want to be an A’s player and I play at Mark West Little League in Santa Rosa. I played baseball in my backyard all day loving the A’s and making up my own game. In my backyard they won six World Series in a row. But my house burned down in the Santa Rosa fire and my saddest things were my baseball collection cards… my 17 jerseys and 10 hats and my baseball from the game and also a ball signed by the whole team and Rickey Henderson and Bob Melvin. I am 9-years-old and I had a major league baseball and it all burned up… so sad. I know you are not all together but hope they get this.”
After the story was picked up by SI.com, A’s president Dave Kaval said the team will be connecting with the family:
This is so touching. So sad to hear about their loss. We would be happy to completely outfit the family in new @Athletics gear. Contact me https://t.co/WWBz6uoxsE
— Dave Kaval (@DaveKaval) October 15, 2017
Former A’s pitcher Dan Haren also offered his help and A’s fans have done the same.
If you’d like to donate baseball memorabilia to our pal Loren, please send items to the address below and we’ll make sure they get to him. pic.twitter.com/xI3ZwWWfNA
— A’s, But Spooky ??? (@Athletics) October 16, 2017
Thirty-three people have died in the wine country fires and with over 3,500 homes destroyed and 221,000 acres burned. Fires are still burning in several areas.
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