OAKLAND, Calif. — Pizza delivery, courtesy of Jeff Francoeur.
The Kansas City Royals’ right fielder had 20 personal pizzas delivered Wednesday to a small but animated group of Oakland Athletics fans in section 149 of the Coliseum.
The gesture came a day after the second annual “Bacon Tuesday,” as it has become known. Last year, Francoeur tossed a ball wrapped in a $100 bill into the elevated bleacher seats above his outfield spot, instructing fans to use it to buy bacon or beer.
They now love Francoeur and cheer him at every chance. On Tuesday, fans wore “Bacon Tuesday” shirts, and there’s a large piece of paper bacon hanging from the railing in his honor.
A member of the visiting clubhouse staff brought the pizzas to the fans in the first inning during the finale of a three-game series. With the free eats came a signed bat from Francoeur and a note: “Right field bleacher crew, keep making bacon.”
The crowd oohed and aahed, clapped, hollered and repeatedly chanted, “Thank you, Jeff!” as he took his position in the bottom of the inning. Francoeur tipped his cap and waved.
“Baseball is fun. We can take it too serious sometimes,” Francoeur said before the game. “This is something more than just baseball. That right-field section are here every game, they cheer for every (A’s player). They are diehards. I just enjoy them out there. It’s a lot of fun. You don’t get to build relationships like that every day.”
The fans will have to enjoy the pizza while they can. This is the Royals’ lone trip to the Bay Area this year.
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