The Oakland A’s played a rare clunker at home on July 30, losing 5-0 to the Toronto Blue Jays, but otherwise it was a successful Jewish Heritage Night.

As if celebrating a simcha, Oakland A’s staff members hoist mascot Stomper on Jewish Heritage Night. photo-courtesy of oakland a’s

The full allotment of 1,500 tickets sold out, marking the highest total for the A’s in their three years of Jewish heritage games. The largest group (more than 150) came from Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland. The giveaway item was an A’s yarmulke.

Highlights included the team mascot being hoisted in a chair while A’s staffers danced the hora around him; a klezmer band, Orchestra Euphonos, performing before the game and in the stands and playing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh inning; and a private meet-and-greet with A’s Jewish rookie Nate Freiman.

Freiman started the game at first base and had one single in four at-bats. The loss dropped the A’s record in Jewish heritage games in Oakland to 2-1.