Elephant Rumblings: Oakland A’s PA announcer Dick Callahan OK after health issue, will miss 2020 season

Good morning, Athletics Nation!

Add one more thing to the list of ways that the 2020 MLB season will be a weird one. The voice of the Oakland Coliseum, A’s public address announcer Dick Callahan, will sit out the season after a health scare, reports Daniel Brown of The Athletic.

The 79-year-old Callahan’s recent health ordeal did not involve COVID-19, as he tested negative for coronavirus, but nevertheless it was a serious issue that he fortunately caught in time. He’s doing fine now and is focused on continuing his recovery, but will play it safe by not further testing his immune system at the stadium this summer, especially with no fans there to hear him.

Callahan has worked over 1,000 games as the team’s PA announcer, calling out lineups, player names, and other information at A’s games for well over the last decade, and we could hear him back in action in 2021. He succeeded Roy Steele, who began stepping away in the mid-2000s; Steele died two months ago at age 87.

For more details on Callahan’s news, read Brown’s full story. For more on his life in general, check out this old video profile from Brodie Brazil of then-CSN. Athletics Nation wishes the best to Callahan and his family!

***

In other not-coronavirus news, A’s starting pitcher Mike Fiers said his early absence from camp was merely a precaution, reports Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle. He didn’t test positive, but spent time around someone who did in fellow pitcher Jesus Luzardo, so he waited until he got two negative tests before joining his teammates. For more info on Fiers, check out the links below from Slusser, Hickey, and Gallegos.

We could get a look at the right-hander sooner than later, too. Fiers is scheduled to pitch in one of the team’s exhibition games against the Giants on Monday or Tuesday, as is Chris Bassitt, reports Slusser.

A’s Coverage:

• Brown: A’s PA announcer Dick Callahan will miss the season after a health scare ($$$)
• Slusser: A’s Khris Davis: relaxed, confident and ready to turn page on 2019
• Slusser: A’s Mike Fiers ready after ‘precautionary’ delay because of workouts with Luzardo ($)
• Gallegos: Fiers steps into role as leader, while listening
• Hickey: Mike Fiers Hopes for Opening Night Start for Athletics After Reporting Delay
• Hickey: Athletics Will Incorporate Coliseum’s Right Field Drum Crew into Crowd Noise Plan
• Hickey: Before He Was Mr. October, Athletics’ Reggie Jackson Was July’s Surprise
• Slusser podcast: Guest is assistant hitting coach Eric Martins
• Hall: AL West 2020 preview: Oakland A’s are legit contenders
• A’s trivia: Oakland All-Stars

MLB News, & Interest:

• Adler: Puig agrees to deal with Braves (source)
• MLB Injury updates: deGrom, Judge, Rizzo, Buxton
• Sherman: Yankees luck out to avoid J.A. Happ money dilemma
• Castrovince: Here are the top 10 bullpens for 2020
• Today in Baseball History

Summer Camp video

Enjoy some batting practice from Tuesday’s workout at the Coliseum! Now featuring some radio analysis by Chris Townsend.

Best of Twitter:

New charity promotion by the A’s!

Hendriks offers some insight on how he warms up for games

The latest opt-out

... And not just players, either

Hope he’s OK!

Another division rival dealing with an early injury

Yo is back on the field for 2020!

Too bad we lost most of his age-27 season