By Matthew Harrington

When the A’s kick off the second half of the season this weekend at home, they’ll do so with some noteworthy guests in attendance. Throughout the weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Athletics will honor the 1989 squad, winners of the only Bay Bridge World Series in Major League History. On Friday and Saturday night, the A’s will celebrate the silver anniversary of their most recent World Series victory capped by appearances of many members of the championship team.

Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the Man of Steal, will be attendance. The all-time stolen base leader will be joined by Dennis Eckersley, also enshrined in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown as an Athletic. In terms of future Hall of Famers, manager Tony La Russa will take a break from the various Contra Costa county charities he supports as well as his executive role with the Arizona Diamondbacks to once again try to keep this bunch in check. The doors to immortality will open for La Russa July 27^th after being selected by the Veteran’s Committee in his first year of eligibility.

While bringing back players like diamond-superstar-turned-twitter-all-star Jose Canseco and ’89 series MVP Dave Stewart can serve as nostalgia for A’s fans lucky enough to attend the autograph sessions, the reunion will be a reminder for the current players of what the season goal is and what it will take to reach greatness.

After hitting the All-Star break with the best record in baseball and riding the momentum from a blockbuster trade to acquire Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, expectations have risen greatly for the residents of O.Co Coliseum. No more so was that evident than when the contingent of six A’s All-stars all stressed how important an AL victory and home field advantage in the World Series was.

No longer was it that case Tuesday night where a solitary Athletic, or perhaps a pair of A’s, was playing for someone else’s right to host the NL’s best in late October. Instead, the Oakland delegates were playing for themselves, seeking a win with the intention that they’d be playing when 28 other teams have packed their gear up for the spring.

This is new territory for the A’s, who under Billy Beane’s tenure as general manager, have made the postseason many times but never entered the end of season tournament as favorites. While 1989 team members Curt Young and Mike Gallego are both currently on the A’s coaching staff, Friday and Saturday will give the A’s a unique chance to pick the brains of Dave Parker, Ken Phelps and Dave Henderson, gaining insight into how to survive a 162-grind and beyond. Perhaps even a certain utility player who appeared in 37 games at third base, first base, catcher and the outfield for the A’s that season will make an appearance. Or perhaps he may be busy swinging another deal to improve the Athletics on the field today. Such is the life of one William Lamar Beane.

The modern A’s have a long way to go before reaching the level that their guests reached after winning three-straight AL Pennants from 1988-1990, but as the warm July evenings turn to the dog days of August, the 1989 team will serve as the benchmark. Perhaps their presence may be enough to get the Swingin’ A’s over the hump again for the first time in a quarter of a century.