Astros Give Charter Plane Ride To A’s Lone All-Star

The AL West’s leading team extended a helping hand to a rival at the bottom of the standings.

The A’s were set to send their lone All-Star — SP Paul Blackburn — to the All-Star Game in Los Angeles on a commercial flight, but when the Astros heard of his relatively unluxurious travel plans, they offered Blackburn a ride with their All-Stars on the team’s charter plane.

Houston, of course, had a much bigger traveling contingent to L.A. than Oakland: five players selected to the All-Star roster, plus manager Dusty Baker and his coaching staff, who will take charge of the American League team.

Still, the spirit of sportsmanship shined through on this occasion.

“It shows within baseball, it’s like a brotherhood, and everyone respects each other,” said Blackburn. “I’m greatly appreciative of their organization.”

The struggling A’s are in a notoriously precarious financial situation.

The team has had to navigate numerous hurdles to get a new stadium built in Oakland, while Warriors owner Joe Lacob recently said he wants to buy the team and keep them in the city.

The A’s have been heavily linked to a Las Vegas relocation in recent months.