Fan cutouts to help Piscotty’s charity

In a nice twist, the A’s have added a charity element to one section of fans cardboard cutouts at the Coliseum, with proceeds going to the Piscotty family’s ALS CURE Project.

Fans may purchase a cutout in the section on the firstbase side for $149, and outfielder Stephen Piscotty will provide an autographed photo, to boot — and any foul that strikes a cutout also will earn that fan an autographed ball from Piscotty.

Piscotty said he’s heard from a number of friends who said they’d like a cutout.

“I’m encouraging all to participate and I’ll be happy to sign whatever for folks who get their cutouts knocked with a baseball,” Piscotty said Saturday.

Piscotty’s dad, Mike, came up with the idea, and, Piscotty said, “It’s a very easy thing to do, brings some good attention, make some fun out of this weird situation. I was like, ‘Great, let’s do it,’ so credit to the A’s for pulling it off.”

Like most charities, the ALS CURE Project has seen fund

raising take a hit during the coronavirus shutdown.

“We had a bunch of things planned, a golf tournament and a gala we’re just not going to be able to do this year because of the pandemic,” said Piscotty, whose mother died of ALS two years ago. “This is a cool, unique initiative and hopefully it sells out. It would really move the needle quite a bit for us.”

A number of cutouts are available in the ALS CURE Project foulball zone. For more info, visit athletics.com/cutouts.

“I think it’s great,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s what Stephen’s all about, so it doesn’t surprise me. I’m all for it, anything we can do along those lines. It’s a tough time in our country right now . ... Charity things like that are a great idea.”

Fans can also buy a cutout ($49 for Access members, $89