OAKLAND -- In past years when the Kansas City Royals visited the Oakland A's, designated hitter Mark Sweeney was accustomed to warming up on the visitors' side at the Coliseum. On Friday, things will be a bit different for Sweeney.

For the first time in 14 years, Sweeney will be in the home dugout when the Royals visit McAfee Coliseum for a three-game set starting Friday night. Sweeney, who was the face of the Royals franchise for more than a decade, will now find himself facing his former teammates for the first time in his career.

"My [Oakland A's] teammates rag me about cutting the umbilical cord, or when we're watching the Royals on television they'll say, 'Turn the page or put away the scrap book,'" Sweeney said. "It's all in good humor. With all that being said, I'm very thankful for the time I had with the Royals, and there's nothing but good memories."

Sweeney, who signed a Minor League contract with the A's on February 10 and had his contract purchased on March 25, enjoyed a great amount of success as a member of the Royals. From 1999-2005, Sweeney hit .311 with 163 homers and 676 RBIs. He enjoyed his best season as a Royal in 2000, when he hit .333 with 29 homers and 144 RBIs.

Sweeney, who made his Major League debut in 1995 as a catcher for the Royals and became the team's everyday first baseman in 1999, was named to five All-Star teams and finished in the top 20 for the MVP Award three times in his career with the Royals.

"I've gotten some calls from some of the guys on that team, and they're a great group of guys over there," Sweeney said. "I still have some good friends over there, but now I'm in Oakland and I'm proud of that."

A's manager Bob Geren said the reunion between Sweeney and the Royals will be similar to when Frank Thomas, who played for the A's in 2006, faced his former team, the Chicago White Sox.

"It's probably going to be a little more emotional for Sweeney when we travel to Kansas City," Geren said. "But there's a whole lot of guys who play against their former team nowadays."

Sweeney, who battled injuries in his last three seasons with the Royals, is healthy again this year and has provided a solid right-handed bat off the bench for Geren. Sweeney and Jack Cust have alternated as the A's designated hitter this season, with Sweeney hitting .275 with three doubles and three RBIs in 15 games.

Despite his long history with the Royals, Sweeney said he will treat the series the same as any other.

"It's just going to be another game for me," Sweeney said. "It's part of the process of separating my past with the present. I'm just going to have to separate myself emotionally and prepare like it's just another game."