1968 A's team issue? press issue?
 

Anyone have any idea what this is?

It is definitely the 68 A's...because Bob Kennedy was with them only in 1968, I believe.

It looks like a photo, with a high gloss front. The back is blank.

I utilized the image Google search option and found this Dodgers image:

https://lelands.com/bids/jackie-robi...otograph--1956

The auction listing description refers to the Dodgers piece as a "news service photo."

The A's piece that I have looks very similar, in style, to the Dodgers piece from Lelands.

If the A's piece is a "news service photo," is that something that the team would have provided to the press? Or is it something that the press would have prepared themselves? Would it be considered a Type 1?

Yes, this would be a "news service photo" or "press photo" where the team would provide this photo of each player or staff member, and then these were distributed by the team for editorial use by credentialed press organizations. (i.e. newspapers, etc.)

These assisted the press when writing stories where they could pull a photo of the player/staff for their news story.

Now, everything is digital, but here's one for example of the A's front office, with the A's logos showing they were created by the team, etc:

https://i.imgur.com/gqVZ29T.jpeg

Hope this helps.

Inaka is correct....I have about 12-15 different ones from the Orioles in my collection (this particular one is from 1985):

Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of Eddie Murray smiling before.

Sakata couldn’t quiiiite get there.

Very interesting. I also have a vintage Dodger sheet that I can't figure out. Is this the same - something the Dodgers provided to the press? It's the same photos used on the picture packs.