The A’s are playing their final game in Oakland on Thursday and then end the season in Seattle over the weekend, but the franchise’s rich history will live on.
Oakland produced four World Series winning teams, won 17 division titles and was home to some of the biggest stars and larger-than-life characters, something that can’t be wiped away by a temporary move to Sacramento and and longer-term plan of Las Vegas.
Here is a look at some of the well-known and not-so well-known moments and milestones in the franchise’s time in Oakland.
FRANCHISE PLAYER
Let’s get it out of the way right away: Who was the best player in Oakland A’s history? Oakland Tech grad Rickey Henderson, and it’s not really close. If you go by his WAR (wins above replacement) Henderson’s 72.7 WAR is miles ahead of No. 2 Sal Bando (50.5). Henderson, enshrined in the MLB Hall of Fame in 2009, is Oakland’s all-time leader in a wide variety of categories, including on-base percentage, runs scored, total bases, and of course, stolen bases.
Oakland’s career hit leaders:
895 – Rickey Henderson
673 – Carney Lansford
652 – Campy Campaneris
639 – Eric Chavez
625 – Reggie Jackson
ORG XMIT: NY204 ** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, JULY 25-26 ** FILE – In this May 1, 1991, file photo, Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson celebrates and raises third base after setting the all-time stolen base record during the Athletics’ baseball game in Oakland, Calif., against the New York Yankees. The stolen base was Henderson’s 939th, moving him past Lou Brock. On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Henderson will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) A.P. Photo
ACE OF ACES
Picking the greatest pitcher in Oakland history is no small feat. Many rotations – and eras – featured multiple aces. There was Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue and Ken Holtzman on the 1970s World Series teams. Mike Norris, Matt Keough, Steve McCatty, Rick Langford and Brian Kingman were the Five Aces of the Billy Ball era. You might not know it from the movie, but the Moneyball era wouldn’t have existed without Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. Then there are closers like Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley to consider. But based on WAR, Huddy goes down as Oakland’s all-time best on the mound, largely because his 92-39 record is the franchise’s best winning percentage (.702).
Oakland Cy Young winners
Vida Blue (1971)
Catfish Hunter (1974)
Bob Welch (1990)
Dennis Eckersley (1992)
Barry Zito (2002)
Runners-up: Mike Norris (1980), Steve McCatty (1981), Eckersley (1988), Dave Stewart (1989), Tim Hudson (2000), Mark Mulder (2001)
A’s three 20 game winners, Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Vida Blue and Ken Holtzman.Photo Ron Riesterer
HOW IT STARTED
After moving from Kansas City following the 1967 season, the A’s opened the Oakland era on the road in Baltimore. The Oakland A’s played their first game on April 10, 1968, at old Memorial Stadium. They lost 3-1, but a young outfielder named Reggie Jackson hit the second home run of his career – he’d go on to hit 561 more. The A’s reboot had …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
