In the Big Inning - The Athletics were an original member of the American League, placed in Philadelphia to challenge the Phillies of the National League. Immediate legal battles ensued when the Athletics lured Nap Lajoie over from the Phils, which eventually led to an injunction from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Despite losing Lajoie, the Athletics remained in Philly until 1954 and had substantially more success than their cross town rivals.
Headed to Missouri - In 1955, the Athletics moved to Kansas City, where they would play 13 uninspired seasons, never finishing higher than sixth, and finishing last 4 times.
On to Oakland - In 1968, the Athletics became the third baseball team in California with a move to Oakland. The change of scenery was good for the A's, who won three World Series and five division titles in their first eight years in Oakland.
Best Trade in Team History - In 1989, the Athletics re-acquired Rickey Henderson from the New York Yankees for Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk, and Luis Polonia. Polonia, Cadaret, and Plunk did little for the Yanks, while Henderson led the A's to the 1989 World Series Title, and then won the 1990 AL MVP.
Worst Trade in Team History - In a series of trades with the Red Sox in the mid-1930's, the Athletics traded away Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx to the Red Sox for Gordon Rhodes, George Savino, Bob Kline, Rabbit Warstler, and $275,000. None of the players they acquired, nor the cash, led to success, and the A's who had won three pennants and two World Series from 1929 to 1931 would not finish higher than fourth again until 1969.
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BaseballEvolution.com Links for the Oakland Athletics
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Manager
Best Overall Player
Best Overall Pitcher
Worst Overall Player
Worst Overall Pitcher
Most Overrated Player
Most Underrated Player
Clutch Hitter
Clutch Pitcher
Best Player Name
Catcher
First Base
Second Base
Third Base
Shortstop
Utility
Left Field
Center Field
Right Field
Designated Hitter
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Relief Pitcher
Relief Pitcher
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Dick Williams
Jimmie Foxx
Lefty Grove
Rob Picciolo
Buck Ross
Rollie Fingers
Mitchell Page
Miguel Tejada
Dave Stewart
Buster McCrabb
Mickey Cochrane
Jimmie Foxx
Eddie Collins
Frank "Home Run" Baker
Eddie Joost
Mark McGwire
Rickey Henderson
Al Simmons
Reggie Jackson
Jose Canseco
Lefty Grove
Eddie Plank
Rube Waddell
Vida Blue
Eddie Rommel
Dennis Eckersley
Rollie Fingers
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Games
At-Bats
Runs
Hits
Doubles
Triples
Home Runs
Runs Batted In
Stolen Bases
Total Bases
Batting Average
Games Pitched
Innings Pitched
Wins
Losses
Strikeouts
Bases on Balls
ERA
Shutouts
Saves
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1795 - Bert Campaneris
7180 - Bert Campaneris
1270 - Rickey Henderson
1882 - Bert Campaneris
365 - Jimmy Dykes
102 - Danny Murphy
363 - Mark McGwire
1178 - Al Simmons
867 - Rickey Henderson
2998 - Al Simmons
.356 - Al Simmons
525 - Dennis Eckersley
3860.2 - Eddie Plank
284 - Eddie Plank
162 - Eddie Plank
1985 - Eddie Plank
913 - Eddie Plank
1.97 - Rube Waddell
59 - Eddie Plank
320 - Dennis Eckersley
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At-Bats
Runs
Hits
Doubles
Triples
HR
RBI
SB
TB
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Games
Innings
Wins
Losses
Strikeouts
Walks
ERA
Shutouts
Saves
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670 - Al Simmons, 1930
152 - Al Simmons, 1930
253 - Al Simmons, 1925
53 - Al Simmons, 1926
21 - Frank Baker, 1912
58 - Jimmie Foxx, 1932
169 - Jimmie Foxx, 1932
130 - Rickey Henderson, 1982
438 - Jimmie Foxx, 1932
.426 - Nap Lajoie, 1901
.477 - Jason Giambi, 2001
.749 - Jimmie Foxx, 1932
1.218 - Jimmie Foxx, 1932
84 - Billy Koch, 2002
383 - Rube Waddell, 1904
31 - Jack Coombs, 1910
31 - Lefty Grove, 1931
25 - Scott Perry, 1920
349 - Rube Waddell, 1904
168 - Elmer Myers, 1916
1.30 - Jack Coombs, 1910
13 - Jack Coombs, 1910
51 - Dennis Eckersley, 1992
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Al Simmons Connie Mack (Mgr) Dennis Eckersley Eddie Plank Frank "Home Run" Baker Jimmie Foxx Lefty Grove Mickey Cochrane Reggie Jackson Rickey Henderson Rube Waddell Catfish Hunter Rollie Fingers
Dick Williams (Mgr)
Gene Tenace* Sal Bando*
*Baseball Evolution Hall of Famer
Bold players are in both Halls
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MVP Winners
Eddie Collins - 1914
Mickey Cochrane - 1928
Lefty Grove - 1931
Jimmie Foxx - 1932
Jimmie Foxx - 1933
Bobby Shantz - 1952
Vida Blue - 1971
Reggie Jackson - 1973
Jose Canseco - 1988
Rickey Henderson - 1990
Dennis Eckersley - 1992
Jason Giambi - 2000
Miguel Tejada - 2002
Cy Young Winners
Vida Blue - 1971
Catfish Hunter - 1974
Bob Welch - 1990
Dennis Eckersley - 1992
Barry Zito - 2002
Rookies of the Year
Harry Byrd - 1952
Jose Canseco - 1986
Mark McGwire - 1987
Walt Weiss - 1988
Ben Grieve - 1998
Bobby Crosby - 2004
Huston Street - 2005
Firemen of the Year
Dennis Eckersley - 1988
Dennis Eckersley - 1992
Billy Koch - 2002
Keith Foulke - 2003
Kingman Award
Eddie Robinson - 1953
Gus Zernial - 1955
Gus Zernial - 1957
Roger Maris - 1958
Ken Harrelson - 1965
Tony Armas - 1981
Tony Armas - 1982
Dave Kingman - 1985
Dave Kingman - 1986
Ruben Sierra - 1993
Ruben Sierra - 1994
Alex Gonzalez of the Marlins
none
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Triple Crown Hitters
Nap LaJoie - 1901 - 14/125/426
Jimmie Foxx - 1933 - 48/163/356
Triple Crown Pitchers
Rube Waddell (27/287/1.48) 1905
Lefty Grove (28/209/2.54) 1930
Lefty Grove (31/175/2.06) 1931
3-4-5 Club
Jimmie Foxx
100-Plus Club
Nap Lajoie (14/125) 1901
Frank Baker (11/115) 1911
Frank Baker (10/130) 1912
Frank Baker (12/117) 1913
Al Simmons (24/129) 1925
Al Simmons (34/157) 1929
Al Simmons (36/165) 1930
Jimmie Foxx (37/156) 1930
Al Simmons (22/128) 1931
Jimmie Foxx (58/169) 1932
Al Simmons (22/128) 1931
Jimmie Foxx (48/163) 1933
Hank Majeski (12/120) 1948
500 Outs Club
Bert Campaneris ('68 & '72)
Johnny Damon ('01)
50 Home Run Club
Jimmie Foxx (58) 1932
Mark McGwire (52) 1996
30-30 Club Members
Jose Canseco (42/40) 1988
Sub-2.00 ERA
Jack Coombs (1.30) 1910
Vida Blue (1.82) 1971
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