Every sport evolves with each
passing generation -- from the size
and athleticism of players to game
strategy.
Baseball’s evolution, however, is both
historic and unique given the pre-
integration and dead ball eras. For the
former, full segregation took place from
1887-1947. Full integration, which was
a gradual process, came in 1959.
The Deadball Era was a period in the
early 20th century when baseball
was characterized by low scoring
and emphasis on pitching.
There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time though it is
generally assumed that the era ran from the late 1980s until the late
2000s. This era was defined by shattered home run records leading
to exorbitant salaries.
The Oakland Athletics have existed since 1901. They were the
Philadelphia A’s from 1901-1954. They called Kansas City home from
1955-1967 before moving West to Oakland in 1968. As one of the
American League’s charter franchises, the A’s have won nine World
Series titles -- five in Philadelphia (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 193) and
four in Oakland (1972, 1973, 1974, 1989). The franchise has also
won 15 pennants and 17 American League West titles.
Today, I form an A’s Dream Team that is all-encompassing between
the Philadelphia, Kansas City and Oakland eras in 26-man roster
format. For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Giant are
required. No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not going to
cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals.
I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters and seven relievers.
For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the bullpen. For position
players, I am taking what I believe is the best of the best regardless
of era. I’m not picking a designated hitter because the bench has
enough quality depth to choose one on a given day. For the bench
players, it’s the best of the rest with versatility being heavily
considered. Merit achievements such as Hall of Fame, All Star
appearances and Gold Gloves are considered but not guaranteed.
General impactfulness on the franchise is also considered.
Generational reminders
If I believe you were the best at your position in the pre-integration era,
you are on the team. If you played on a World Series champion, there
is no guarantee of landing on this roster. If you played during a bad
season, that does not deter you from being on this roster. Off the
field baggage is not a deterrent to landing on this team, nor is any
Steroid Era affiliation. This is baseball, not the Boys Scouts.
Starting rotation
Lefty Grove, Vida Blue, Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Eddie Plank, Chief
Bender
Hunter’s Hall of Fame career overlapped both the Kansas City and
Oakland eras. Hunter was also a central figure in the franchise
winning three World Series in the 1970s. Bender spent 12 seasons
of his Hall of Fame career with the Athletics, winning 193 games,
the most by a right-hander in franchise history.
Plank spent 14 years of his Hall of Fame career with the A’s and
remains the franchise's leader in wins (284). He also holds the
Major League record for complete games (410) and shutouts (69).
Grove spent eight seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the A’s
and was one of eight players to win multiple pitching Triple Crowns
(leading the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA). Blue was both the
Cy Young and American League MVP in 1971. The hard-throwing
left-hander was a key part of the A's 1970s dynasty and one of five
pitchers to be an All-Star in both the American and National
Leagues.
Bullpen
Closer -- Dennis Eckersley. Rollie Fingers, Huston Street, John
Wyatt, Justin Duchscherer, Sean Doolittle, Rick Honeycutt
Eckersley was a solid starter before being traded to the A's in 1987
but when he made the transition to closer, he became a Hall of
Famer. Eckersley is one of three relief pitchers to win both the Cy
Young and MVP in a single season (1992). On the way to a Hall of
Fame career, Fingers was instrumental in the A's winning three
World Series in the 1970s and he redefined the value of a relief
pitcher which is now known as the closer in today's game. Street
spent four seasons with the A's. He was the American League
Rookie of the Year in 2005 and recorded 94 saves which ranks
fourth among relievers in franchise history.
Wyatt pitched seven years with the franchise, five in the Kansas
City era, during which time he recorded 75 of his 103 career
saves. Duchscherer was a starter in his final two seasons with the
A’s but his first six came as a reliever during which time he
fashioned a 3.13 ERA and two All Star appearances. Doolittle, who
is now a Washington National, was a versatile relief pitcher during
his five seasons with the A's and earned All-Star recognition in
2014. Honeycutt spent seven seasons with the A's, most as
Eckersley’s setup man including three consecutive postseason
appearances from 1988-1990, during which time he gave up no
runs in the postseason.
Infield
Catcher -- Mickey Cochrane, First base -- Jimmy Foxx, Second
base -- Eddie Collins, Shortstop -- Bert Campaneris, Third base --
Sal Bando
Cochrane, Foxx and Collins each had Hall of Fame careers that
helped lead the A’s to five World Series titles in the Philadelphia era.
They tend to get forgotten because they played in the pre-integration
era but one cannot deny their careers. Cochrane’s .320 career
batting average is still a Major League record for a catcher. Foxx is
one of 10 players in major league history to win a Triple Crown and
was the second in Major League history to reach 500 career home
runs. Collins became the first player in American League history to
steal 80 bases in a single season. He also remains the only player
in Major League history to steal six bases in a game twice.
Campaneris and Bando’s career overlap both the Kansas City and
Oakland eras. Both were vital to the A’s 1970s World Series titles.
Campaneris remains the franchise's all time leader in career hits.
Bando was never voted League MVP but he was a candidate on
multiple occasions in helping the A's win three World Series
Championships in the 1970s.
Outfield
Leftfield -- Rickey Henderson, Centerfield -- Dwayne Murphy,
Rightfield -- Reggie Jackson
The choice of Henderson in leftfield is about as easy as it gets. On
the way to a Hall of Fame career, Henderson spent 14 of his 25
seasons with the A's and became the game's all-time leading base
stealer for his career and in a single season in 1981. Given that the
game has become more power oriented, those records are not likely
to be broken anytime soon. When the A's reacquired him in 1989,
Henderson helped lead them to a World Series championship.
Though some people know Jackson for his time as a New York
Yankee, his legacy was crafted as a member of the Oakland A's in
the 1970s for whom he helped deliver three World Series titles in the
1970s on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Jackson's 269 career
home runs in an Oakland uniform remain third in franchise history.
Murphy is the least heralded of this threesome but he brought a
tremendous combination of power and speed. Murphy’s biggest
Hallmark was defense. Murphy was a six-time gold glove Award
winner, tied for most in franchise history.
Bench
Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, Terry Steinbach,
Frank Baker, Al Simmons
McGwire, Canseco and Steinbach were vital cogs on the A's 1989
World Series title team that also won three consecutive pennants in
that span. McGwire and Canseco's legacy took a hit because of
their association with PEDs but that's not a deterrent to make this
team. They were known as the Bash Brothers. McGwire's 363 home
runs in Oakland uniform remain the most in franchise history.
Canseco hit 254 home runs in an A’s uniform and became the first
player in major league history to have a 40-40 season (40 home
runs, 40 stolen bases). Steinbach gets overlooked mainly because
he was overshadowed by the many stars that the A’s had in the late
1980s and early 1990s but he was no less valuable. No catcher in
franchise history has more All Star bids than Steinbach.
Giambi's association with PEDs hurt his perception but until leaving
for the New York Yankees, he was on his way to becoming the best
first baseman in franchise history. Giambi's seven seasons in
Oakland, however, were remarkable and that included a 2000
American League MVP award. On the way to a Hall of Fame career,
Baker helped the A's win three World Series titles in the 1910s. His
.321 career batting average remains the highest in franchise history
for a third baseman. Simmons helped the Philadelphia version of
the A's win multiple World Series titles on the way to a Hall of Fame
career. Simmons remains the A's all-time leader in career batting
average, RBIs, total bases and extra-base hits.
Manager
Connie Mack
Mack’s winning percentage (.486, 3,741-3,948) may look
underwhelming but longevity alone gets him the top spot as he
piloted two separate dynasties in the Philadelphia era. The franchise
won three World Series titles in four years from 1910-1913 and back-
to-back in 1929-1930. Mack’s 3,741 career wins are not likely to get
threatened any time soon. Mack managed the A’s for 50 seasons
and was also part owner within his Hall of Fame career.
Team
1974.
With nine World Series championships, there is no shortage of teams
from which to choose but this one gets the nod. Early in 1974, owner
Charlie Finley nearly tried to sell the team for an asking price of $15
million. In the regular season, the A's won their fourth consecutive
American League West Division championships with a 90-72 record.
In the postseason the A's defeated Baltimore 3-1 and then defeated
the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 in the World Series. Rollie Fingers was
the World Series MVP and Jim “Catfish” Hunter was the American
League Cy Young Award winner. That season, Campaneris, Jackson,
Bando, Fingers, Hunter, and Joe Rudi each made the All-Star team.
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