Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California.

Founded: 1893, as the Indianapolis, Indiana franchise in the minor Western League[?]. Moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1900 when that league became the American League. Moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1955 and to Oakland in 1967.

Formerly known as: Philadelphia Athletics, 1901-1954. Kansas City Athletics, 1955-1966. The team is often called simply the "A's".

Home ballpark: Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland

Uniform colors: Green, White and Gold

Logo design: a stylized capital "A's". The team also occasionally uses a white elephant logo.

American League pennants won: 1901, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1990.

World Series championships won: 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1989

Franchise history

The Philadelphia years (1901-1954)

• The "White Elephants: Connie Mack[?], the Lajoie scandal, early success
• The $100,000 Infield: Baker, Barry, Collins, McInnis; dominance, 1910-1913; upset by Miracle Braves in 1914; dismantling of the team and subsequent cellar-dwelling
• 1928-1932: Rebuilding of team in 1920s. Cochrane, Grove, Foxx, Simmons, others

The Kansas City years (1955-1966)

• During the Kansas City years, the team generally did not draw well or do well. Kansas City was involved in so many bad trades with the Yankees (in which they gave up Roger Maris, Bob Cerv, and others, and got little in return) that they were jokingly considered to be a Yankee farm club.

The Oakland years (1967 to present)

• Charlie Finley and the "Swingin' A's: Fingers, Hunter, Jackson. Colorful uniforms. Mustaches return to baseball in 1972.
• The Bash Brothers: McGwire, Canseco, Stewart, Eck

Players of note

Baseball Hall of Famers:

• Frank Baker[?]
• Chief Bender[?]
• Orlando Cepeda[?]
• Ty Cobb
• Mickey Cochrane
• Eddie Collins[?]
• Jimmy Collins[?]
• Stan Coveleski[?]
• Rollie Fingers
• Elmer Flick[?]
• Nellie Fox[?]
• Jimmie Foxx
• Lefty Grove
• Waite Hoyt[?]
• Catfish Hunter[?]
• Reggie Jackson
• George Kell[?]
• Nap Lajoie[?]
• Willie McCovey[?]
• Joe Morgan[?]
• Satchel Paige
• Herb Pennock[?]
• Eddie Plank[?]
• Al Simmons [?]
• Enos Slaughter
• Tris Speaker
• Don Sutton[?]
• Rube Waddell[?]
• Zack Wheat[?]
• Billy Williams[?]

Current stars:

• Tim Hudson[?]
• Barry Zito (AL Cy Young Award, 2002)
• Mark Mulder[?]
• Miguel Tejada[?] (AL MVP Award[?], 2002)
• Eric Chavez[?]

Not to be forgotten:

• Rickey Henderson (AL MVP Award[?], 1990)
• Dennis Eckersley[?]
• Dave Stewart[?]
• Bob Welch[?] (AL Cy Young Award, 1990)
• Jason Giambi[?] (AL MVP Award[?], 2000)
• Mark McGwire
• Jose Canseco (AL MVP Award[?], 1988)
• Dave Henderson[?]
• Bert Campaneris[?]

Retired numbers:

• 27 Catfish Hunter[?]
• 34 Rollie Fingers
• 42 Jackie Robinson

External Link

• Oakland A's official web site (http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/oak/homepage/oak_homepage.jsp)