Major League Baseball: All-Time Best Athletics All-Star Lineup
The Athletics have given us legendary moments like the Bash Brothers, Run Ricky Run, and the innovative approach of Moneyball, not to mention some iconic pitching mustaches. Originating in Philadelphia and briefly based in Kansas City, this team found its true home and flourished in Oakland. It’s a shame they were uprooted from the East Bay. Nevertheless, despite all the changes, the A’s have enjoyed sustained success, claiming nine World Series titles and producing incredible talents along the way. 777 jili77
Manager: Connie Mack
Connie Mack is a truly unique figure on this list. He transitioned from player to manager while also taking on executive duties, yet his managerial record sits below .500. However, that’s somewhat misleading: Mack led the A’s for an incredible 50 seasons, from their inception in 1901 until 1950. He managed the team in 7,466 games, achieving a .484 win percentage, which is easy to overlook given his eight World Series appearances and five championships. No other A’s manager even comes close to his 3,582 wins.
Starting Pitcher: Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter made his debut for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965 at just 19 years old, the year after he turned pro. It took him some time — and a migration to Oakland — to truly find his stride, but when he did, he was nothing short of spectacular. At his peak, he recorded a 2.68 ERA over four seasons, winning the 1974 Cy Young with an AL-best 2.49 ERA and leading MLB with 25 wins. He shined in the playoffs, securing victories with the A’s in the ‘72, ‘73, and ‘74 World Series and throwing 80 innings with a 2.24 ERA and a stellar 7-1 record in those postseason games.
Reliever/Closer: Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley transformed the role of closer into a specialized one-inning assignment aimed at shutting down opponents. His impact on the game is undeniable, as his style inspired many to follow suit. Eck pitched in 525 games for Oakland, finishing 456 while amassing 320 saves — the most in A’s history. He boasts the lowest walk rate (1.3) and an impressive K/9 of 9.3, even during an era less favorable for strikeouts. In 1992, he claimed both the Cy Young and MVP awards as a closer after posting a 1.91 ERA and 51 saves.
Catcher: Terry Steinbach
Terry Steinbach played a vital role in some remarkable A’s pitching rotations during the championship years of 1988, 1989, and 1990. Not only could he manage a pitching staff with skill, but he was also a capable hitter. Over his 11-year tenure with Oakland, his 107 OPS+ speaks loudly of his talent. In 1987, while catchers across the league managed just .244/.303/.384, Steinbach excelled with an impressive .284/.349/.463 at the plate. Despite Oakland winning just one of the three World Series he participated in, Steinbach maintained a solid . taya365+app281/.340/.382 batting average in the postseason.
1B: Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx had an illustrious 11-season career with the Athletics, securing numbers that would have made him a Hall of Famer had he stopped there. He racked up 61 wins above replacement, 1,492 hits, 302 home runs, and 1,075 RBIs, with a remarkable .339/.440/.640 batting line. fc 777 slot login Even after his move to Boston, Foxx remains second in WAR among A’s players, trailing only Al Simmons in several categories, and he ranks just behind Mark McGwire in home runs.
2B: Max Bishop
Though overshadowed by Foxx, Max Bishop contributed significantly to the Philadelphia A’s. In 1929, he led the majors with 128 walks, posting an impressive .398 on-base percentage despite a lower batting average of .232. Over his 10 years in Philadelphia, he accumulated 1,046 walks — a record that stood until Rickey Henderson broke it nearly a century later. Bishop wasn’t just about walks; he was also an exceptional defender, contributing significantly to his team’s success long before the Gold Glove was established jilicc.ph.
3B: Eric Chavez
The “Moneyball” A’s deserve credit for changing how front offices operated, but they also had star players like Eric Chavez, who embodied excellence. A six-time Gold Glove winner, Chavez batted .280/.357/.513 during his full five-year peak and was a notable figure in the early 2000s. While injuries affected his performance later on, he remained an outstanding third baseman throughout his career.
SS: Miguel Tejada
Miguel Tejada, the 2002 AL MVP, started his career with Oakland and accumulated 968 hits with the team, hitting nearly half of his home runs while batting .270/.331/.460 and showcasing solid defensive skills. He had a remarkable stretch of 1,152 consecutive games played, a streak that lasted until a broken wrist interrupted his trajectory — a streak that included his time with the A’s as he later transitioned to the Orioles. Tejada was instrumental in the “Moneyball” era success, amassing 40 wins above replacement from 1999 to 2006.
OF: Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson earned the moniker “Mr. October” long before it became officially associated with him. During his playoff appearances with the A’s, he compiled a batting line of .271/.344/.475 alongside five home runs and 15 RBIs across five playoff years. He was pivotal in securing three consecutive World Series titles in ‘72, ‘73, and ‘74, winning the World Series MVP award in ‘73. Jackson hit 269 of his 563 home runs as an Athletic, showcasing a .262/.355/.496 batting average.
OF: Jose Canseco
Jose Canseco burst onto the scene in 1986, winning the Rookie of the Year award with a whopping 33 home runs. His power only grew from there, leading the majors with 42 home runs in 1988, boasting a .569 slugging percentage and an impressive 170 OPS+. He continued to showcase his power, leading MLB in home runs again in 1991 with 44. While he spent time bouncing between teams after his Oakland years, Canseco left an indelible mark with 254 home runs in nine seasons — ranking fourth in A’s history and becoming the first player in MLB history to achieve both 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season.
OF: Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson is an all-time great who spent 25 years in Major League Baseball, leaving an extraordinary legacy. Even if you took out his time with the Yankees, Padres, Mets, and several others, his 14 years with the A’s alone would suffice for consideration into the Hall of Fame. During his time in Oakland, Henderson recorded a batting average of .288/.409/.430, stole 867 bases — good for fifth all time — and reached base an astounding 3,050 times, equating to more than Joe DiMaggio’s entire career total, which places him at 197th in MLB history.
DH: Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire may have gained fame for shattering Roger Maris’ single-season home run record with 70 in 1998, but he spent more time with the A’s where he began his remarkable career. During his tenure in Oakland, McGwire hit 363 home runs — the highest by any player in the franchise’s history, while also boasting a .260/ 777 jili casino login.380/.551 batting line. As one of the famed Bash Brothers alongside Canseco, McGwire contributed to three consecutive World Series appearances, with Oakland clinching the championship in 1989, all while he hit .343/.368/.486 against the Giants.
Honorable Mentions
Other notable figures include Bob Melvin (manager), Tony La Russa (manager), Dave Stewart (starting pitcher), Chief Bender (starting pitcher), Vida Blue (starting pitcher), Lefty Grove (starting pitcher), Eddie Plank (starting pitcher), Rollie Fingers (reliever/closer), Mickey Cochrane (catcher), Gene Tenace (catcher), Mark Ellis (2B), Eddie Collins (2B), Sal Bando (3B), Frank Baker (3B), Matt Chapman (3B), Marcus Semien (SS), Bert Campaneris (SS), Eddie Jost (SS), Joe Rudi (OF), Yoenis Cespedes (OF), Dave Henderson (OF), Al Simmons (OF), Dwayne Henderson (OF), and Jason Giambi (DH).
Want to know which MLB team will be featured next in our all-time All-Star series? Stay tuned!
