Oakland Athletics: All-Time 25-Man Roster

Catcher: Mickey Cochrane

Mickey Cochrane made his debut in April of 1925, after just one season of minor league ball. The rookie catcher likely had no idea that he would go on to become one of the best backstops in the history of Major League Baseball. He played until 1937, when he was hit in the head by a pitch which forced an end to his career.

The left-handed hitting Cochrane held the record for highest career batting average as a catcher until 2009, when Joe Mauer briefly surpassed him. In his 13-year career – nine of which were spent with the A’s – Cochrane hit 119 home runs and stole 64 bases. He also holds the record for best on-base percentage of all time for a catcher, at .419.

Cochrane won the American League MVP Award in 1928 and 1934, and was selected as an All-Star in 1934 and 1935. He was instrumental in helping the A’s to three World Championships, both at the plate and behind it.

In 1947, Cochrane became the first catcher elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. If there was one A’s backstop who deserves to make the all-time roster, it’s Mickey Cochrane.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: First Base

First Base: Jimmie Foxx

In a franchise that has included sluggers like Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi, one first baseman stands above the rest: Jimmie Foxx.

Foxx made his debut in 1925 when he was just 17 years old. He dropped out of high school to play in the minors, where he trained as a catcher. Unfortunately, Mickey Cochrane had already locked up the catcher position for the A’s earlier in the season, so Foxx was forced to play first base and outfield.

In 1929, Foxx earned the full-time first base job and batted .354 with 33 home runs. Between 1932 and 1935, he hit 186 homers and knocked in 577 runs, making him one of the most dangerous hitters of his era.

Until Alex Rodriguez broke his record in 2007, Foxx was the youngest player to reach 500 home runs. He was also only the second player in MLB history to reach that plateau. In 1933, Foxx won the Triple Crown – one of 17 people to ever win it, but one of two to win it that year. (Chuck Klein of the Phillies won the Triple Crown in the National League.)

It’s easy to see why Foxx was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1951. He was nine-time All-Star from 1933 to 1941, and won two World Series Championships with the A’s. Foxx also led the AL in home runs four times and was the batting leader twice. Altogether, he won three AL MVP awards – making him the most valuable first baseman in A’s history.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Second Base

Second Base: Eddie Collins

The Philadelphia A’s were loaded with outstanding players, and second base is no exception. Eddie Collins helped the A’s to become World Series Champions in five seasons: 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, and 1930, with outstanding defense and even better offensive production. He also earned another championship with the Chicago White Sox, in 1917.

Collins got off to a hot start in his first full season in 1909, when he batted .347 and stole 67 bases in just 102 games. Speed was a big part of his game, and he had a reputation for being a disruptive runner when he got on base. Unfortunately for opposing pitchers, he got on base a lot. He led the league in stolen bases four times, and was named AL MVP in 1914.

Collins had a career average of .333, and an on-base percentage of .424. Most impressively, he swiped 741 bases during his career, which spanned a total of 25 years. In addition to a Hall of Fame career, Collins has another claim to fame: he is the only player in MLB history to spend 12 years with two separate teams. From 1906-1914, Collins played for the A’s. He spent twelve years with the White Sox before returning to Philadelphia as a player-coach in 1927.

Collins was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939, on his fourth ballot. In terms of WAR, Collins is ranked 13^th all-time among Major League players, making him easily the best second basemen in A’s history.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Shortstop

Shortstop: Bert Campaneris

The best shortstop in Athletics history is a bit more modern than the previous names on the list. He began his career in Kansas City with the A’s, making his debut in 1964. Campaneris immediately won over fans when he hit a pair of homers in his very first major league game.

In 1965, “Campy” earned even more attention by becoming the first major leaguer to play all nine positions in one game. The promotion, which has been copied several times since then, even featured Campaneris throwing from the mound as both a right-hander and a lefty.

But Campaneris meant more to the Athletics than silly promotions. He was a mainstay on Oakland’s 1970s rosters, helping the team to three World Series wins. His defense was outstanding – including 934 double plays as a shortstop during his time with the A’s. Campaneris went on to play with the Rangers, Angels and Yankees before retiring, but his best years were in Oakland.

Altogether, the A’s greatest shortstop was a six-time All-Star. His career average was only .259, but he stole 649 bases, leading the league six times. Miguel Tejada was an outstanding power-hitting shortstop for the Athletics, but Campaneris was a far more valuable all-around player.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Third Base

Third Base: Eric Chavez

Third base was a tough choice, but it’s hard to overlook Eric Chavez. Chavez was a solid hitter, one of the best defenders of his time, and he spent most of his career in an Athletics uniform.

Chavez earned a Silver Slugger Award in 2002 after batting .275/.348/.513 with 34 homers and eight stolen bases. He also won six Gold Glove Awards, taking the AL third base honors every year from 2001-2006.

Everyone loved Chavez – fans, his teammates, the media – and it led to the Athletics signing him to a six-year, $66 million contract extension in 2014. The A’s rarely hand out major contracts, so it was surprising to see that kind of money thrown around, even for a fan favorite.

Unfortunately, injuries kept Chavez from truly living up to that deal. While he still made a positive impact on the team, he was not the superstar he had been in previous years. Still, Chavez holds the record for the longest continuous tenure of any A’s player in Oakland-era history, playing 13 seasons for the Green and Gold.

After the 2010 season ended, Chavez spent two years with the Yankees and two years with the Diamondbacks before officially retiring. In 2015, he was a part-time backup on the TV broadcast, which wasn’t a very good fit for Chavez’s quiet personality. Over the off-season, the Angels hired Chavez as a special assistant.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Left Field

Left Field: Dave Henderson

Outfielder Dave Henderson’s six-year tenure with the A’s included the best years of his career. Although he primarily played center field for the A’s, for the purposes of this list, he would be the left fielder on the All-Time roster.

Henderson was equally valuable to the Athletics in the field and at the plate. He hit 104 homers during those six seasons, and posted a career .756 OPS during stints with the A’s, Red Sox, Giants, Mariners and Royals.

While Henderson began his career in Seattle, he played more games with Oakland than any other club. He was named an All-Star in 1991, and helped the A’s to a World Series Championship in 1989. Although Henderson played in three other Fall Classics, including in 1988 and 1990 with the A’s, he only won one ring for his efforts.

In December, Henderson suffered a heart attack and passed away in Seattle. The A’s honored Henderson, along with former utility man Tony Phillips, by wearing patches on their sleeves on Opening Night in 2016.

Henderson is one of the few names on this list who isn’t a Hall of Fame player, but he still has earned a spot in A’s lore for his important contributions.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Center Field

Center Field: Rickey Henderson

Oakland Athletics outfielder Rickey Henderson is likely the best player in franchise history. His number 24 was retired by the A’s on August 1, 2009, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame that same year.

Henderson has a career average of .279 and a career on-base percentage of .401. His speed was an asset in the field, as well as on the base paths. Henderson is best known for holding the career record for stolen bases, with 1,406 in his 25 seasons. Henderson also has scored more runs than any other major league player, with 2,295 in his career.

While Henderson’s selection to the Hall of Fame was not unanimous, he received a vote on 94.9 percent of ballots in the first year he was eligible to be selected. That’s a rare feat, and shows just how must respect the baseball community has for him.

It’s no surprise that he is so highly regarded. Henderson was a ten-time All-Star who led the league in stolen bases 12 times. He won the 1990 AL MVP Award, three Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove. On top of that, Henderson helped the A’s to their 1989 World Series title and in one of his stints away from Oakland, earned another ring with the Blue Jays in ’93.

Henderson did not retire until 2007, although his last game came with the Dodgers in 2003. While he played for nine teams, the 14 years he spent with Oakland were the most important years of his career.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Right Field

Right Field: Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson made a name for himself with the New York Yankees, but his big league debut came with the Kansas City Athletics. Jackson’s first full season was one year later in 1968, in the A’s inaugural season in Oakland.

Jackson never looked back. In ten years with the A’s, Jackson hit .262/.355/496 and swiped 145 bases. He also hit 269 home runs – nearly half of his career total.

Like Rickey Henderson, Jackson was a special player. He earned 93.6 percent of the Hall of Fame vote on his first try, and was elected in 1993. His jersey number is retired by both the A’s and the Yankees. In Oakland, Jackson wore the number nine, and in New York, the number 44 is retired in his honor.

Jackson was a 14-time All-Star, and he won the MVP award in 1973, the year that Oakland won their second of three consecutive World Series titles. He also earned the name Mr. October for his outstanding fall performances, including five World Series championships. Jackson was the home run leader in four seasons, and was also recognized for his strong defensive skills.

While there are plenty of stories about Jackson’s personality clashes with other players in the clubhouse, fans adored him. He is one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Designated Hitter

Designated Hitter: Jose Canseco

If this roster is strictly focused on on-field performance and not off-field antics, Jose Canseco would have to be the designated hitter.

Canseco now most often makes news by making ridiculous comments on social media. His reputation has been tarnished by PEDs. Yet, he’s one of the original “Bash Brothers”.

In 1985, Canseco batted .302 as he made his major league debut. One year later, he won the Rookie of the Year Award as he was named an All-Star for the first time. He would go on to be a six-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger winner.

Canseco also took home the 1988 MVP Award after falling just shy of the Triple Crown. He hit 42 homers and knocked in 124 RBIs, batting .307 that season. His average was only ranked ninth in the AL, leaving him short of a Triple Crown title. That was also the year that Canseco became the first player ever to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bags in a single season. Since then, Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998) and Alfonso Soriano (2006) have joined him in the 40/40 club.

Shockingly, Canseco only led the league in homers twice (or maybe not, given that he played in the steroid era.) In 1992, the A’s sent Canseco to the Rangers and he went on to play a total of 17 seasons in the majors. He hit .266/.353/.515 in his career, including 462 homers, but his best years came with Oakland.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Bench

Bench Player: Al Simmons

Like plenty of other A’s greats, outfielder Al Simmons is often forgotten by newer fans. Born Aloysius Szymanski, he joined the A’s in Philadelphia in 1924, playing twelve total seasons for the Athletics.

Simons holds the franchise record for batting average, having hit .356 during his tenure with the A’s. He also holds a litany of other franchise records, including the single-season hits record.

In 1929, Simmons led the AL in RBIs, and in 1930 and 1931, he led the league in batting average. Although his three All-Star selections did not come until later, during his tenure with the White Sox, his 1930 season is largely viewed as his best year. He batted .381/.423/.708 and knocked in 165 RBIs. He also hit 36 homers and scored 152 runs, as well as notching nine stolen bases.

The most astonishing part of his 1930 season, however, was that Simmons struck out just 34 times in 611 plate appearances. The outfielder was one of the best hitters of all time, which is why he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Bench

Bench Player: Joe Rudi

Outfielder Joe Rudi played just one season with the Kansas City Athletics before they moved to the Bay Area. Rudi was one of the primary reasons why the A’s rapidly developed into a World Series winning team after making their debut in Oakland.

Rudi was a three-time All-Star, in 1972, 1974 and 1975. He won a Gold Glove in each season from 1974-1976, thanks to his outstanding outfield defense.

While Rudi doesn’t get the fanfare that many of the other A’s outfielders do, he was quietly very good. In 1974, he led the AL with 65 extra-base hits, including a league-leading 39 doubles. In 1972, his 181 hits put him at the top of the AL leaderboard again.

Rudi was part of a controversial trade in 1976, when owner Charles Finley attempted to sell him to the Red Sox for $1 million, along with Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn overruled the transaction, all three players were returned to the A’s, and Rudi was granted free agency at the end of the season instead.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Bench

Bench Player: Jason Giambi

In 1995, first baseman Jason Giambi made his debut with the Oakland Athletics. He hit just .256, but slugged six homers in 54 games. From 1996-2003, Giambi hit at least 20 home runs every season, helping him to become a five-time All Star.

The A’s were fortunate enough to receive some of Giambi’s best years, although much of his success came in New York. In 2001, the final season of his first stint in Oakland, he led the league in doubles (with 47) and walks (with 129). His .477 on-base percentage and .660 slugging percentage were also ranked first in the AL.

Giambi took some flak for his PEDs, but he managed to reform his image in the later years of his career. Instead of being part of the “Bash Brothers”, Giambi earned a reputation as an unofficial player-coach with the Rockies and Indians. In 2013, Giambi broke his own record by becoming the oldest player to hit a walk-off home run when he hit his second of the season for the Indians, helping the Tribe to a Wild Card berth.

Giambi never won a World Series ring, but in 2000, he took home the AL MVP Award while with the Oakland Athletics. He also won the 2002 Home Run Derby, and the 2005 AL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Giambi has had his share of personal issues, but he’s still one of the modern era’s best hitters.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Bench

Bench Player: Mark McGwire

First baseman Mark McGwire made his debut in 1986, but his first full season was the following year. In 1987, McGwire powered his way to the AL Rookie of the Year Award when he led the league with 49 home runs and hit .289 with a .370 on-base percentage.

In his career, McGwire hit 583 home runs and walked 1,317 times. His career OPS of .982 is ranked ninth all-time, and he led the league in home runs four times.

McGwire was a 12-time All-Star, with three Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove. During the 1990s, McGwire was most famous for his role in the home run chase with Sammy Sosa. The slugger became a household name as the two battled to see who could be the first to break the home run record.

Like Jose Canseco and Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire suffered a major PR hit after leaving Oakland thanks to his use of PEDs. There are many questions surrounding whether or not he will get into the Hall of Fame due to the voting process, but on their own, his statistics would typically be undeniable. Regardless of what the Hall of Fame voters decide, McGwire was one of the most prolific hitters in franchise history.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Starter

Starter: Catfish Hunter

Catfish Hunter is one of the greatest pitchers in Athletics history. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his third ballot, earning 76.3 percent of the vote in 1987. Hunter was also an eight-time All-Star.

One of the most memorable moments in his career was on May 8, 1968. Hunter pitched the ninth perfect game in history, but also one of the most unique. In addition to preventing 27 Twins’ hitters from reaching base, he knocked in three of the A’s four runs that day.

Hunter, like most names on this list, was the recipient of a Cy Young Award. In 1974, he went 25-12 over 41 starts, earning a league-best 2.49 ERA in the process. It was one of ten strong seasons with the A’s, whom he played with from 1965-1974.

Hunter made the move from Kansas City to Oakland with the A’s, and was a key part of the Championship teams of the early 1970s. After his time as an Athletic, he spent five years with the New York Yankees. Throughout his 15-year career, Hunter maintained a 3.26 ERA and struck out 2,012 batters in over 3,449 innings. He also pitched 181 complete games, making him a very reliable starter.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Starter

Starter: Vida Blue

Left-hander Vida Blue was a six-time All-Star, including three appearances with the Oakland Athletics.

Blue won the Cy Young Award in 1971, along with the MVP Award. That season, he went 24-9 with a 1.82 ERA, pitching 312 innings in 39 starts. Blue’s ERA was the best in the league in 1971, and his 9.0 WAR ranked second. The A’s won 101 games that season, and made it to the ALCS.

In 1972, Blue had a contract dispute with Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley. Finley was notoriously cheap, and Blue felt that his Cy Young season the prior year had earned him a raise. The left-hander ended up missing much of the season, although he returned to finish the season with a 2.80 ERA as the Athletics won their first Championship in Oakland.

Blue continued to be invaluable to the Athletics through the 1977 season. He split the remainder of his career between the Giants and the Royals, pitching a total of 17 major league seasons. He retired with a 3.27 ERA and 2,175 strikeouts in over 3,343 innings.

While Blue is not a Hall of Fame pitcher, his contributions were important to the early Oakland A’s teams as they settled into their new home in the Bay Area.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Starter

Starter: Dave Stewart

Right-hander Dave Stewart was a workhorse for the Oakland Athletics in the late 80s and early 90s. After time with the Dodgers, Rangers and Phillies, Stewart landed in Oakland in 1986. He had struggled with consistency in Los Angeles, and his troubles only got worse in Texas and Philadelphia. In Oakland, however, Stewart rapidly became a key member of the rotation.

In 1989, he won the World Series MVP Award after starting two games in the Fall Classic, including pitching a no-hit shutout in Game 1. That same season, he was named to the All-Star team. But Stewart’s success lasted long into his career, including ALCS MVP Awards in 1990 and 1993.

One of the most notable moments in Stewart’s career happened on June 29, 1990. Then an Oakland Athletic, Stewart threw a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. He went on to play for the Jays later in his career.

Stewart received Cy Young Award votes in four seasons, as well as MVP votes in three seasons. He also had four consecutive 20-win seasons, putting him in an exclusive group of pitchers.

Stewart went on to play for the Blue Jays, and is currently the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Starter

Starter: Bob Welch

Right-hander Bob Welch earned a 96-60 record in seven seasons with the Athletics, and he played an important role in the 1989 season. Although he helped the team to reach the playoffs, he was denied his chance to pitch in the World Series.

Originally scheduled to pitch in Game 3, Welch never got to make his start. A devastating earthquake struck the Bay Area and forced the A’s game against the Giants to be postponed. When the series returned to action, The A’s elected to use their Game 1 starter, ace Dave Stewart, instead of Welch. The Athletics went on to win the series, but Welch never got another opportunity to pitch that season.

In 1990, Welch returned better than ever. He won 27 games and posted a 2.95 ERA, the seventh-best ERA in the league. He won the Cy Young Award that season, demonstrating how talented he was.

Welch pitched 10 years for the Dodgers and seven years for Oakland, finishing his career with 3,092 innings and 1,969 strikeouts. He had a lifetime ERA of 3.47, and a record of 211-146. This two-time All-Star has earned his spot on the list of all-time greats.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Starter

Starter: Lefty Grove

Lefty Grove is perhaps the most famous left-hander in the franchise’s history. During his 17-year career, he led the league in ERA in nine seasons, and led the league in strikeouts in seven seasons. Grove also was ranked first in wins four times.

He began his career with the Philadelphia A’s in 1925, and quickly became one of the most noteworthy pitchers in the game. In almost 4,000 innings of work, he owned a 3.06 ERA. His lifetime record was 300-141, and he helped the A’s win two World Championships.

Those statistics prove that Grove is one of the most brilliant pitchers the game has ever seen, but his awards are equally impressive. In 1931, he won the AL MVP. It was one of two seasons in which Grove captured the pitching Triple Crown in back-to-back years.

This six-time All-Star would be the ace on just about any pitching staff, but he’s often overlooked because he played so long ago. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1947, but the A’s have never retired his number. If there was one player in the history of the franchise who deserves that honor, it would be Grove.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Closer

Closer: Dennis Eckersley

The Oakland Athletics lucked into Dennis Eckersley, who began his promising career with the Cleveland Indians. Although Eckersley had tossed a no-hitter earlier in the 1977 season, the Indians were forced to trade him after a personal dust-up with teammate Rick Manning.

After bouncing around the league, Eckersley landed with the Oakland Athletics in 1987. Although he had originally be a starter, the pitcher found more success as a closer. He helped the A’s to their 1989 Championship, just one year after being named MVP of the 1988 ALCS.

Eckersley was also a six-time All-Star and led the league in saves twice. He was named Relief Man of the Year on two occasions. Most importantly, Eckersley won the Cy Young and MVP Awards in 1992, after posting a 1.91 ERA in 80 innings. He struck out 93 batters and earned 51 saves that year – one of the best seasons of all-time for a closer.

In 2004, Eckersley was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. The A’s retired his jersey number 43 the following season, to honor the Bay Area native’s accomplishments. Eckersley is one of the greatest closers to play the game, and there’s no doubt that he belongs on this list.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Setup Man

Setup Man: Rollie Fingers

Like Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers has his number retired by two teams. The Athletics and Brewers have both taken the number 34 off of the table, showing just how valuable Fingers was to both clubs.

Fingers was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 on his second ballot. He was one of the first modern-day closers, and helped to revolutionize the way teams viewed their bullpens. Previously, managers would leave their starters in games unless a loss was imminent.

With the Athletics, Fingers was a vital part of the 1970s championship squads that won the World Series from 1972-1974. He was even named MVP of the 1974 World Series. In Milwaukee, Fingers won both the AL MVP and AL Cy Young Award in 1981 after leading the league in saves. It was the third time in his career that he was ranked first in saves, after doing it twice during his time with the Padres.

Because the role of relievers was just beginning to really develop when Fingers was in Oakland, most of his awards came later in his career. He retired with a 2.90 ERA and 1,200 strikeouts, along with 341 total saves.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Reliever

Reliever: Tim Hudson

(Disclaimer: On the A’s all-time 25-man roster, the only true relievers to make the cut are Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers. Let’s be honest: a team with as many great pitching options as the Athletics would stack their bullpen with starters, not mess around with LOOGYs and long-men.)

Although Tim Hudson was part of the “Big Three” in the early 2000s, he was easily the most talented pitcher of the trio. Hudson, who retired after the 2015 season, has a career ERA of 3.49, and has amassed 2,080 strikeouts over 17 seasons.

After making his debut in 1999, Hudson was quickly joined in the rotation by Zito. Together with Mark Mulder, the three dominated opposing hitters. Hudson earned two All-Star nods during his A’s tenure, part of four career All-Star selection.

Hudson ranks sixth among A’s pitchers with a 31.0 WAR, and tenth in total strikeouts. He also has the second-best winning percentage for Athletics starters, at .702.

Hudson probably isn’t a Hall of Fame player, but his name can be found all over the franchise leaderboards, making him one of the greatest A’s of all time.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Reliever

Reliever: Chief Bender

Chief Bender made his debut with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1903, where he quickly earned a reputation as a workhorse in the rotation. If the A’s All-Time rotation needed a long man, Bender would have been up to the task.

In 12 seasons, Bender posted a 2.32 ERA and struck out 1,536 batters. He walked only a fraction of that – 614 hitters in his career. Altogether, he pitched 2,602 innings.

During the 1910 World Series, Bender was one of only two pitchers used by the A’s in the five game set. He and Jack Coombs combined to throw 45.2 innings of work, including Bender’s tenth-inning loss against the Cubs in Game Four. Throughout the series, the pair gave up just 14 runs and led their time to victory.

Bender’s final season with the Athletics was 1914, and Philadelphia’s run of success ended abruptly upon his departure. The early rotations managed by Connie Mack were some of the best pitching staffs the game has ever seen. It’s too bad the modern day A’s aren’t quite as gifted at shutting down opposing hitters.

Like many of the other players on this list, Bender is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was selected in 1954 by the Veteran’s committee, and was a very deserving candidate.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Reliever

Reliever: Rube Waddell

Rube Waddell was one of the most interesting personalities on Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s teams. He played for the club from 1902-1906, and had a reputation for being a lights-out starter, as well as a bit of a clown. Waddell posted a career 2.16 ERA over 13 seasons, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946 by the Old Timers Committee.

Waddell was a strikeout machine, leading the team in punch outs in five of his six seasons. Twice, he struck out more than 300 batters, including one season in which he struck out 349 opposing hitters. For some perspective, Clayton Kershaw struck out 301 batters in 2015, and the last time a Major League pitcher accomplished that feat was in 2002.

While Waddell’s pitching was certainly impressive, the stories surrounding his personality are equally interesting. Alan Howard Levy wrote a biography detailing Waddell’s misadventures, which included leaving the mound in the middle of a game in order to go fishing, and chasing fire trucks after being distracted by their sirens.

Regardless of his on-field antics, Waddell is one of the top pitchers in the A’s organization, and they would be lucky to have that kind of strikeout power in the bullpen of their All-Time roster.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Reliever

Reliever: Eddie Plank

Starter Eddie Plank leads the Athletics in franchise career WAR, with a 76.0 lifetime WAR in an A’s uniform. That makes him one of the organization’s most valuable pitchers, although his last game with the A’s was more than century ago.

After signing in 1901, Plank spent the majority of his career in an Athletics uniform, pitching 14 seasons for the Philadelphia A’s.

During his tenure there, he posted a 2.39 ERA and struck out 1,985 batters while starting 25 games or more in all but one of those seasons. Plank never had a losing season, helping the Athletics to reach the World Series on five separate occasions. After his departure following the 1914 season, the A’s did not have another winning season until 1925.

The left-hander also spent time with the St. Louis Terriers, where he continued to have success on the mound. He is ranked 16^th all-time in pitcher WAR.

There’s no question as to why Plank was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946, when he was selected by the Old Timers Committee. While newer fans may not recognize his name, Plank was one of the most valuable pitchers in Athletics’ history, and perhaps in MLB history, as well.

Next: A's All-Time Roster: Reliever

Reliever: Barry Zito

Last but not least, Barry Zito. Zito was part of Oakland’s so-called “Big Three”, along with Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. Throughout Zito’s career, he played solely in the Bay Area, earning him plenty of loyal fans.

Zito’s debut came in July of 2000 with the Oakland A’s, where he was a starter until 2006. His curveball was easily one of the best in the game at that time, and helped him to dominated opposing hitters during his tenure with the A’s.

In 2002, Zito posted a 2.75 ERA and a 23-5 record on his way to earning the AL Cy Young Award. He was a three-time All-Star, and earned praise for his consistency on the mound.

After spending the next portion of his career with the Giants, Zito returned to the A’s for the final year of his career. He spent nearly the entire season in the minors, earning a September call-up only after the roster had been decimated by injuries. In a fitting tribute, Zito and Hudson faced off on September 26, 2015, as Zito made his last start before retirement.

Zito’s rise as a young pitcher was one of the keys to the success of the so-called “moneyball” era teams, which relied heavily on solid starting pitching during the 20-game win streak. Without him, modern A’s history might look strikingly different.

Next: Bryce Harper or Manny Machado?

Who would you put on your Athletics all-time 25-man roster? In a franchise with 115 years of players to consider, there are certainly plenty of options.