Oakland Athletics: All-Time 25-Man Roster
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 13th all-time among Major League players, making him easily the best second basemen in A’s history.
Next: A's All-Time Roster: Shortstop