1970 Oakland Athletics season
Encyclopedia
The Oakland Athletics
season involved the A's finishing secnd in the American League West
with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses. In 1970, owner Charlie Finley officially changed the team name from the Athletics to the "A's". An "apostrophe-s" was added to the cap and uniform emblem to reflect that fact.
sought an increase in salary, and A's owner Charlie Finley threatened to send Jackson to the minors. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn
successfully intervened in their dispute. Reggie Jackson demanded $60,000 per season, while he was offered $40,000 by Charlie Finley. Both parties settled on $45,000, but Jackson's numbers in dropped sharply, as he hit just 23 home run
s while batting .237.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
season involved the A's finishing secnd in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses. In 1970, owner Charlie Finley officially changed the team name from the Athletics to the "A's". An "apostrophe-s" was added to the cap and uniform emblem to reflect that fact.
Offseason
During the off-season, Reggie JacksonReggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
sought an increase in salary, and A's owner Charlie Finley threatened to send Jackson to the minors. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
successfully intervened in their dispute. Reggie Jackson demanded $60,000 per season, while he was offered $40,000 by Charlie Finley. Both parties settled on $45,000, but Jackson's numbers in dropped sharply, as he hit just 23 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s while batting .237.
Notable transactions
- December 1, 1969: Manny TrilloManny TrilloJesús Manuel Marcano Trillo , also nicknamed "Indio", is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from to...
was drafted by the Athletics from the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 1969 rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - December 5, 1969: Danny CaterDanny CaterDanny Anderson Cater is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 18 on June 8,...
and Ossie ChavarriaOssie ChavarriaOsvaldo Chavarria is a former Major League Baseball player. When he made his major league debut with the Kansas City Athletics on April 14, , he became the thirteenth Panamanian born baseball player to make it to the majors.-Career:Chavarria lied about his age, claiming to have been born in when...
were traded by the Athletics to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Al Downing and Frank FernándezFrank Fernández (baseball)Frank Fernández is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees upon graduation from Curtis High School in Staten Island in . He spent six seasons in their minor league system before debuting with the Yankees as a September call-up in...
. - December 7, 1969: George LauzeriqueGeorge LauzeriqueGeorge Albert Lauzerique is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four years from 1967 to 1970 for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and the Milwaukee Brewers.-1967:...
and Ted KubiakTed KubiakTheodore Rodger Kubiak is a former switch-hitting infielder for the Kansas City Athletics, the Oakland Athletics, the Milwaukee Brewers, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Texas Rangers, and the San Diego Padres. He was a member of the Oakland Athletics teams that won three World Series in a row...
were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Diego SeguíDiego SeguíDiego Pablo Seguí González is a Cuban former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was known for his forkball.During a 16-year baseball career, Seguí played for the Kansas City Athletics , Washington Senators , Oakland Athletics , Seattle Pilots , Boston Red Sox , and Seattle Mariners . He batted and...
and Ray OylerRay OylerRaymond Francis Oyler was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Detroit Tigers , Seattle Pilots , and California Angels...
. - January 15, 1970: Phil RoofPhil RoofPhillip Anthony Roof is an American former professional baseball player, coach and minor league manager. He played for 15 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball in and from to , most notably for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and the Minnesota Twins...
, Mike HershbergerMike HershbergerNorman Michael Hershberger was an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox , Kansas City/Oakland Athletics , Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers ....
, Lew Krausse, Jr., and Ken SandersKen SandersFor the football player of the same name see Ken Sanders .Kenneth George Sanders is a former professional baseball player...
were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers for Don MincherDon Mincher-External links:***...
and Ron ClarkRon Clark (baseball)Ronald Bruce Clark is an American Major League Baseball third baseman, shortstop, and second baseman. He played for the Minnesota Twins , Seattle Pilots , Oakland Athletics , Milwaukee Brewers , and Philadelphia Phillies...
. - January 17, 1970: 1970 Major League Baseball Draft1970 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
(January Draft) notable picks:
-
- Round 4: Mitchell PageMitchell PageMitchell Otis Page is a former Major League Baseball player. He finished second to Hall of Famer Eddie Murray in American League Rookie of the Year balloting when he came up with the Oakland Athletics in .-Early years:...
(did not sign)
- Round 4: Mitchell Page
- Secondary Phase
- Round 1: Vic HarrisVic Harris (second baseman)Victor Lanier Harris is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors between and...
- Round 1: Vic Harris
Regular season
- During the 1070 season, there were rumours of the Athletics attempting to relocate to Toronto, Ontario.
- At the end of May, the Athletics were 25-23, and 8 games back of the first place Minnesota Twins.
- September 21: Vida BlueVida BlueVida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
threw a no-hitter versus the Minnesota Twins. - The club hired Harry CarayHarry CarayHarry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
to do the play by play for the Athletics. Charlie Finley wanted Caray to change his broadcast chant of Holy Cow to Holy Mule. Caray refused and left after the season.
Notable transactions
- May 18, 1970: Roberto PeñaRoberto PenaRoberto Cesar Peña is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , San Diego Padres , Oakland Athletics , and Milwaukee Brewers .He died of accidental alcohol poisoning.- External links :...
was traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for John DonaldsonJohn Donaldson (second baseman)John David Donaldson is an American former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played from 1966-1969 and in 1970 and 1974, primarily for the Athletics, in Kansas City and in Oakland.-External links:...
. - June 4, 1970: 1970 Major League Baseball Draft1970 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
(June Draft) notable picks:
-
- Round 1: Dan FordDan FordDarnell "Disco Dan" Glenn Ford , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1975-1985...
(18th pick)- June 11, 1970: Al Downing and Tito FranconaTito FranconaJohn Patsy "Tito" Francona is a former outfielder/first baseman in professional baseball. He is the father of former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona.-Career:...
were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Steve HovleySteve HovleyStephen Eugene Hovley is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played from 1969-1973 for four different teams....
.
- June 11, 1970: Al Downing and Tito Francona
- Round 1: Dan Ford
Roster
| 1970 Oakland Athletics | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 94 | 252 | 54 | .214 | 15 | 44 | |
| 1B | 140 | 463 | 114 | .246 | 27 | 74 | |
| 3B | 155 | 502 | 132 | .263 | 20 | 75 | |
| SS | 147 | 603 | 168 | .279 | 22 | 64 | |
| RF | 149 | 426 | 101 | .237 | 23 | 66 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | 232 | 60 | .259 | 10 | 29 | |
| 66 | 200 | 58 | .290 | 1 | 27 | |
| 72 | 100 | 19 | .190 | 0 | 1 | |
| 41 | 89 | 22 | .247 | 1 | 11 | |
| 19 | 58 | 15 | .259 | 0 | 3 | |
| 21 | 52 | 10 | .192 | 1 | 2 | |
| 30 | 46 | 8 | .174 | 1 | 2 | |
| 32 | 33 | 8 | .242 | 1 | 6 | |
| 24 | 13 | 3 | .231 | 0 | 2 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 267 | 16 | 15 | 3.74 | 149 | |
| 40 | 262.1 | 18 | 14 | 3.81 | 178 | |
| 6 | 38.2 | 2 | 0 | 2.09 | 35 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 162 | 10 | 10 | 2.56 | 95 | |
| 45 | 148 | 7 | 9 | 3.65 | 79 | |
| 10 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 3.95 | 26 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 1.82 | 54 | |
| 62 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2.70 | 42 | |
| 41 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.78 | 39 | |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.92 | 8 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10.80 | 0 | |