1978 Oakland Athletics season
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Oakland Athletics
season involved the A's finishing 6th in the American League West
with a record of 69 wins and 93 losses. Prior to the season, owner Charlie Finley nearly sold the team to buyers who would have moved them to Denver.
for a player of lesser stature and cash, but baseball commissioner
Bowie Kuhn
vetoed the deal. The commissioner claimed that it was tantamount to the sale of the star pitcher to the Yankees that the commissioner voided during 1976. The commissioner claimed that adding Blue to the Reds' already formidable pitching staff would make a mockery of the National League West
race. Instead, Blue was traded across the bay to the San Francisco Giants
in a multi-player trade that received the commissioner's blessing.
from Denver. In December 1977, Finley agreed to sell the Athletics to Marvin Davis for 12.5 million dollars. The franchise would move to Denver for the 1978 season. The American League owners approved the sale and the transfer of the franchise. The board of the Oakland Coliseum had prepared a lawsuit against Finley, as there were still 10 years left on their stadium lease. Bowie Kuhn and San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie
worked with Finley to attempt to find a compromise that would allow the Athletics to leave Oakland.
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 6th 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 69 wins and 93 losses. Prior to the season, owner Charlie Finley nearly sold the team to buyers who would have moved them to Denver.
Offseason
- February 25, 1978: Doug BairDoug BairCharles Douglas Bair is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of fifteen seasons in the majors, from until , for seven different teams...
and cash were traded by the Athletics to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Dave ReveringDave ReveringDavid Alvin Revering , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman from 1978-1982. Revering graduated from Bella Vista High School...
. - March 15, 1978: 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...
was traded by the Athletics to the San Francisco Giants for Gary AlexanderGary Alexander (baseball)Gary Wayne Alexander is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Oakland Athletics , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Gary ThomassonGary ThomassonGary Leah Thomasson is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1972-1980.He played in 1981-1982 for the Yomiuri Giants in Japanese Nippon Pro Baseball...
, Dave HeaverloDave HeaverloDavid Wallace Heaverlo is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.He attended Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington, graduating in 1968. He then went on to Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington, where he graduated in 1973...
, Alan WirthAlan WirthAlan Lee Wirth is a former professional baseball pitcher. Wirth pitched in parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, from until , for the Oakland Athletics.- Playing career :...
, John Henry JohnsonJohn Henry Johnson (baseball)John Henry Johnson is a former Major League Baseball player. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 15th round of the 1974 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the Oakland A's in after being acquired before the season in the trade that sent Vida Blue to the...
, Phil HuffmanPhil HuffmanPhillip Lee Huffman , is a retired Major League Baseball player who played pitcher in two seasons: 1979 and 1985...
, a player to be named later, and $300,000. The Giants completed the deal by sending Mario GuerreroMario GuerreroMario Miguel Guerrero Abud is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four teams in an eight-year career from to .Guerrero signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in...
to the Athletics on April 7. - March 25, 1978: Sheldon MallorySheldon MallorySheldon Mallory is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played one season in the major leagues in for the Oakland Athletics....
was traded by the Athletics to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for Steve StaggsSteve StaggsStephen Robert Staggs is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for two seasons. He played 72 games for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1977 Toronto Blue Jays season and 47 games for the Oakland Athletics during the 1978 Oakland Athletics season.-External links:...
. - March 28, 1978: Dick AllenDick AllenRichard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
was released by the Athletics. - March 28, 1978: Mark WilliamsMark Williams (baseball)Mark Westley Williams is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played in three games for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball in 1977, going 0-for-2 with 1 RBI....
was released by the Athletics.
Vida Blue trade
The trade of Vida Blue was a very complicated deal for A's owner Charles O. Finley. At the end of the 1977 season, Finley attempted to trade Vida Blue to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for a player of lesser stature and cash, but baseball commissioner
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
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,...
vetoed the deal. The commissioner claimed that it was tantamount to the sale of the star pitcher to the Yankees that the commissioner voided during 1976. The commissioner claimed that adding Blue to the Reds' already formidable pitching staff would make a mockery of the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
race. Instead, Blue was traded across the bay to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in a multi-player trade that received the commissioner's blessing.
Proposed sale
After the 1977 season, Charlie Finley had heart bypass surgery and his health was in decline. He had received offers from groups in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., and from billionaire oilman Marvin DavisMarvin Davis
Marvin H. Davis was an American industrialist and philanthropist...
from Denver. In December 1977, Finley agreed to sell the Athletics to Marvin Davis for 12.5 million dollars. The franchise would move to Denver for the 1978 season. The American League owners approved the sale and the transfer of the franchise. The board of the Oakland Coliseum had prepared a lawsuit against Finley, as there were still 10 years left on their stadium lease. Bowie Kuhn and San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie
Bob Lurie
Robert Alfred Lurie is a real estate magnate, philanthropist, and former owner of the San Francisco Giants franchise of Major League Baseball from March 2, 1976 until January 12, 1993.-Giants Ownership:...
worked with Finley to attempt to find a compromise that would allow the Athletics to leave Oakland.
Notable transactions
- April 4, 1978: Manny SanguillénManny SanguillenManuel De Jesus Sanguillen Magan, better known as Manny Sanguillen or "Sangy" , is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was named to the All-Star team three times, in , , and . He played primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but also for the Oakland...
was traded by the Athletics to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Miguel DilonéMiguel DiloneMiguel Ángel Diloné Reyes is a former Major League Baseball switch hitting outfielder. He played 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres.Dilone began his career as a September call-up in 1974...
, Elías SosaElias SosaElías Sosa Martínez , is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968. He played for the Giants , St...
and a player to be named later. The Pirates completed the deal by sending Mike EdwardsMike Edwards (second baseman)Michael Lewis Edwards is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors from until...
to the Athletics on April 7. - May 22, 1978: Joe Coleman was purchased from the Athletics by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. - June 15, 1978: Gary Alexander was traded by the Athletics to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Joe WallisJoe WallisHarold Joseph Wallis is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of five seasons in the majors from until .On September 24, 1975, while playing for the Chicago Cubs, Wallis broke up Tom Seaver's bid for a no-hitter with two outs in the 9th inning of a game against the New...
. - June 15, 1978: Gary Thomasson was 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 Mickey KluttsMickey KluttsGene Ellis "Mickey" Klutts is a retired Major League Baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1976 to 1983 with the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays...
, Dell AlstonDell AlstonWendell "Dell" Alston is an American former right-handed outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians...
and $50,000. - June 20, 1978: Tito FuentesTito FuentesRigoberto "Tito" Fuentes Peat is a retired second baseman who played for 13 seasons in the Major Leagues between 1965 and 1978...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - July 13, 1978: Willie Horton was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.
- July 26, 1978: Tito Fuentes was released by the Athletics.
- August 15, 1978: Willie Horton and Phil Huffman were traded by the Athletics to the Toronto Blue Jays for Rico CartyRico CartyRicardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty is a former professional baseball player. Nicknamed Beeg Boy, he played mostly as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from to...
.
Draft picks
- June 6, 1978: 1978 Major League Baseball Draft1978 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
- Keith AthertonKeith AthertonKeith Rowe Atherton , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from -. Atherton played for the Oakland Athletics , Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians ....
was drafted by the Athletics in the 2nd round.
- Keith Atherton
- June 6, 1978: Kelvin MooreKelvin Moore (baseball)Kelvin Orlando Moore is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played parts of three seasons in the major leagues, from until , for the Oakland Athletics.-Sources:...
was drafted by the Athletics in the 6th round.
Roster
| 1978 Oakland Athletics | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 152 | 521 | 141 | .271 | 16 | 46 | |
| 2B | 142 | 414 | 113 | .273 | 1 | 23 | |
| SS | 143 | 505 | 139 | .275 | 3 | 38 | |
| CF | 85 | 279 | 66 | .237 | 6 | 26 | |
| RF | 47 | 154 | 31 | .201 | 5 | 16 | |
| DH | 58 | 174 | 36 | .207 | 10 | 22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 268 | 64 | .239 | 9 | 32 | |
| 135 | 258 | 59 | .229 | 1 | 14 | |
| 78 | 200 | 47 | .235 | 1 | 14 | |
| 58 | 173 | 36 | .208 | 1 | 10 | |
| 41 | 141 | 39 | .277 | 11 | 31 | |
| 32 | 102 | 32 | .314 | 3 | 19 | |
| 28 | 84 | 21 | .250 | 0 | 8 | |
| 47 | 78 | 19 | .244 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | 43 | 6 | .140 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | 23 | 7 | .304 | 0 | 3 | |
| 15 | 15 | 3 | .200 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | 12 | 1 | .083 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | 9 | 1 | .111 | 0 | 1 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 197.1 | 8 | 15 | 3.24 | 108 | |
| 33 | 186 | 11 | 10 | 3.39 | 91 | |
| 35 | 165.2 | 10 | 12 | 4.62 | 94 | |
| 16 | 81.2 | 5 | 6 | 3.43 | 31 | |
| 2 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | 7.71 | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 49 | 0 | 5 | 5.51 | 36 | |
| 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3.75 | 3 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 109 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 2.64 | 61 | |
| 69 | 130 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3.25 | 71 | |
| 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.37 | 4 | ||