Oakland Athletics All-Time Top 20 Hitters in Franchise History

#7: Mark McGwire

Everyone knows Mark McGwire has the same problems as Jose Canseco and Jason Giambi – ties to PEDs that, to many fans and voters, nullify a player’s chances at Hall of Fame status. However, McGwire has the best chance of any of them to receive enough votes to make it into the Hall.

After debuting in 1986, McGwire won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1987. He was a 12-time All-Star, in almost every season from 1987 to 2000, and he took home three Silver Slugger Awards.

Fans of baseball in general, not just A’s fans, learned of McGwire during the great home run chase of the 90s, when he hammered 70 home runs in 1998 and 65 home runs the following season. Those were the third and fourth times, respectively, that he led the league in homers in an era where everyone was a power hitter.

McGwire finished his career with a .260/.380/.551 line with the A’s, having hit 363 home runs. However, it’s the 583 career home runs that he hit during his 16-year tenure as a major leaguer that really make him perhaps the most memorable power hitter of all time.

Next: Top 20 A's Hitters: #6