Oakland Athletics All-Time Top 20 Hitters in Franchise History

#17: Carney Lansford

Carney Lansford was a hit machine for the Oakland Athletics. He had 1,317 hits in his career with the team, tied for tenth in franchise history. He was named an All-Star only once, in 1988, but it was the Championship 1989 season in which he truly excelled. That year, he hit .336/.398/.405 in 148 games, stealing 37 bases along the way.

Lansford was an excellent player for the A’s, usually batting second behind the speedy Rickey Henderson. He led the league in average in 1981, when he received a Silver Slugger Award for his success at the plate. Surprisingly, his .336 average in 1989 was only good enough for second place.

Lansford played first and third base for the Oakland Athletics, beginning in 1983. He started his career with the California Angels, debuting in 1978 before being dealt to first the Boston Red Sox, and then the A’s.

By the time he retired in 1992, Lansford had racked up some impressive career numbers: 2074 hits, 332 doubles, 151 home runs and 224 stolen bases. He had a lifetime average of .290/.343/.411, with his best years occurring in an A’s uniform.

Next: Top 20 A's Hitters: #16