Oakland Athletics: The Top 50 Oakland A’s of All-Time

#31: Rick Honeycutt

Although Rick Honeycutt is now the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching coach, he was at one time an excellent pitcher for the Oakland A’s.

Honeycutt made his debut in 1977 as a Seattle Mariner, and by the time he was traded to the Athletics in 1987, he had plenty of experience. Honeycutt had played for the Rangers and Dodgers as well, posting respectable numbers everywhere.

The Athletics decided to convert him into a reliever, using him as a setup man for Dennis Eckersley. Honeycutt had already been an All-Star twice by that point, as well as the AL ERA leader in 1983. However, it was with the Oakland A’s in 1989 that he won his first (and only) World Series championship.

In 1994, Honeycutt spent a year with the Rangers, then another season with the Athletics before finishing out his career with the Yankees and Cardinals. Since 2006, he’s been the pitching coach for the Dodgers, where he has shared the wisdom that led to a career 3.73 ERA and 1,038 strikeouts.

Next: Top 50 Oakland Athletics: #30