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

#47: Grant Balfour

After achieving no long-term success with the Twins, Reds, Brewers or Rays, Grant Balfour settled in with the Athletics in 2011. He signed a two-year, $8 million deal and became the full-time closer by the start of the 2012 season. After a rough start, he was demoted to setup man until August, when he turned into the Balfour that fans loved.

In 2013, the Athletics exercised his option and Balfour reprised his role as closer. He made the All-Star squad, went 38-for-41 in save chances, and posted a 2.59 ERA with 72 strikeouts in just over 62 innings.

More importantly, he set the Athletics’ franchise record for most consecutive saves, when he locked down 41 save chances in a row. His final save of the streak came on July 8, against the Pittsburg Pirates.

Balfour went on to pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays, but his success did not last. Perhaps it was the Athletics’ fans cheering him on, or perhaps it was something else, but Balfour’s greatest moments all seemed to come during his time in Oakland.

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