NUMBER 5: Jermaine Dye
Oakland-born Jermaine Dye had been an All-Star and Gold Glove winner with the Kansas City Royals prior to being obtained by the Athletics in a typical Billy Beane mid-season three-team deal in 2001. The trade saw the A’s depart with three unknowns in exchange for a solid player who was a force that would be with them for the next four seasons and three ALCS.
At the time of the trade on July 25, the Athletics were 54-47, and were basically competing for second place for the AL Wild Card since they were 18 games behind the red-hot Seattle Mariners. The Athletics had been trying various players in RF, but none of whom were playing particularly well.
With Jermaine Dye starting right field, the Athletics had a solid outfield with Johnny Damon in left field and Terrence Long in center. A’s skipper Art Howe slotted Dye into the heart of the batting order and, Dye showed his worth for the Athletics hitting .297 and belting 13 HRs with 59 RBI in the 61 games played in the remainder of the season.
Dye was an asset as the A’s finished with a 102-60 record that year. One would think that would be sufficient to win the West, but they ended the season 14 games back of the division-winning Mariners and settled for the Wild Card. Unfortunately, the Athletics lost to the New York Yankees (like the prior season) in the ALDS and were eliminated in a 3-2 series.
In the 2002, Dye contributed to the 20 consecutive victory season, hitting .252 with 24 HRs, and batted over .400 in the ALDS vs. the Minnesota Twins. But, the A’s again fell in the first round. In 2003, he suffered a nasty season-ending injury, fouling a ball off his left shin and breaking his leg, but was able to return for the playoffs. Despite belting a HR in Game 3, the injury took its toll and he hit only .231 for the postseason as the A’s – again – fell in five games of the first round to the Boston Red Sox this time. After the 2004 season, Dye signed with the Chicago White Sox, leading them to a World Series Championship and was the World Series MVP.
Next: Careless Whispers and a Gold Glove