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Oakland Athletics’ Top 5 Right Fielders of All Time

By Richard Paloma

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NUMBER 2: Jose Canseco

Jul 19, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; In the 1989 ALCS Canseco hit .294 vs, the Blue Jays and is known for a mammoth home run hit into the top seats at Toronto’s Sky Dome. In the sweep of the Giants in the ‘Battle of the Bay’ World Series Canseco hit .357 with another HR in Game 3. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 19, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; In the 1989 ALCS Canseco hit .294 vs, the Blue Jays and is known for a mammoth home run hit into the top seats at Toronto’s Sky Dome. In the sweep of the Giants in the ‘Battle of the Bay’ World Series Canseco hit .357 with another HR in Game 3. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

Since coming up to the Athletics at age 20 in September of 1985 as the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award winner, Jose Canseco became the regular right fielder for the Oakland Athletics for the next seven seasons.

Canseco made his name known in 1986, his first full season, by becoming an All-Star and being named the American League’s Rookie of the Year with 33 home runs and 117 RBIs. In 1987 with 31 HRs that season and rookie Mark McGwire’s league leading 49, the duo were named the Bash Brothers. With Rickey Henderson coming over in 1989 and Dave Henderson in centerfield, the Athletics’ outfield was solid foul line to foul line.

In 1988, Canseco became the first player in Major League Baseball history to have at least 40 home runs with 42 and 40 stolen bases in the same season. With his league leading 124 RBI and .569 slugging percentage, Canseco was named AL MVP as the A’s captured the AL Pennant, defeating the Red Sox in four games in which Canseco hit 3 HRs. In his first (official) World Series at-bat, Canseco hit a Grand Slam off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tim Belcher.

Although he missed much of the 1989 season because of a broken wrist, Canseco still hit 17 home runs in 65 games and helped the Oakland Athletics win the AL West. In the ALCS, Canseco hit .294 vs. the Blue Jays, and is known for a mammoth home run hit into the top seats at Toronto’s Sky Dome. In the sweep of the San Francisco Giants in the ‘Battle of the Bay’ World Series, Canseco hit .357 with another HR in Game 3.

In 1990, Canseco belted 37 HRs and received the most votes of any player for the All-Star Game. The 103-win first place Athletics were swept that year by the Reds in the World Series.

For 1991, Canseco continued to be productive, hitting 44 home runs, capturing his second home run title and finishing 4th in MVP balloting in an off year for the A’s, who were 84-78 and fourth in the AL West. By August 1992, Canseco had hit 22 HRs in 97 games for the Oakland Athletics. On August 31, fans were shocked when Canseco was pulled from the on deck circle of a game and traded to the Texas Rangers for Rubén Sierra, Jeff Russell, and Bobby Witt. Ironically, Canseco had hit his first Major League home run off Russell.

During those years, Mr. 40-40 averaged 34 home runs a year, had 100+ RBI five times, captured AL Rookie of the Year honors in ‘87, two home run titles in ‘88 and ‘91, the 1988 MVP award, three Silver Slugger Awards, was part of three American League Pennants and a World Series Championship, and was selected to five All Star Games in his first 6 full Major League seasons.

Canseco did return to the Athletics during the 1997 season, but only produced a .235 BA and 23 HRs in 109 games before being granted free agency at season’s end.

Next: Mr. October