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Oakland Athletics Mount Rushmore

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - CIRCA 1990: Outfielder Rickey Henderson #35 of the Oakland Athletics runs the bases during an Major League Baseball game circa 1990 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Henderson played for the Athletics from 1979-84, 1989-93,1994-95 and 1998. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - CIRCA 1990: Outfielder Rickey Henderson #35 of the Oakland Athletics runs the bases during an Major League Baseball game circa 1990 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Henderson played for the Athletics from 1979-84, 1989-93,1994-95 and 1998. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)
(Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) /

Sal Bando

Another player who was part of the franchise in their days in Kansas City, Sal Bando was an underrated star with the Oakland Athletics.

Selected in the sixth round of the 1965 MLB Draft, Bando made his major league debut the following year, appearing in 11 games. While he got a bit more playing time the following year, it was not until the franchise moved to Oakland that he truly blossomed.

Bando became one of the better third basemen in the league almost immediately upon the move to Oakland. He finally had a full time spot in the lineup and quickly blossomed. In his eleven years with the A’s, he was a four time All Star, finished in the top five of the MVP vote three times, and won three championships.

An underrated hitter with excellent on base skills, he produced some strong numbers during that time in Oakland. He put together a .255/.359/.418 batting line, hitting 212 doubles and 192 homers. While he was never a Gold Glove caliber third baseman, Bando did finish third with 11 runs saved at the hot corner in 1972.

Even if he does not get mentioned in the same breath as the bigger stars of the first Oakland Athletics dynasty, Sal Bando was an important piece of the puzzle. One of the most valuable players in franchise history since moving to the West Coast, he deserves this spot.