White Cleat Beat
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Oakland Athletics five best free agent signings

By David Hill

SAN FRANCISCO - 27 OCT: Pitcher Dave Stewart #34 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch during game 3 of the 1989 World Series game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on October 27, 1989 in San Francisco, California. The Athletics won 13-7 and won the series 4-0. (Photo by Otto Greule/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - 27 OCT: Pitcher Dave Stewart #34 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch during game 3 of the 1989 World Series game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on October 27, 1989 in San Francisco, California. The Athletics won 13-7 and won the series 4-0. (Photo by Otto Greule/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

3. Frank Thomas

It is easy to forget that Frank Thomas spent a year with the Oakland Athletics, but it was one incredible season.

Thomas had finally won a World Series with the White Sox in 2005, but was seemingly on his way out of the league. Hampered by injuries, the fading star played in just 108 games between 2004 and 2005. His power was still there, but he was unable to remain on the field long enough to be the weapon he once was.

Scooped up by the A’s on a one year contract worth $3.1 million, Thomas proved he had something left in the tank. In his one year in Oakland, the Hall of Famer posted a .270/.381/.545 batting line, hitting 39 homers and driving in 114 runs. While he was not an All Star that year, he did finish fourth in the AL MVP vote, a key piece in the A’s division championship that year.

Thomas was not entirely done with Oakland. Although he left as a free agent following that year, he was released by the Blue Jays on April 20, 2008. The A’s brought him back as a free agent, but he was unable to replicate that success, posting a .263/.364/387 batting line with five homers and six doubles in 217 plate appearances.

Frank Thomas may be remembered for his stardom as a member of the White Sox, but his last plate appearances came with the Oakland Athletics.