Let’s take a look back at five players who spent time with the Oakland A’s but are forgotten.
With the 2020 MLB season almost upon us and Summer training starting with the Oakland A’s practicing in the Colosseum, let’s remember five historic Athletics players that we all may have forgotten about.
1. Rajai Davis
Davis spent three years with the Oakland A’s from 2008-2010. Davis’ best season was 2009 where he hit .305 and stole 41 bases, Davis was the main leadoff hitter for the Athletics for three years and roamed the outfield for the Athletics. Providing good defense and good speed, Davis was a fan favorite who eventually ended up hitting one of the key home runs for the Indians in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against the Cubs.
More from White Cleat Beat
- Zach Logue yet another disappointing Oakland A’s trade return
- Luis Barrera heading to familiar foe in Los Angeles Angels
- Looking back at Ruben Sierra with the Oakland A’s
- San Francisco Giants showing Oakland A’s offseason could be worse
- Lucas Luetge what Oakland A’s need in bullpen
2. Joe Morgan
Morgan played the last year of his career with the A’s. In his age 40 season, Morgan hit .244 in 116 games. Playing mostly at second base, Joe had not lost a step at 40 years old. Morgan posted a .977 fielding percentage in his final season, 1984 may have been a rough season for the Oakland A’s, but Joe Morgan ended his career in respectable fashion playing in the Coliseum.
3. Tommy John
Another historic player who played into their 40’s, Tommy John pitched in 11 games for the Athletics in 1985. John was signed by the A’s on July 12th, 1985 after being released by the then California Angels. Famous for the “Tommy John” surgery which was first performed on his throwing elbow, John was able to pitch 26 years in the major leagues and had one of the longest careers of any professional baseball player to date.
4. Coco Crisp
Covelli Loyce “Coco” Crisp was an outfielder for the A’s from 2010-2015. Although you may not have really forgotten he played for Oakland, the novelty of his name and the impact he made in his short time on the team require a few words in his favor. Crisp’s best years came from 2011-14 where he averaged 30 steals a season and played a similar role to Rajai Davis. Coco was known as one of the clear leaders in the clubhouse and brought an energy and presence to the field that made him a fan favorite. Crisp came back to Oakland in 2016 after a year in Toronto, but was a shell of himself and ended up in Cleveland with Rajai Davis for the Indians World Series run.
5. Billy Beane
Believe it or not, Oakland A’s executive vice president of baseball operations and minority owner, Billy Beane, used to play for the organization. In 1989, Beane appeared in 37 games for the Oakland Athletics. Beane hit .241 and played seven different positions in his short time in Oakland. Although Beane was unable to make an impact on the field, he has brought recent success to the A’s as a front office executive while employing the now movie documented and historic Moneyball strategy since the early 2000s.