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Dave Stewart jersey retirement with Oakland A’s in limbo

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 25: Former pitcher Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics throws out the ceremonial first pitch during a ceremony honoring the 1989 World Series championship team before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the RingCentral Coliseum on August 25, 2019 in Oakland, California. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 25: Former pitcher Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics throws out the ceremonial first pitch during a ceremony honoring the 1989 World Series championship team before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the RingCentral Coliseum on August 25, 2019 in Oakland, California. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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It should have happened by now. The Oakland A’s had announced that they would be retiring Dave Stewart’s number 34 approximately two and a half years ago, immortalizing the Oakland native. It was a well deserved honor for the ace of their team during their run in the late 1980s and into the 1990s.

Then the pandemic hit. The ceremony to retire Stewart’s number was understandably postponed as he deserved to have that honor before an adoring crowd. Instead, the expectation was that Stewart would get another moment in the sun during the 2021 campaign.

Oakland A’s need to remember to retire Dave Stewart’s number

But that did not happen either. The 2021 season came and went without Stewart’s jersey being retired in his honor. For his part, the A’s great says that the retirement ceremony will take place in 2022, but nothing on their promotional or special events schedule indicates that will be the case.

As it is, the number 34 has already been retired for Rollie Fingers. However, other teams have retired a number to honor more than one player. This is notably the case with the Yankees, with the number 8 being retired for both Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra.

One could even argue that Stewart was a better pitcher for the A’s than Fingers. The former ace posted a 119-78 record with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.318 WHiP during his time in Oakland, striking out 1152 batters with 655 walks in his 1717.1 innings. Although he made just one All Star Game, Stewart finished in the top three in the Cy Young vote three times and had four consecutive years with at least 20 wins.

Hopefully, the A’s have not decided to forgo that honor in the wake of Stewart’s off field interests. He is part of a group looking to purchase the site of the Coliseum as well, pitting him against the organization. Or maybe Fisher is too cheap to pay for the ceremony.

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The Oakland A’s had planned to retire Dave Stewart’s number. However, that has not happened and is not officially rescheduled yet.