The Greatest Oakland A's Players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position for every team in the last 50 years for each team. Today’s team is the Oakland A’s.

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 right handed starting pitcher, 1 left handed starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the A’s the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).

First Base- Mark McGwire

Second Base- Dick Green

Shortstop-   Miguel Tejada

Third Base-   Sal Bando

Left Field-    Rickey Henderson

Centerfield-   Dwayne Murphy

Right Field- Reggie Jackson

Catcher- Terry Steinbech

Designated Hitter-   Jose Canseco

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Catfish Hunter

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Vida Blue

Relief pitcher- Rollie Fingers



A couple of notes. The A’s have had many great players in their history. A couple of positions were more challenging than others to select. Second base was a position that the A’s never had any All-Star players. Green and Mark Ellis were both good field/no hit players. Green got the nod by playing flawless defense contributing to the A’s 3 straight World Championships in the early 70s. I gave the edge to Tejada over Bert Campaneris at shortstop due to his MVP campaign. Centerfield was another tough position to choose from. I picked Murphy over Dave Henderson due to his 6 gold gloves. The hardest selection was relief pitcher. The A’s have 2 of the greatest relief pitchers in history with Fingers and Denis Eckersley. Both were MVPs and Cy Young award winners. I took Fingers due to his excellent post season numbers. He had a 1.35 ERA in 16 World Series games and won a World Series MVP.



Next up is the Seattle Mariners.

The Greatest Houston Astros Players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position for every team in the last 50 years for each team. Today’s team is the Houston Astros.
The criteria are as follows:
- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.
-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 right handed starting pitcher, 1 left handed starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).
 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Astros in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).
First Base- Jeff Bagwell
Second Base- Jose Altuve            
Shortstop-   Carlos Correa
Third Base-   Morgan Ensberg
Left Field-    Jose Cruz
Centerfield-   Cesar Cedeno
Right Field- George Springer
Catcher- Craig Biggio
Designated Hitter-   Lance Berkman
Right-Handed starting pitcher- Roy Oswalt
Left-Handed starting pitcher- Dallas Keuchel      
Relief pitcher- Billy Wagner

A couple of notes. Craig Biggio played 3 positions, catcher, second base, and centerfield. The Hall of Famer was the best fit at catcher. Carlos Correa only has played 5 years, but is already the best shortstop the Astros have ever had. The other options were Adam Everett, Dickie Thon, or Craig Reynolds. There were not many great options at third base. Ensberg was the best of a group that included Doug Radar and Enos Cabell. Alex Bregman has only played 4 seasons but will take over at third once he meets the 5-year criteria. The Astros have had some terrific right-handed starting pitchers to choose from.  JR Richard, Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott, Joe Niekro and Larry Dierker were some pitchers who were considered. I picked Oswalt due to his long-time consistency and being the Astros best post season pitcher.

Next up is the Oakland A’s.

The Greatest Los Angeles Angels players in the Last 50 Years

THE GREATEST PLAYERS BY POSITION FOR EACH TEAM IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position for every team in the last 50 years for each team. Today’s team is the Los Angeles Angels (aka Anaheim Angels, California Angels, LA Angels of Anaheim. What a terrible decision by the organization to change the name from California Angels. Talk about lost identity! But, that’s for another blog).

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 right handed starting pitcher, 1 left handed starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Angels in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).

First Base- Wally Joyner

Second Base- Bobby Grich

Shortstop-   Erick Aybar

Third Base-   Troy Glaus

Left Field-    Garret Anderson

Centerfield-   Mike Trout

Right Field- Tim Salmon

Catcher- Bob Boone

Designated Hitter- Don Baylor

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Nolan Ryan         

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Chuck Finley          

Relief pitcher- Francisco Rodriguez



A couple of notes. There were not many tough decisions for this group. Most were the best Angels at their position. Darrin Erstad was a consideration for first base, but Joyner was more consistent during his time with the Angels. DH was the only other position that was in question between Baylor and longtime Angel Brian Downing. I picked Baylor based on his MVP performance in 79. The Angels have had quite a few Hall of Famers on their team in their history, including Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew, and Vlad Guerrero. But all were past their prime while they played with the Angels.



Next up is the Houston Astros.

Greatest Minnesota Twins Players in the Last 50 Years

THE GREATEST PLAYERS BY POSITION FOR EACH TEAM IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position for every team in the last 50 years for each team. Today’s team is the Minnesota Twins. The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 right handed starting pitcher, 1 left handed starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Twins in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).

First Base- Justin Morneau

Second Base- Rod Carew

Shortstop-   Greg Gagne

Third Base-   Gary Gaetti

Left Field-    Shane Mack

Centerfield-   Kirby Puckett

Right Field- Tony Oliva

Catcher- Joe Mauer

Designated Hitter-   Harmon Killebrew

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Bert Blyleven     

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Johan Santana

Relief pitcher- Joe Nathan



A couple of notes.  

Some interesting decisions to make on the team.  First base was a tough call between Kent Hrbek and Morneau. Hrbek was a fan favorite who played his whole career with the Twins and won 2 WS championships. But I had to give the nod to Morneau for putting up some great numbers during his time with the Twins, including winning 1 MVP. Another difficult decision was shortstop between Roy Smalley and Gagne. Both played 10 years with Minnesota. I picked Gagne due to his superb fielding and being a key member of the 2 championship teams. The toughest choice was left-handed starting pitcher. It was between Santana and Frank Viola. Both were all time great pitchers for the Twins.  Viola won a Cy Young and a WS MVP, but I picked Santana based on his 2 Cy Young awards and his ERA almost a full point lower.  Although long time greats Killebrew and Oliva were at the end of their careers in the early 70s, both had a few goods seasons left and made it easy to select them. Killebrew finished 2^nd in the MVP voting in 1970 and led the AL in RBIs in 71. Oliva won the batting title in 71.  



Next up is the Anaheim Angels.