1976 Oakland Athletics season

Major League Baseball team season

1976 Oakland Athletics

League| American League
Division| West
Ballpark| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
City| Oakland, California
Record| 87–74 (.540)
Divisional place| 2nd
Owners| Charles O. Finley
Managers| Chuck Tanner
Television| KPIX-TV
Radio| KNBR
(Monte Moore, Bob Waller)
| <- 1975 | Seasons | 1977 ->

|
|

The 1976 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing second in the American League West with a record of 87 wins and 74 losses, 2+1⁄2 games behind the Kansas City Royals. The A's failed to win the division (and make the playoffs) for the first time since 1970. The team set and still holds the American League record for most stolen bases with 341,[1] second in Major League Baseball's modern era (since 1901) to the 1911 New York Giants, who had 347.[2]

The Athletics did not eclipse this season's win total until 1988 (104 wins). Nearly all of the team's stars (Sal Bando, Rollie Fingers, Gene Tenace, Joe Rudi, Bert Campaneris, Don Baylor, Phil Garner, Billy Williams, Claudell Washington, and an injury-plagued Willie McCovey) departed after this season. This staggering mass exodus led to a 24-win plunge in 1977 to last place in the standings and attendance.

## Offseason

[edit]

* October 10, 1975: Dal Maxvill was released.[3]
* December 9, 1975: Ray Fosse was purchased by the Cleveland Indians.[4]
* April 2, 1976: Reggie Jackson, Ken Holtzman, and Bill Van Bommell (minors) were traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Don Baylor, Mike Torrez, and Paul Mitchell.[5][6] Owner Charlie Finley stated that he made the trade to obtain more pitching for the club.[7] He later admitted that he had refused to agree to Jackson's salary demands.[8]
* April 5, 1976: Ken McMullen was signed as a free agent.[9]

## Regular season

[edit]

As the 1976 season got underway (on April 9 for Oakland), the basic rules of player contracts were changing. It was ruled that baseball's reserve clause only bound players for one season after their contract expired. All players not signed to multi-year contracts would be eligible for free agency at the end of the 1976 season. Finley reacted by trading star players and attempting to sell others. On June 15, Finley sold left fielder Joe Rudi and relief pitcher Rollie Fingers to the Boston Red Sox for $1 million each, and pitcher Vida Blue[10] to the New York Yankees for $1.5 million. Three days later, Bowie Kuhn voided the transactions in the "best interests of baseball." Amid the turmoil, the A's still finished second in the A.L. West, 2.5 games behind the Royals.

### Fire sale

[edit]

* Before the June 15 trading deadline, Finley contacted the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. He had proposed a trade to the Red Sox that would have involved Joe Rudi, Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Gene Tenace, and Sal Bando for outfielder Fred Lynn, catcher Carlton Fisk, and prospects.[11] In trade talks with the Yankees, Finley proposed Vida Blue for catcher Thurman Munson, along with either outfielder Roy White or Elliott Maddox; he also offered Rudi for Munson.[11]
* On June 14, Finley was unable to make any trades, and had started contacting other teams about the possibility of selling his players' contracts. Rudi, Blue, Baylor, and Tenace were worth $1 million each, while Bando could be acquired for $500,000. Boston general manager Dick O'Connell was in Oakland as the Red Sox would play the Athletics on June 15. Field manager Darrell Johnson had declared that he was interested in Rudi and Fingers; the Red Sox had agreed to purchase both contracts for one million dollars each.

O'Connell had contacted Detroit Tigers general manager Jim Campbell to purchase Vida Blue for one million dollars so that the New York Yankees could not get him.[12] Gabe Paul of the Yankees advised that he would pay $1.5 million for the opportunity to acquire Blue. Finley offered Blue a three-year extension worth $485,000 per season to make the sale more attractive to the Yankees.[12] With the extension, the Yankees agreed to purchase Blue.

* Finley had then proceeded to contact Bill Veeck of the Chicago White Sox about purchasing Sal Bando. He then contacted the Texas Rangers, as they were interested in acquiring Don Baylor for the one million dollar asking price.[13]

### Season standings

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

AL West Team  | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road

|
|
|
|
|
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Kansas City Royals | 90 | 72  | .556  | —  | 49‍–‍32  | 41‍–‍40
Oakland Athletics | 87 | 74  | .540  | 2½  | 51‍–‍30  | 36‍–‍44
Minnesota Twins | 85 | 77  | .525  | 5  | 44‍–‍37  | 41‍–‍40
Texas Rangers | 76 | 86  | .469  | 14  | 39‍–‍42  | 37‍–‍44
California Angels | 76 | 86  | .469  | 14  | 38‍–‍43  | 38‍–‍43
Chicago White Sox | 64 | 97  | .398  | 25½  | 35‍–‍45  | 29‍–‍52

* By May 18, the Athletics were 18–24 (.429), and seven and a half games out of first place.[8]

### Record vs. opponents

[edit]

1976 American League record

* v
* t
* e

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Team  | BAL  | BOS  | CAL  | CWS  | CLE  | DET  | KC  | MIL  | MIN  | NYY  | OAK  | TEX
Baltimore | — | 7–11 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 7–11 | 12–6 | 6–6 | 11–7 | 4–8 | 13–5 | 4–8 | 8–4
Boston | 11–7 | — | 7–5 | 6–6 | 9–9 | 14–4 | 3–9 | 12–6 | 7–5 | 7–11 | 4–8 | 3–9
California | 4–8 | 5–7 | — | 11–7 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 8–10 | 4–8 | 8–10 | 5–7 | 6–12 | 12–6
Chicago | 4–8 | 6–6 | 7–11 | — | 3–9 | 6–6 | 8–10 | 7–5 | 7–11 | 1–11 | 8–9 | 7–11
Cleveland | 11–7 | 9–9 | 5–7 | 9–3 | — | 6–12 | 6–6 | 11–6 | 9–3 | 4–12 | 4–8 | 7–5
Detroit | 6–12 | 4–14 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 12–6 | — | 4–8 | 12–6 | 4–8 | 9–8 | 6–6 | 5–7
Kansas City | 6–6 | 9–3 | 10–8 | 10–8 | 6–6 | 8–4 | — | 8–4 | 10–8 | 7–5 | 9–9 | 7–11
Milwaukee | 7–11 | 6–12 | 8–4 | 5–7 | 6–11 | 6–12 | 4–8 | — | 4–8 | 5–13 | 5–7 | 10–2
Minnesota | 8–4 | 5–7 | 10–8 | 11–7 | 3–9 | 8–4 | 8–10 | 8–4 | — | 2–10 | 11–7 | 11–7
New York | 5–13 | 11–7 | 7–5 | 11–1 | 12–4 | 8–9 | 5–7 | 13–5 | 10–2 | — | 6–6 | 9–3
Oakland | 8–4 | 8–4 | 12–6 | 9–8 | 8–4 | 6–6 | 9–9 | 7–5 | 7–11 | 6–6 | — | 7–11
Texas | 4–8 | 9–3 | 6–12 | 11–7 | 5–7 | 7–5 | 11–7 | 2–10 | 7–11 | 3–9 | 11–7 | —

### Notable transactions

[edit]

* April 19: Tim Hosley was selected off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.[14]
* June 8: 1976 Major League Baseball Draft
* Rickey Henderson was drafted in the fourth round, and signed on July 9, 1976.[15]
* Ernie Camacho was drafted in the first round (18th pick) of the Secondary Phase.[16]
* June 9: Nate Colbert was signed as a free agent.[17]
* August 30: Willie McCovey was purchased from the San Diego Padres.[18]

### Roster

[edit]

1976 Oakland Athletics

Roster
Pitchers

* 37 Glenn Abbott
* 39,45 Stan Bahnsen
* 32 Chris Batton
* 14 Vida Blue
* 17 Dick Bosman
* 34 Rollie Fingers
* 25 Paul Lindblad
* 29 Craig Mitchell
* 36 Paul Mitchell
* 16 Mike Norris
* 22 Jim Todd
* 24 Mike Torrez

|  | Catchers

* 12 Larry Haney
* 30 Tim Hosley
* 5 Jeff Newman

Infielders

* 6 Sal Bando
* 19 Bert Campaneris
* 11 Ron Fairly
* 2,3 Phil Garner
* 10 Wayne Gross
* 21,45 Larry Lintz
* 35 Ken McMullen
* 13 Tommy Sandt
* 18 Gene Tenace

|  | Outfielders

* 31 Matt Alexander
* 20 Don Baylor
* 8 Ángel Mangual
* 4 Billy North
* 26 Joe Rudi
* 2,3 César Tovar
* 8 Denny Walling
* 15 Claudell Washington
* 28 Billy Williams
* 33 Gary Woods

Other batters

* 23 Nate Colbert
* 38 Jim Holt
* 1 Don Hopkins
* 44 Willie McCovey

|  | Manager

* 7 Chuck Tanner

Coaches

* 44 Joe Lonnett
* 43 Alex Monchak
* 42 Wes Stock

## Player stats

[edit]

### Batting

[edit]

#### Starters by position

[edit]

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos  | Player  | G  | AB  | H  | Avg.  | HR  | RBI

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|
|

C | Larry Haney | 88 | 177 | 40 | .226 | 0 | 10
1B | Gene Tenace | 128 | 417 | 104 | .249 | 22 | 66
2B | Phil Garner | 159 | 555 | 145 | .261 | 8 | 74
3B | Sal Bando | 158 | 550 | 132 | .240 | 27 | 84
SS | Bert Campaneris | 149 | 536 | 137 | .256 | 1 | 52
LF | Joe Rudi | 130 | 500 | 135 | .270 | 13 | 94
CF | Billy North | 154 | 590 | 163 | .276 | 2 | 31
RF | Claudell Washington | 134 | 490 | 126 | .257 | 5 | 53
DH | Billy Williams | 120 | 351 | 74 | .211 | 11 | 41

#### Other batters

[edit]

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player  | G  | AB  | H  | Avg.  | HR  | RBI

|
|
|
|
|
|

Don Baylor | 157 | 595 | 147 | .247 | 15 | 68
Ken McMullen | 98 | 186 | 41 | .220 | 5 | 23
Jeff Newman | 43 | 77 | 15 | .195 | 0 | 4
Tommy Sandt | 41 | 67 | 14 | .209 | 0 | 3
Tim Hosley | 37 | 55 | 9 | .164 | 1 | 4
Ron Fairly | 15 | 46 | 11 | .239 | 3 | 10
César Tovar | 29 | 45 | 8 | .178 | 0 | 4
Matt Alexander | 61 | 30 | 1 | .033 | 0 | 0
Willie McCovey | 11 | 24 | 5 | .208 | 0 | 0
Wayne Gross | 10 | 18 | 4 | .222 | 0 | 1
Ángel Mangual | 8 | 12 | 2 | .167 | 0 | 1
Denny Walling | 3 | 11 | 3 | .273 | 0 | 0
Gary Woods | 6 | 8 | 1 | .125 | 0 | 0
Jim Holt | 4 | 7 | 2 | .286 | 0 | 2
Nate Colbert | 2 | 5 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0
Larry Lintz | 68 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0
Don Hopkins | 3 | 0 | 0 | \
- | 0 | 0

### Pitching

[edit]

#### Starting pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player  | G  | IP  | W  | L  | ERA  | SO

|
|
|
|
|
|

Vida Blue | 37 | 298.1 | 18 | 13 | 2.35 | 166
Mike Torrez | 39 | 266.1 | 16 | 12 | 2.50 | 115
Paul Mitchell | 26 | 142.0 | 9 | 7 | 4.25 | 67
Mike Norris | 24 | 96.0 | 4 | 5 | 4.78 | 44

#### Other pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player  | G  | IP  | W  | L  | ERA  | SO

|
|
|
|
|
|

Stan Bahnsen | 35 | 143.0 | 8 | 7 | 3.34 | 82
Dick Bosman | 27 | 112.0 | 4 | 2 | 4.10 | 34
Glenn Abbott | 19 | 62.1 | 2 | 4 | 5.49 | 27
Chris Batton | 2 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 4

#### Relief pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player  | G  | W  | L  | SV  | ERA  | SO

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|
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|

Rollie Fingers | 70 | 13 | 11 | 20 | 2.47 | 113
Paul Lindblad | 65 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3.06 | 37
Jim Todd | 49 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 3.81 | 22
Craig Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.70 | 0

## Farm system

[edit]

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level  | Team  | League  | Manager

|
|
|

AAA | Tucson Toros | Pacific Coast League | Hank Aguirre and Lee Stange
AA | Chattanooga Lookouts | Southern League | Rene Lachemann
A | Modesto A's | California League | George Farson
A-Short Season | Boise A's | Northwest League | Tom Trebelhorn

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Team Stolen Base Records & Team Caught Stealing Records". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
2. ^ "1911 New York Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
3. ^ Dal Maxvill page at Baseball Reference
4. ^ Ray Fosse page at Baseball Reference
5. ^ "A's trade Jackson, Holtzman". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 3, 1976. p. 1B.
6. ^ Reggie Jackson page at Baseball Reference
7. ^ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.244, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
8. ^ a b Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.245, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
9. ^ Ken McMullen page at Baseball Reference
10. ^ "SITT – Vida Blue". Archived from the original on August 14, 2002. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
11. ^ a b Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.247, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
12. ^ a b Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.248, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
13. ^ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.249, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
14. ^ Tim Hosley page at Baseball Reference
15. ^ Rickey Henderson page at Baseball Reference
16. ^ Ernie Camacho page at Baseball Reference
17. ^ Nate Colbert page at Baseball Reference
18. ^ Willie McCovey page at Baseball Reference

## External links

[edit]

* 1976 Oakland Athletics team page at Baseball Reference
* 1976 Oakland Athletics team page at www.baseball-almanac.com

* v
* t
* e

1976 MLB season by team

| AL East|

* Baltimore
* Boston
* Cleveland
* Detroit
* Milwaukee
* New York

|

AL West|

* California
* Chicago
* Kansas City
* Minnesota
* Oakland
* Texas

| NL East|

* Chicago
* Montréal
* New York
* Philadelphia
* Pittsburgh
* St. Louis

|

NL West|

* Atlanta
* Cincinnati
* Houston
* Los Angeles
* San Diego
* San Francisco

* 1976 MLB draft
* 1976 All-Star Game
* 1976 World Series

* v
* t
* e

Athletics

* Established in 1901
* Formerly the Philadelphia Athletics, the Kansas City Athletics and the Oakland Athletics
* Based in West Sacramento, California

Franchise|

* History
* in Philadelphia
* in Kansas City
* in Oakland
* pending relocation to Las Vegas
* Seasons
* Records
* No-hitters
* Players
* Owners and executives
* Managers
* Broadcasters
* Radio network
* Award winners and league leaders
* First-round draft picks
* Opening Day starting pitchers

Ballparks|

* Columbia Park
* Shibe Park
* Municipal Stadium
* Oakland Coliseum
* Sutter Health Park (temporary 2025–2027)
* New Las Vegas Stadium (proposed)

Spring training
Latta Park Baseball Field
Barrs Field
Cramton Bowl
Terry Park Ballfield
Wilmington Park
McCurdy Field
Connie Mack Field
McKechnie Field
Rendezvous Park
Scottsdale Stadium I
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Hohokam Stadium

Culture|

* Philadelphia Athletics (football)
* Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame
* The Baseball Bug
* Champagne and Baloney
* Charlie-O
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* Stomper
* $100,000 infield
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* Swingin' A's
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Lore|

* The Mack Attack
* Grandstand Managers Night
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* Dallas Braden
* Bash Brothers
* 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
* 20 game win streak
* MLB Japan Opening Series 2008
* Philadelphia Athletics 18, Cleveland Indians 17 (1932)

Rivalries|

* Los Angeles Angels
* Philadelphia Phillies
* San Francisco Giants

Key personnel|

* Owners: John Fisher
* President: Dave Kaval
* Executive vice president: Billy Beane
* General manager: David Forst
* Manager: Mark Kotsay

World Series
Champions (9)|

* 1910
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* 1929
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American League
Championships (15)|

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AL West Division
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AL Wild Card (4)|

* 2001
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Minors|

Triple-A
Las Vegas Aviators
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Midland RockHounds
High-A
Lansing Lugnuts
Single-A
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