Test your Oakland Athletics knowledge

1. Which player has not had his number retired by the A's?

Jose Canseco

Dennis Eckersley

Rollie Fingers

Answer A. Jose Canseco has not had his number retired. Eckersley's No. 43 was retired in 2005, Fingers' No. 34 in 1993

Explanation

Answer A. Jose Canseco has not had his number retired. Eckersley's No. 43 was retired in 2005, Fingers' No. 34 in 1993

2. The A's of the early 1980s were known for playing "Billyball." For whom was it named?

Billy Beane

Billy Martin

Billy North

Answer: B. Martin was hired as manager after a 54-108 finish in 1979 and led the A's to the 1981 playoffs with an aggressive style of play that was dubbed "Billyball" by Oakland Tribune columnist Ralph Wiley.

Explanation

Answer: B. Martin was hired as manager after a 54-108 finish in 1979 and led the A's to the 1981 playoffs with an aggressive style of play that was dubbed "Billyball" by Oakland Tribune columnist Ralph Wiley.

3. How many bases did Rickey Henderson steal in his record-breaking 1982 season?

56

101

130

Answer: C. Henderson's 130 steals broke Lou Brock's 1974 record of 118. (In the modern era, only two other players -- Maury Wills and Vince Coleman-- have stolen 100 bases or more in a season.)

Explanation

Answer: C. Henderson's 130 steals broke Lou Brock's 1974 record of 118. (In the modern era, only two other players -- Maury Wills and Vince Coleman-- have stolen 100 bases or more in a season.)

4. Which of these players who began their career in Oakland did NOT have more than one tour of duty with the A's?

Jose Canseco

Reggie Jackson

Mark McGwire

Answer: C. Canseco and Reggie both had two tours of duty -- two fewer than Rickey Henderson..

Explanation

Answer: C. Canseco and Reggie both had two tours of duty -- two fewer than Rickey Henderson..

5. The A's have been involved in six playoff series since 2000. How many have they won?

1

3

5

Answer: 1. The A's beat the Twins in the ALDS in 2006 for their only series victory. They lost the ALDS in 2000 (Yankees), 2001 (Yankees), 2002 (Twins), and 2003 (Red Sox) and the ALCS in 2006 (Tigers).

Explanation

Answer: 1. The A's beat the Twins in the ALDS in 2006 for their only series victory. They lost the ALDS in 2000 (Yankees), 2001 (Yankees), 2002 (Twins), and 2003 (Red Sox) and the ALCS in 2006 (Tigers).

6. Which A's player was "fired" by the team in the middle of a World Series?

Jose Canseco

Mike Andrews

Ted Kubiak

B. Second baseman Mike Andrews committed two errors in a Game 2 loss at the 1973 World Series. Owner Charlie Finley was so angered that he forced Andrews to sign a document saying he was injured, which would have removed him from the roster. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn vetoed the transaction.

Explanation

B. Second baseman Mike Andrews committed two errors in a Game 2 loss at the 1973 World Series. Owner Charlie Finley was so angered that he forced Andrews to sign a document saying he was injured, which would have removed him from the roster. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn vetoed the transaction.

7. What was the name of the mechanical rabbit that popped out of the ground at the Oakland Coliseum to deliver baseballs to the home plate umpire?

Harry

Harvey

Charlie O.

Answer: B. Harvey was one of the many innovations of A's owner Charlie Finley, who also introduced the game to orange baseballs, Hot Pants Day and Farmers Day, where one highlight was the opportunity for selected fans to catch greased pigs in the outfield. .

Explanation

Answer: B. Harvey was one of the many innovations of A's owner Charlie Finley, who also introduced the game to orange baseballs, Hot Pants Day and Farmers Day, where one highlight was the opportunity for selected fans to catch greased pigs in the outfield. .

8. Which pitcher has the most career home runs in Athletics franchise history?

Blue Moon Odom

Catfish Hunter

Rollie Fingers

A. John "Blue Moon" Odom hit 12 home runs in his A's career, one more than Philadelphia A's Hall of Famer Lefty Grove.

Explanation

A. John "Blue Moon" Odom hit 12 home runs in his A's career, one more than Philadelphia A's Hall of Famer Lefty Grove.

9. At which position did Mark McGwire begin his major league career?

First base

Third base

Left field

Answer: B. McGwire began his career at third base because the A's had another young phenom at first base named Rob Nelson.

Explanation

Answer: B. McGwire began his career at third base because the A's had another young phenom at first base named Rob Nelson.

10. Right-hander Rick Langford started 33 games for the A's in 1980. How many did he complete?

12

17

28

Answer: C. Langford had 28 complete games. He also pitched twice in relief and finished with 290 innings and 19 wins.

Explanation

Answer: C. Langford had 28 complete games. He also pitched twice in relief and finished with 290 innings and 19 wins.

11. Which former A's slugger chose to wear the name of his high school on the back of his jersey for part of one season?

Reggie Jackson

Dick Allen

Dwayne Murphy

B. The controversial Allen, who graduated from Wampum High in Pennsylvania in 1960, chose to wear uniform No. 60 with "Wampum" on his back while with the A's in 1977.

Explanation

B. The controversial Allen, who graduated from Wampum High in Pennsylvania in 1960, chose to wear uniform No. 60 with "Wampum" on his back while with the A's in 1977.

12. Who was the first hitting coach in Oakland A's history?

Joe DiMaggio

Charley Lau

Irv Noren

A. Joe DiMaggio was hired as hitting coach in 1968, another Finley ploy to generate fan interest. He spent three seasons on the job and is credited with helping, among others, Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, and Joe Rudi.

Explanation

A. Joe DiMaggio was hired as hitting coach in 1968, another Finley ploy to generate fan interest. He spent three seasons on the job and is credited with helping, among others, Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, and Joe Rudi.

13. Who led the A's in RBI during their 1989 World Series sweep of the Giants?

Dave Henderson

Carney Lansford

Terry Steinbach

C. Steinbach had seven RBI, iincluding three in the 9-6, title-clinching Game 4 win on Oct. 28, 1989.

Explanation

C. Steinbach had seven RBI, iincluding three in the 9-6, title-clinching Game 4 win on Oct. 28, 1989.

14. Who has worn the highest uniform number in A's history?

Willie Crawford

Barry Zito

Jordan Norberto

A. Willie Crawford, an outfielder who played 10 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, wore No. 99 for the A's in 1977.

Explanation

A. Willie Crawford, an outfielder who played 10 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, wore No. 99 for the A's in 1977.

15. Who is the Oakland A's all-time leading hitter?

Carney Lansford

Rickey Henderson

Jason Giambi

C. Giambi is the only player in Oakland history with a .300 batting average as a member of the A's - he hit .300 in 1,036 career games.

Explanation

C. Giambi is the only player in Oakland history with a .300 batting average as a member of the A's - he hit .300 in 1,036 career games.

Test Your Oakland Athletics Knowledge