Giambi, Lansford among 5 to enter A's Hall of Fame Class in 2023
American League MVP Jason Giambi, World Series Champions Carney Lansford and Gene Tenace, Philadelphia Athletic Bob Johnson, and “Voice of God” public address announcer Roy Steele will be enshrined in franchise history forever as members of the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The group will be celebrated during a pregame ceremony at the Coliseum on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, during the A’s annual Bay Bridge Series versus the Giants.
A member of the Green and Gold for eight seasons (1995 to 2001, 2009), Jason Giambi began his Major League career with the Oakland A’s in 1995. Giambi led the team with 27 home runs, 110 RBI, and a .295 batting average in 1998. The following year, he hit .315 with 33 homers, 105 walks, and 123 RBI. His impressive hitting continued in 2000, notching a career-high 43 home runs and 137 RBI, earning himself American League MVP honors. With a nearly identical 2001 season, Giambi finished in second in MVP voting and won the Silver Slugger Award. A five-time All-Star in his career, Giambi represented the A’s in the Midsummer Classic twice (2000, 2001). Giambi holds the Oakland records for batting average in a season (.342 in 2001) and career (.300). He also holds the Oakland single-season records for RBI (137 in 2000), walks (137 in 2000), extra-base hits (87 in 2001), and on-base percentage (.477 in 2001).
Carney Lansford played in the Majors as a third baseman from 1978 to 1992, most notably as a member of the A’s from 1983 to 1992. Lansford was part of the A’s dynasty team that won three consecutive American League pennants and a World Series Championship in 1989 against the Bay Area-rival San Francisco Giants. Lansford led the A's in batting in 1984 (.300) and 1989 (.336) and finished his Oakland career with a .288 batting average, which is second-best in Oakland history. Lansford was selected as an American League All-Star in 1988.
A three-time World Series Champion from 1972 to 1974, Gene Tenace had four home runs and nine RBI in the 1972 World Series to earn MVP honors. He was also named to the American League All-Star Team in 1975. Tenace had a .245 batting average in his eight seasons with the A's, but his on-base percentage was more than 100 points better at .374. He led the Club in walks four straight seasons from 1973 to 1976 and drew 475 free passes as an Athletic to go with 121 home runs and 389 RBI. Tenace ranks among the Oakland top 10 in most games caught (446) and most games at first base (385).
Bob Johnson’s 13-year career (1933 to 1945) was highlighted by 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. He was a five-time All-Star and his 997 runs scored were a franchise record until Rickey Henderson broke the mark in 1993. Johnson still ranks among the Athletics all-time leaders in runs (2nd, 997), RBI (3rd, 1040), walks (3rd, 853), extra-base hits (3rd, 631), doubles (4th, 307), hits (5th, 1617), and home runs (5th, 252). He slugged 20 or more home runs and scored 90 or more runs in each of his first nine seasons and had seven consecutive 100-RBI seasons from 1935 to 1941. Johnson led the Club in RBI seven times, home runs, walks and slugging percentage six times, runs five times, and batting average three times.
Roy Steele was the PA voice of the A’s for nearly four decades. Steele began announcing for the A’s in 1968, the team’s inaugural season in Oakland, and remained the public address announcer for 38 seasons. He worked through six World Series, an All-Star Game, and through A’s eras from the Mustache Gang to Billy Ball, the Bash Brothers, and Moneyball. His booming baritone was beloved by A’s fans and earned him the nickname “Voice of God.”
Earlier this season, the A’s inducted Sal Bando, Eric Chavez, Ray Fosse, Keith Lieppman, Joe Rudi, and former clubhouse manager Steve Vucinich into the Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2018 inaugural class included Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Charlie Finley, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, and Dave Stewart. In 2019, the A’s inducted Vida Blue, Bert “Campy” Campaneris, Mark McGwire, Walter A. Haas Jr., and Tony La Russa into the Athletics Hall of Fame. There was not a Class of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The A’s inducted 10 members of the Philadelphia A’s, including former owner/manager Connie Mack, Baseball Hall of Famers Eddie Collins and Eddie Plank, Frank Baker, Chief Bender, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Al Simmons, and Rube Waddell in 2021.
The Class of 2023 will be celebrated during the Bay Bridge Series at the Coliseum on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. For more information, visit athletics.com/fans.