A’s to Induct six members into Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday, Aug. 7
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Two-time Major League All-Star catcher and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Ray Fosse, four-time All-Star “Captain Sal” Bando, Gold Glovers Eric Chavez and Joe Rudi, Special Advisor to Player Development Keith Lieppman, and former A’s Clubhouse Manager Steve Vucinich will be enshrined in franchise history forever as members of the 2022 Class of the Athletics Hall of Fame. The six members will be celebrated during a pregame ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 7, ahead of the A’s 1:07 p.m. matchup versus the San Francisco Giants. Fans in attendance for the game will also receive an Athletics Hall of Fame Rally Towel giveaway. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit athletics.com/specialevents.
Ray Fosse blazed a unique trail to A’s immortality. It began with three years as a player from 1973 to 1975 and concluded with 37 seasons in the front office, including 36 as a broadcaster. Fosse was a catcher for the A’s World Champion teams in 1973 and 1974, and he returned to Oakland in 1985 in a front office role. He moved into the radio booth in 1986 and was a mainstay on A’s radio and television broadcasts until passing away following the 2021 season.
“Captain Sal” Bando was the leader that held the A’s together in the early 70’s when Oakland won five straight American League West titles and three consecutive World Series. Bando finished in the top four in Most Valuable Player voting three times and was a four-time All-Star. His durability put him atop the AL leaderboard in games played four times and, although he never led the league in any other major category, his 33.0 WAR from 1969 to 1973 was the best in baseball.
Eric Chavez was a mainstay of the third era of great Oakland teams that won four American League West titles and made five playoff appearances from 2000 to 2006. He won six straight Gold Gloves at third base from 2001 to 2006, hit 20 or more home runs in seven straight seasons from 2000 to 2006, and drove in 100 runs four times. Much like the A’s teams of his era, Chavez excelled in the second half of the season and retired as the best player in Oakland history never named to an All-Star Team.
Keith Lieppman grew up in Missouri in the 1960’s attending Kansas City A’s games and would end up spending more than 50 years with the Club after it moved to Oakland. He played for nine seasons in the minors from 1971 to 1979, managed for eight from 1980 to 1987, and then served for more than 25 years as Director of Player Development. In his roles, he tutored many of the players that would win 11 American League West titles and make 15 playoff appearances from 1988 to 2020. Keith Lieppman is currently in his 52nd season with the Club and his third as Special Advisor to Player Development after transitioning to the role in 2020.
The A’s reached the World Series three straight years from 1972 to 1974, but winning those series required clutch performances and Joe Rudi delivered. He made one of the greatest catches in World Series history in 1972 against the Reds and then hit .333 with four RBI in both 1973 against the Mets and 1974 against the Dodgers. Rudi won three consecutive Gold Gloves from 1974 to 1976, was a three-time All-Star, and finished second in American League MVP balloting in 1972 and 1974.
The one constant in the A’s first 54 years in Oakland is Steve Vucinich. From the first batter in Oakland history, Bert Campaneris, to more recent acquisitions, Steve has known them all. He joined the organization as a ballboy in 1968, moved to the visiting clubhouse in 1974, and then returned to the home clubhouse as equipment manager in 1994. Steve retired at the end of the 2021 season.
The A’s will induct the 2022 Class into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a special pregame celebration on Sunday, Aug. 7, ahead of their 1:07 p.m. matchup versus the San Francisco Giants. Fans in attendance for the game will also receive an Athletics Hall of Fame Rally Towel giveaway. For more information, visit athletics.com/specialevents.