Athletics' all-time retired numbers
Five of the A's luminaries in the Baseball Hall of Fame have enjoyed the honor of having their number retired by the organization.
That select roster is impressive: Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson. Yet, it's also quite exclusive for a club with such a storied history in the game.
A look at those honored:
Dennis Eckersley, RHP: No. 43
Number retired: Aug. 13, 2005
Eckersley's career was revitalized in Oakland, as the right-hander was moved into the bullpen here and, ultimately, paved his way to the Hall of Fame. In nine seasons with the A's, he amassed 320 saves -- 51 of them coming in 1992, when he won both the American League Cy Young Award and AL Most Valuable Player Award. Eckersley anchored the back end of the bullpen for Oakland teams that claimed three straight AL pennants from '88-90, recording the final out of an '89 World Series win. He is one of just two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season ('78) and a 50-save season in his career.
Rollie Fingers, RHP: No. 34
Number retired: July 5, 1993
One of the most revered relievers in baseball history, Fingers' success revolutionized the role of the closer. He finished an illustrious career as baseball's all-time leader in saves with 341 -- a record that stood until 1992. Many of his glory days came in Oakland, as he tallied 136 saves and 67 wins in nine seasons with the A's -- logging 1,016 innings during that span. Fingers was a significant part of Oakland's 1970s dynasty that won three consecutive World Series titles.
Rickey Henderson, OF: No. 24
Number retired: Aug. 1, 2009
Baseball's all-time stolen-base leader compiled 867 of his 1,406 thefts in green and gold. He is not only the A's all-time leader in stolen bases -- also setting a modern-era record for stolen bases in a season in 1982 (130) -- but runs scored (1,270) and walks (1,227). He was essential to the club's '89 World Series victory, hitting .474 in a four-game sweep against the Giants, and won AL MVP honors in '90, when he hit .325 with 28 home runs, 65 stolen bases and a 1.016 OPS for the AL pennant-winning A's.
Catfish Hunter, RHP: No. 27
Number retired: June 9, 1991
Hunter was one of baseball's most dominant pitchers during a tremendous 15-year career that included five World Series rings with the A's and Yankees and a stretch of five straight 20-win seasons. He took home the AL Cy Young Award in 1974, following a 25-win campaign. The right-hander came up with the A's in '65 and celebrated the team's move to Oakland in '68 with a perfect game against Minnesota. He won 224 games in his career.
Reggie Jackson, OF: No. 9
Number retired: May 22, 2004
Jackson was a 14-time All-Star and a member of five World Series championship teams -- including three with the A's. He earned AL MVP honors in 1973, batting .293 with 32 home runs and 117 RBIs, and led Oakland to its second of three consecutive AL pennants. He was also selected as the World Series MVP that year and finished his Hall of Fame career with 2,584 hits, 1,702 RBIs and 18 postseason home runs.
Dave Stewart, RHP: No. 34
Number retired: Sept. 11, 2022
Getting the opportunity to pitch for his hometown team in 1986 after he was released by the Phillies, Stewart connected with A's pitching coach Dave Duncan and revitalized his career at age 30 with a legendary stretch. The right-hander won 20 games and pitched at least 250 innings each season from 1987-90. Playing eight of his 16 Major League seasons with the A's, Stewart went 119-78 with a 3.73 ERA. His All-Star '89 campaign was perhaps his greatest, as he went 21-9 with a 3.32 ERA and later brought Oakland its fourth World Series title by earning MVP honors for the ‘89 Fall Classic after going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in a sweep of the Giants.
Notes:
• On April 15, 1997, the A's joined every team in MLB in retiring No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.
• The club remembered former owner Walter Haas by retiring an honorary jersey on Sept. 17, 1995.