Baseball Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, and Reggie Jackson; 1989 World Series MVP Dave Stewart; and former A's owner Charlie Finley will be enshrined in team history forever as members of the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame, the club announced today. The class will be honored during a pregame ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 5, when the team hosts the New York Yankees. 
"Our franchise is built on the history of legends. The Athletics Hall of Fame allows us to recognize the individuals who have shaped our identity and brought us success," said A's President Dave Kaval, "We are honored to celebrate Eck, Rollie, Rickey, Catfish, Reggie, Stew, and Finley as our inaugural class." 
The game's most dominant closer of his time, Eckersley was born in Oakland and spent 12 seasons with the A's. Eck's powerful and precise pitching made him the only Major League pitcher with 100 saves and 100 complete games. He was a six-time All-Star (four with Oakland), a member of the 1989 World Series team, the American League MVP and Cy Young winner in 1992, and the two-time MLB saves leader in 1988 and 1992. He was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.  
Fingers spent the first nine seasons of his 17-year Hall of Fame career with Oakland. Fans remember him for his trademark mustache and 341 career saves. During the A's dynasty years, Fingers won or saved eight World Series games. The right-hander was a seven-time All-Star (four-time All-Star with Oakland). He was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. 
"Man of Steal" Henderson holds the all-time record for stolen bases. Also known as the "greatest leadoff hitter of all time," he scored more runs than any player in history and won the World Series with the A's in 1989. The 10-time All-Star (six with the A's) was the AL MVP in 1990 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.  
The first number the A's ever retired belongs to Catfish Hunter. With four consecutive 20-win seasons with Oakland, including a career-high 25 victories in 1974, he won the Cy Young Award that year. The eight-time All-Star (six with Oakland), threw the first perfect game in Oakland A's history on May 8, 1968. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. 
Jackson left his mark on the A's in more way than one. By the time he finished his career, he had 563 home runs and was named "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason. He earned World Series MVP honors when the A's won their second of three straight World Series titles in 1973. He was also named AL MVP that year after leading the league in runs, home runs, and RBI. Jackson was a 14-time All-Star (six with Oakland). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.
Stewart's famous "Death Stare" was nearly as merciless as his pitching. He won 20 games in four consecutive seasons from 1987 to 1990 and recorded two wins in the 1989 World Series, earning MVP honors in the A's sweep of the Giants. Stewart was an All-Star in 1989. The Oakland native takes great pride in his community and charitable involvement. In 1990, he was named Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award winner, honoring the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual's contribution to his team. To honor his commitment to the community, the A's created the Dave Stewart Community Award that annually recognizes an A's player for his charitable contributions in the Bay Area and nationwide. 
A man ahead of his time, Finley challenged baseball traditions and introduced a number of innovations to the game designed to make the fan experience more entertaining. The franchise's owner from 1961 to 1980, he moved the club from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968 and built the most dominant team of the early 1970s with three straight World Series titles.
Fans in attendance for the 7:05 p.m. matchup on Sept. 5 will receive an A's Hall of Fame giveaway item, courtesy of 7UP. To purchase tickets, visit athletics.com/athleticshof. 
The A's will annually induct a class into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Each class will be voted on by a committee. Members of the Athletics Hall of Fame will be honored with a display at the Coliseum in the future.