1988 Oakland Athletics season

The Oakland Athletics' 1988 season involved the A's winning their first American League West title since 1981, with a record of 104 wins and 58 losses. In 1988, the elephant was restored as the symbol of the Athletics and currently adorns the left sleeve of home and road uniforms. The elephant was retired as team mascot in 1963 by then-owner Charles O. Finley in favor of a Missouri mule. The A's defeated the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, but lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, including a dramatic, classic walk-off home run by the Dodgers' Kirk Gibson in game one.

Offseason

• October 12, 1987: Brian Harper was released by the Athletics.^[1]
• October 12, 1987: Jerry Willard was released by the Athletics.^[2]
• December 6, 1987: Ron Hassey was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[3]
• December 7, 1987: Gary Lavelle was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[4]
• December 8, 1987: José Rijo and Tim Birtsas were traded by the Athletics to the Cincinnati Reds for Dave Parker.^[5]
• December 11, 1987: Alfredo Griffin and Jay Howell were traded by the Athletics to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kevin Tapani and Wally Whitehurst were traded by the Athletics to the New York Mets as part of a three-team trade. Bob Welch and Matt Young were traded by the Dodgers to the Athletics. Jesse Orosco was traded by the Mets to the Dodgers. Jack Savage was traded by the Dodgers to the Mets.^[6]
• December 21, 1987: Dave Henderson was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[7]
• December 21, 1987: Rick Rodriguez was released by the Athletics.^[8]
• January 11, 1988: Glenn Hubbard was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[9]
• January 29, 1988: Rich Bordi was signed as a Free Agent with the Oakland Athletics.^[10]
• February 9, 1988: Don Baylor was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[11]
• March 9, 1988: Tony Phillips was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[12]
• March 28, 1988: Mickey Tettleton was released by the Athletics.^[13]

Regular season

José Canseco led the American League with 42 Home Runs, 124 RBIs and a .569 slugging percentage. Canseco became the first member of the Athletics to have three straight 100 RBI seasons.

• July 3, 1988: José Canseco had 3 home runs and 6 RBIs in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Season standings

Notable Transactions

• June 1, 1988: Darren Lewis was drafted by the Athletics in the 18th round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1988.^[14]

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In

Other batters

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

ALCS

Game 1

October 5, Fenway Park

Game 2

October 6, Fenway Park

Game 3

October 8, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Game 4

October 9, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

World series

NL Los Angeles Dodgers (4) vs. AL Oakland Athletics (1)

Awards and honors

• José Canseco – American League Leader Home Runs (42)
• José Canseco – American League Leader RBIs (124)
• José Canseco – American League Leader Slugging Percentage (.569)
• Terry Steinbach, All-Star Game MVP

All-Star Game

• Terry Steinbach, Catcher, Starter
• Mark McGwire, First Base, Starter
• José Canseco, Outfield, Starter
• Dennis Eckersley, Relief Pitcher, Reserve
• Carney Lansford, Third Base, Reserve

Farm system

References

1. ^ Brian Harper page at Baseball Reference
2. ^ Jerry Willard page at Baseball Reference
3. ^ Ron Hassey page at Baseball Reference
4. ^ Gary Lavelle page at Baseball Reference
5. ^ Dave Parker page at Baseball Reference
6. ^ Jesse Orosco page at Baseball Reference
7. ^ Dave Henderson page at Baseball Reference
8. ^ Rick Rodriguez page at Baseball Reference
9. ^ Glenn Hubbard page at Baseball Reference
10. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bordiri01.shtml
11. ^ Don Baylor page at Baseball Reference
12. ^ Tony Phillips page at Baseball Reference
13. ^ Mickey Tettleton page at Baseball Reference
14. ^ Darren Lewis page at Baseball Reference

• 1988 Oakland Athletics team page at Baseball Reference
• 1988 Oakland Athletics team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.