1970 Oakland Athletics season
The 1970 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing second in the American League West with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses. In 1970, owner Charlie Finley officially changed the team name from the Athletics to the "A's". An "apostrophe-s" was added to the cap and uniform emblem to reflect that fact.
1970 Oakland Athletics | |
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Major League affiliations | |
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Location | |
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Results | |
Record | 89–73 (.549) |
Other information | |
Owner(s) | Charles O. Finley |
Manager(s) | John McNamara |
Local television | KBHK |
Local radio | KNBR (Monte Moore, Harry Caray) |
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Offseason
During the off-season, Reggie Jackson sought an increase in salary, and A's owner Charlie Finley threatened to send Jackson to the minors. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn successfully intervened in their dispute. Reggie Jackson demanded $60,000 per season, while he was offered $40,000 by Charlie Finley. Both parties settled on $45,000,[1] but Jackson's numbers in 1970 dropped sharply, as he hit just 23 home runs while batting .237.
Notable transactions
- December 1, 1969: Manny Trillo was drafted by the Athletics from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1969 rule 5 draft.[2]
- December 5, 1969: Danny Cater and Ossie Chavarria were traded by the Athletics to the New York Yankees for Al Downing and Frank Fernández.[3]
- December 7, 1969: George Lauzerique and Ted Kubiak were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers for Diego Seguí and Ray Oyler.[4]
- January 15, 1970: Phil Roof, Mike Hershberger, Lew Krausse, Jr., and Ken Sanders were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers for Don Mincher and Ron Clark.[5]
- January 17, 1970: 1970 Major League Baseball Draft (January Draft) notable picks:[6]
- Round 4: Mitchell Page (did not sign)
- Secondary Phase[7]
- Round 1: Vic Harris [8]
Regular season
- During the 1970 season, there were rumours of the Athletics attempting to relocate to Toronto.[9]
- At the end of May, the Athletics were 25–23, and 8 games back of the first place Minnesota Twins.[10]
- September 21: Vida Blue threw a no-hitter versus the Minnesota Twins.[11]
- The club hired Harry Caray to do the play by play for the Athletics. Charlie Finley wanted Caray to change his broadcast chant of Holy Cow to Holy Mule. Caray refused and left after the season.[12]
Season standings
AL West | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
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Minnesota Twins | 98 | 64 | 0.605 | — | 51–30 | 47–34 |
Oakland Athletics | 89 | 73 | 0.549 | 9 | 49–32 | 40–41 |
California Angels | 86 | 76 | 0.531 | 12 | 43–38 | 43–38 |
Kansas City Royals | 65 | 97 | 0.401 | 33 | 35–44 | 30–53 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 65 | 97 | 0.401 | 33 | 38–42 | 27–55 |
Chicago White Sox | 56 | 106 | 0.346 | 42 | 31–53 | 25–53 |
Record vs. opponents
1970 American League Records Sources: | |||||||||||||
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Team | BAL | BOS | CAL | CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIL | MIN | NYY | OAK | WSH | |
Baltimore | — | 13–5 | 7–5 | 9–3 | 14–4 | 11–7 | 12–0 | 7–5 | 5–7 | 11–7 | 7–5 | 12–6 | |
Boston | 5–13 | — | 5–7 | 8–4 | 12–6 | 9–9 | 7–5 | 5–7 | 7–5 | 10–8 | 7–5 | 12–6 | |
California | 5–7 | 7–5 | — | 12–6 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 10–8 | 12–6 | 8–10 | 5–7 | 8–10 | 7–5 | |
Chicago | 3–9 | 4–8 | 6–12 | — | 6–6 | 6–6 | 7–11 | 7–11 | 6–12 | 5–7 | 2–16 | 4–8 | |
Cleveland | 4–14 | 6–12 | 6–6 | 6–6 | — | 7–11 | 8–4 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 8–10 | 7–5 | 11–7 | |
Detroit | 7–11 | 9–9 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 11–7 | — | 6–6 | 8–4 | 4–8 | 7–11 | 6–6 | 9–9 | |
Kansas City | 0–12 | 5–7 | 8–10 | 11–7 | 4–8 | 6–6 | — | 12–6 | 5–13 | 1–11 | 7–11 | 6–6 | |
Milwaukee | 5–7 | 7–5 | 6–12 | 11–7 | 5–7 | 4–8 | 6–12 | — | 5–13 | 3–9–1 | 8–10 | 5–7 | |
Minnesota | 7–5 | 5–7 | 10–8 | 12–6 | 6–6 | 8–4 | 13–5 | 13–5 | — | 5–7 | 13–5 | 6–6 | |
New York | 7–11 | 8–10 | 7–5 | 7–5 | 10–8 | 11–7 | 11–1 | 9–3–1 | 7–5 | — | 6–6 | 10–8 | |
Oakland | 5–7 | 5–7 | 10–8 | 16–2 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 11–7 | 10–8 | 5–13 | 6–6 | — | 10–2 | |
Washington | 6–12 | 6–12 | 5–7 | 8–4 | 7–11 | 9–9 | 6–6 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 8–10 | 2–10 | — |
Notable transactions
- May 18, 1970: Roberto Peña was traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers for John Donaldson.[13]
- June 4, 1970: 1970 Major League Baseball Draft (June Draft) notable picks:[14]
- June 11, 1970: Al Downing and Tito Francona were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers for Steve Hovley.[16]
Roster
1970 Oakland Athletics | |||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
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Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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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
Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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C | Frank Fernández | 94 | 252 | 54 | .214 | 15 | 44 |
1B | Don Mincher | 140 | 463 | 114 | .246 | 27 | 74 |
3B | Sal Bando | 155 | 502 | 132 | .263 | 20 | 75 |
SS | Bert Campaneris | 147 | 603 | 168 | .279 | 22 | 64 |
RF | Reggie Jackson | 149 | 426 | 101 | .237 | 23 | 66 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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Dave Duncan | 86 | 232 | 60 | .259 | 10 | 29 |
Tommy Davis | 66 | 200 | 58 | .290 | 1 | 27 |
Steve Hovley | 72 | 100 | 19 | .190 | 0 | 1 |
John Donaldson | 41 | 89 | 22 | .247 | 1 | 11 |
Roberto Peña | 19 | 58 | 15 | .259 | 0 | 3 |
Jim Driscoll | 21 | 52 | 10 | .192 | 1 | 2 |
Bob Johnson | 30 | 46 | 8 | .174 | 1 | 2 |
Tito Francona | 32 | 33 | 8 | .242 | 1 | 6 |
José Tartabull | 24 | 13 | 3 | .231 | 0 | 2 |
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Chuck Dobson | 41 | 267 | 16 | 15 | 3.74 | 149 |
Catfish Hunter | 40 | 262.1 | 18 | 14 | 3.81 | 178 |
Vida Blue | 6 | 38.2 | 2 | 0 | 2.09 | 35 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Diego Seguí | 47 | 162 | 10 | 10 | 2.56 | 95 |
Rollie Fingers | 45 | 148 | 7 | 9 | 3.65 | 79 |
Al Downing | 10 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 3.95 | 26 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
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Mudcat Grant | 72 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 1.82 | 54 |
Paul Lindblad | 62 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2.70 | 42 |
Marcel Lachemann | 41 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.78 | 39 |
Roberto Rodríguez | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.92 | 8 |
Fred Talbot | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10.80 | 0 |
Awards and honors
- Bert Campaneris led the American League in Stolen Bases[17]
Farm system
Level | Team | League | Manager |
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AAA | Iowa Oaks | American Association | Sherm Lollar |
AA | Birmingham A's | Southern League | Phil Cavarretta |
A | Burlington Bees | Midwest League | Roy Sievers |
A-Short Season | Coos Bay-North Bend A's | Northwest League | Harry Bright |
References
- Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.134, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- Manny Trillo page at Baseball Reference
- Danny Cater page at Baseball Reference
- Diego Seguí page at Baseball Reference
- Phil Roof page at Baseball Reference
- 1970 Oakland Athletics Picks in the MLB January Amateur Draft
- 1970 Oakland Athletics Picks in the MLB January Amateur Draft (Secondary Phase)
- Vic Harris page at Baseball Reference
- Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.120, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.134, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.140, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.141, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- John Donaldson page at Baseball Reference
- 1970 Oakland Athletics Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft
- Dan Ford page at Baseball Reference
- Steve Hovley page at Baseball Reference
- Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.141, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0