Major League Baseball season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1974 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their fourth consecutive American League West title with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses. In the playoffs, the A's defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS for their third straight AL pennant, and in the World Series, the first ever played entirely on the West Coast, defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games to take their third consecutive World Series championship. Paid attendance for the season was 845,693.[1]
In early 1974, owner Charlie Finley tried to sell the team with an asking price of $15 million.[2][3]
Offseason
- November 3, 1973: Horacio Piña was traded by the Athletics to the Chicago Cubs for Bob Locker.[4]
- December 12, 1973: Rico Carty was released by the Athletics.[5]
- February 22, 1974: Reggie Jackson won an arbitration case for a $135,000 salary for the season, nearly doubling his previous year's $70,000.[6][7]
Regular season
- June 5, 1974: Outfielders Billy North and Reggie Jackson engaged in a clubhouse fight at Detroit's Tiger Stadium[8] Jackson injured his shoulder, and catcher Ray Fosse, attempting to separate the combatants,[8] suffered a crushed disk in his neck, costing him three months on the disabled list.
The pinch runner
In 1974, "Hurricane" Herb Washington was tapped by Oakland owner Charlie Finley to become the A's "designated runner." Despite having no professional baseball experience, and having last played baseball in high school, Washington was signed to a major league contract prior to the season. His major league debut was on April 4, 1974, against the Texas Rangers. Appearing as a pinch runner for Joe Rudi in game two of the 1974 World Series, Washington was picked off first base in a crucial ninth-inning situation by Dodgers' reliever Mike Marshall.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day starters
Notable transactions
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
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Postseason
ALCS
The Athletics defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 3 games to 1.
1974 World Series
Summary
Awards and honors
All-Stars
1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Farm system
References
- ^ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.222, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- ^ "Not close to sale: A's Finley". Chicago Tribune. wire services. January 22, 1974. p. 4, sec. 3.
- ^ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.202, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
- ^ Horacio Piña page at Baseball Reference
- ^ Rico Carty page at Baseball Reference
- ^ "A's Jackson gets his wish - $135,000 salary". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. February 23, 1974. p. 15.
- ^ "Reggie wins arbitration". Chicago Tribune. UPI. February 23, 1974. p. 5, sec. 2.
- ^ a b "No 'A' for A's: Finley flunks as pep talker". Chicago Tribune. June 8, 1974. p. 2, sec. 2.
- ^ 1974 Oakland Athletics Roster by Baseball Almanac
- ^ Dal Maxvill page at Baseball Reference
- ^ Rick Lysander page at Baseball Reference
- ^ Pat Bourque page at Baseball Reference
External links
- 1974 Oakland Athletics team page at Baseball Reference
- 1974 Oakland Athletics team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
