1973 Oakland Athletics season

Last updated

1973  Oakland Athletics
World Series champions
American League champions
American League West champions
League American League
Division West
Ballpark Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
City Oakland, California
Record94–68 (.580)
Owners Charles O. Finley
Managers Dick Williams
Television KTVU
Radio KEEN
(Monte Moore, Jim Woods, Bill Rigney)
←  1972 Seasons 1974  →

The 1973 Oakland Athletics season was the 73rd season for the Oakland Athletics franchise, all as members of the American League, and their 6th season in Oakland. The Athletics won their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. The A's went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS for their second straight AL Championship, and won the World Series in seven games over the New York Mets to take their second consecutive World Championship. Before the season, the numbers on the front of the jersey were removed and wouldn't return until 1987.

Contents

Offseason

Round 1: Mike Norris (24th pick). [5]
Secondary Phase
Round 1: Warren Cromartie (10th pick) (did not sign). [6]

Regular season

The 1973 A's had three 20-game winners in Jim (Catfish) Hunter, Ken Holtzman and Vida Blue. [10]

The A's were on the receiving end of some milestones as well. On July 3, Nolan Ryan struck out Sal Bando of the Athletics for the 1000th strikeout in his career. [11] On July 30, Jim Bibby threw the first no-hitter in Texas Rangers history as he no-hit the Athletics. [12] The Rangers won the game 6–0.

Opening Day starters

Season standings

AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Oakland Athletics 9468.580—50‍–‍3144‍–‍37
Kansas City Royals 8874.543648‍–‍3340‍–‍41
Minnesota Twins 8181.5001337‍–‍4444‍–‍37
California Angels 7983.4881543‍–‍3836‍–‍45
Chicago White Sox 7785.4751740‍–‍4137‍–‍44
Texas Rangers 57105.3523735‍–‍4622‍–‍59

Record vs. opponents

1973 American League record

Sources:
TeamBALBOSCALCWSCLEDETKCMILMINNYYOAKTEX
Baltimore —7–116–68–412–69–98–415–38–49–95–710–2
Boston 11–7—7–56–69–93–158–412–66–614–44–89–3
California 6–65–7—8–105–77–510–85–710–86–66–1211–7
Chicago 4–86–610–8—7–55–76–123–99–98–46–1213–5
Cleveland 6–129–97–55–7—9–92–109–97–57–113–97–5
Detroit 9–915–35–77–59–9—4–812–65–77–117–55–7
Kansas City 4–84–88–1012–610–28–4—8–49–96–68–1011–7
Milwaukee 3–156–127–59–39–96–124–8—8–410–84–88–4
Minnesota 4–86–68–109–95–77–59–94–8—3–914–412–6
New York 9–94–146–64–811–711–76–68–109–3—4–88–4
Oakland 7–58–412–612–69–35–710–88–44–148–4—11–7
Texas 2–103–97–115–135–77–57–114–86–124–87–11—

Notable transactions

Draft picks

Roster

1973 Oakland Athletics
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

PosPlayerGABRHAvg.HRRBISB
C Ray Fosse 14349237126.2567522
1B Gene Tenace 16051083132.25924842
2B Dick Green 1333323387.2623420
3B Sal Bando 16259297170.28729984
SS Bert Campaneris 15160189150.25044634
LF Joe Rudi 12043753118.27012660
CF Billy North 14655498158.28553453
RF Reggie Jackson 15153999158.2933211722
DH Deron Johnson 13146461114.24619810

[24]

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

PlayerGABRHAvg.HRRBISB
Ángel Mangual 741922043.2243131
Ted Kubiak 1061821540.2203171
Billy Conigliaro 48110522.2000141
Jesús Alou 361081033.3061110
Mike Hegan 7571813.183150
Rich McKinney 4865916.246170
Vic Davalillo 3864512.188040
Pat Bourque 234288.190290
Jay Johnstone 232813.107030
Gonzalo Márquez 232516.240020
Mike Andrews 182114.190000
Dal Maxvill 291904.211010
Tim Hosley 131433.214020
José Morales 61404.286010
Manny Trillo 171203.250030
Rico Carty 7812.250110
Phil Garner 9500.000000
Larry Haney 2201.500000
Allan Lewis 350160----007

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERABBSO
Ken Holtzman 40297.121132.9766157
Vida Blue 37263.22093.28105158
Catfish Hunter 36256.12153.3469124
Blue Moon Odom 30150.15124.496783
Dave Hamilton 1669.2644.392434
Chuck Dobson 12.1017.7123

[24]

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERABBSO
Glenn Abbott 518.2103.8676

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLSVERABBSO
Rollie Fingers 62126.278221.9239110
Darold Knowles 5299.06893.094946
Horacio Piña 4788.06382.763441
Paul Lindblad 3678.01523.692833
Rob Gardner 37.10004.9124

Postseason

ALCS

Game 1

October 6, 1973, at Memorial Stadium

In Game 1, the Orioles jumped on Oakland starter Vida Blue and reliever Horacio Piña for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jim Palmer pitched a 5-hit shutout as the Orioles won, 6–0.

Team123456789RHE
Oakland000000000051
Baltimore40000011X6120
W: Jim Palmer (1–0)   L: Vida Blue (0–1)   
HR: None

Game 2

October 7, 1973, at Memorial Stadium

In Game 2, the Athletics hit three home runs off Baltimore starter Dave McNally, and won 6–3 behind Catfish Hunter.

Team123456789RHE
Oakland100002021690
Baltimore100001010380
W: Catfish Hunter (1–0)   L: Dave McNally (0–1)   S: Rollie Fingers (1)
HR: OAK – Bert Campaneris (1), Joe Rudi (1), Sal Bando 2 (2)

Game 3

October 9, 1973, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

In Game 3, the Athletics won 2–1 when shortstop Bert Campaneris homered to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning.

Team1234567891011RHE
Baltimore01000000000130
Oakland00000001001243
W: Ken Holtzman (1–0)   L: Mike Cuellar (0–1)
HR: OAK – Bert Campaneris (2) BAL – Earl Williams (1)

Game 4

October 10, 1973, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

In Game 4, the Athletics held a 4–0 lead after six innings, but the Orioles scored four in the seventh off Blue to tie the game; the key blow was a three-run home run by catcher Andy Etchebarren. Baltimore second baseman Bobby Grich broke the tie with a solo home run in the 8th inning, and the Orioles went on to win, 5–4.

Team123456789RHE
Baltimore000000410580
Oakland030001000470
W: Grant Jackson (1–0)   L: Rollie Fingers (0–1)
HR: BAL – Andy Etchebarren (1), Bobby Grich (1)

Game 5

October 11, 1973, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

In Game 5, Hunter pitched a 5-hit shutout as the Athletics won, 3–0, and took the series 3 games to 2.

Team123456789RHE
Baltimore000000000052
Oakland00120000X370
W: Catfish Hunter (2–0)   L: Doyle Alexander (0–1)
HR: None

World Series

The Athletics' victory over the New York Mets in the 1973 Series was marred by Charlie O. Finley's antics. Finley forced Mike Andrews to sign a false affidavit saying he was injured after the reserve second baseman committed two consecutive errors in the 12th inning of the A's Game Two loss to the Mets. This would allow Manny Trillo, ineligible because he was not a member of the team on Sep 1, to be activated. [25]

By demeaning Mike Andrews, Finley brought on open rebellion, the logical progression for a team that has never deluded itself about being a happy ship. The A's worked out at Shea with Andrews' No. 17 taped to their uniforms as a sign of sympathy with him. By then he was back home in Peabody, Massachusetts. [25] When other team members, manager Dick Williams, and virtually the entire viewing public rallied to Andrews' defense, commissioner Bowie Kuhn forced Finley to back down. Andrews entered Game 4 in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter. As he walked to the on-deck circle the crowd of 54,817 at Shea Stadium spotted his No. 17 and commenced cheering. [25] He promptly grounded out, and Finley ordered him benched for the remainder of the Series.

Andrews never played another major league game. Williams was so disgusted by the affair that he announced his resignation as manager while the series was still being played. [26] Finley retaliated by vetoing Williams' attempt to become manager of the Yankees. Finley claimed that since Williams still owed Oakland the last year of his contract, he could not manage anywhere else. Finley relented later in 1974 and allowed Williams to take over as manager of the California Angels.

The A's won the World Series in seven games after rallying from a three games to two deficit.

Summary

AL Oakland Athletics (4) vs. NL New York Mets (3)

GameScoreDateLocationAttendanceTime of Game
1Mets – 1, A's – 2October 13 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 46,0212:26
2Mets – 10, A's – 7 (12 inns)October 14 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 55,9894:13
3A's – 3, Mets – 2 (11 inns)October 16 Shea Stadium 54,8173:15
4A's – 1, Mets – 6October 17 Shea Stadium 54,8172:41
5A's – 0, Mets – 2October 18 Shea Stadium 54,8172:39
6Mets – 1, A's – 3October 20 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 49,3332:07
7Mets – 2, A's – 5October 21 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 49,3332:37

Awards and honors

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Sherm Lollar
AA Birmingham A's Southern League Harry Bright
A Burlington Bees Midwest League Rene Lachemann
A-Short Season Lewiston Broncos Northwest League Mike Sgobba

References

  1. ↑ Rich McKinney page at Baseball Reference
  2. ↑ Horacio Piña page at Baseball Reference
  3. ↑ Orlando Cepeda page on Baseball Reference
  4. ↑ "1973 Oakland Athletics Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ Mike Norris page at Baseball Reference
  6. ↑ Warren Cromartie page on Baseball Reference
  7. 1 2 Jerry McNertney page at Baseball Reference
  8. ↑ Ray Fosse page at Baseball Reference
  9. ↑ Jay Johnstone page at Baseball Reference
  10. ↑ "Sporting News: Baseball History of the World Series". Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 144, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN   978-0-451-22363-0
  13. ↑ Tim Hosley page at Baseball Reference
  14. ↑ Mark Budaska page at Baseball Reference
  15. ↑ Steve McCatty page at Baseball Reference
  16. ↑ Dal Maxvill page at Baseball Reference
  17. ↑ Jesus Alou page at Baseball Reference
  18. ↑ Pat Bourque page at Baseball Reference
  19. ↑ Rico Carty page at Baseball Reference
  20. ↑ Floyd Bannister page at Baseball Reference
  21. ↑ Matt Keough page at Baseball Reference
  22. ↑ Derek Bryant page at Baseball Reference
  23. ↑ Craig Mitchell page at Baseball Reference
  24. 1 2 "1973 Oakland Athletics Statistics".
  25. 1 2 3 CNN/SI – 1998 MLB Postseason – 1973 World Series
  26. ↑ Williams to resign from Oakland job
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