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Oakland Athletics: Best Right Fielder In A’s History

By Mark Sigmon

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And the winner for Best Right Fielder in Oakland Athletics’ History is….

While we’re all looking forward to the start of the baseball season, I thought I would share my ideas on the best players at each position since the A’s moved to Oakland. One of the things that I love about teaching the History of Baseball is that we have statistics going back to the 1880s. We have lots of numbers and statistics, but we all have our own opinions on who was the best. These are just my impressions, so feel free to disagree in the comments if you like. After all, what else is there to argue about during Spring Training?

When it comes to right field, let me say first off that it is my fondest hope and dream to see Josh Reddick in his funky bathrobe, spraying champagne all over Sonny Gray, Stephen Vogt and Eric Sogard as they celebrate a World Series victory.  Reddick has earned the love and respect of all current Oakland A’s fans. He plays a spectacular right field. Whenever the ball is hit in Reddick’s direction, you are kind of hoping that a batter tries to take an extra base just to see the laser beam of a throw gunning down another hapless runner. Reddick hit 32 home runs in 2012.  If he gets 25 this year, the A’s will be just fine. Josh Reddick is one of the best to have ever played right field in Oakland.

Jose Canseco had some pretty amazing seasons in Oakland, as well. With the help of performance-enhancing drugs, Canseco had tremendous power and speed. He was baseball’s first 40/40 man. However, Canseco’s off-field antics were embarrassing for the organization and its fans. I remember making excuses for him to my kids. Who paints a Jaguar “candy apple red” and then crashes it into his wife’s car? Let’s just say that I would have traded him for Ruben Sierra, too, though maybe not in the middle of a game. Perhaps I am making excuses again, but listening to interviews with Canseco recently, it seems he is contrite and humble about his time with the A’s. Let’s hope that he is on a better path these days.

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The best right fielder in Oakland A’s history, however, is none other than Reginald Martinez “Reggie” Reggie Jackson.

Jackson stood out on a team stacked with great talent. He had tremendous power. When he played in Oakland, Jackson was always among the league leaders in home runs. While he had to sit out the A’s first World Series in 1972, he was a force in ’73.  Jackson won the Series MVP, though he felt Bert “Campy” Bert Campaneris deserved it.

Charles Finley created a dynasty in the early 1970s. One of the reasons we can argue about baseball statistics is because there are always mitigating circumstances. One intriguing question will always be: how many titles would the Oakland A’s of the early 70s have won with a different owner?

On one hand, Finley built that team using the draft and a shrewd eye for talent. On the other hand, Finley was such a miser that his players came to despise him. Jackson was no exception. Reggie was a proud, talented, well-educated African American who came into his own just after the Civil Rights movement. He demanded respect. Finley did not discriminate; he disrespected all of his players.

Next: The Best Center Fielder in A's History

Finley had bitter contract disputes with Jackson and other great players. As soon as free agency came about (inadvertently helped along mightily by Finley himself), Jackson and the rest of that incredible team fled for greener pastures. According to Susan Slusser though, Jackson never actually wanted to leave Oakland.

Plus, Jackson started the A’s facial hair trends when he came to spring training with a mustache! His combination of power and pride makes Jackson the best right fielder in Oakland A’s history.

That’s what I think. What do you think?