Today's post is about my favorite baseball team, the Oakland Athletics, and their depressing loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1990 World Series.
Brian over at Collecting Cutch is hosting a contest on his blog. He's looking for bloggers to make a post about a year your favorite team didn't win the World Series. Within your post, he'd like you to talk about why that year's roster stood out to you and who were your favorite players that weren't superstars. In addition he wants us to talk about any players who went on to have hall of fame careers.
I went with the 1990 Athletics, because that season they entered the postseason with the best record in baseball and swept the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS to get to the World Series. Everything about that team looked primed to win it all.
Sadly, they were swept by Chris Sabo, Billy Hatcher, Jose Rijo, and company.
But I still have fond memories of that team.
Rickey Henderson won the AL MVP Award that season when he led the MLB in offensive WAR, on base percentage, runs created, and runs scored. He also represent one of three guys on this roster who would eventually get an invitation to Cooperstown.
2004 Topps Retired Signature Edition Autographs #TA-DEC
2016 Archives All-Star Signature Buybacks (1991 Bowman) #231
2016 Topps Legacies of Baseball Tenacity Autograph #TA-JC
2016 Topps Legacies of Baseball Tenacity Autograph #TA-MM
2007 Topps Co-Signers Solo Sigs #SS-DH
2012 Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #FFA-CL
2018 Arhives Fan Favorites Autographs #FFA-TS
But their pitching wasn't too shabby either.
2013 Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #FFA-BW
2003 UD Sweet Spot Classic Greats Signature #CG-DSt
2017 Five Star Heart of a Champion Autograph #FSHC-RH
2007 UD Sweet Spot Classic Signatures #SPS-CL
It's been almost three decades since the A's have gone back to the World Series and until they do... the 1990 Oakland Athletics will leave a sour taste in my mouth. That team was so talented, but much like the 1988 team, they just couldn't finish the job. Damn. Losing sucks.
Well that's it for today. A huge shout out to Brian for this interesting contest and Blog Bat-Around idea.
Happy Thursday and sayonara!
15 comments:
Thanks for the heads up on the contest, I'd have a lot to choose from during the 90's.
I really enjoyed those A's teams. Watching them lose really was tough to watch. Those Rickey cards are sweet. The Tenacity are as great looking cards. Fun post. Thanks.
Hey, at least you had '89!
I had forgotten how stacked that team was, they were fun to watch. I am surprised Lansford only made one all-star team, I remember him as better than that. You have a very nice auto collection from that team, I am jealous of those two Rickeys!
Great post. Man, Lansford has a very nice signature. He really took his time!
Very impressive A's autos! Yes, at least the A's had '89 as defgav stated. The A's also did well in the '70's too. Some teams have yet to win a World Series.
Some great cards there and that is an interesting bat around. Not sure I can fit it into my new theme with the Yankees mainly winning in the era I am doing lol
it was always a treat to wath rickey henderson. dave stewart as well.i guess the red's pitching was enough to stop that great lineup. cool cards
The though of those late 80's/early 90's Athletics teams still gives me the spooks. The Red Sox just kept getting swept by them in the postseason. Dave Stewart was our real life boogie-man...
Woof, sounds like that one heck of a super team. But if it makes you feel any better, I feel like your other favorite team (the Padres) are going to look even better if/when they make it to the World Series again.
*sounds like that was one heck of a super-team
I'm surprised you had autographs of all these guys -- I wouldn't have guessed dudes like Dave Henderson or Carney Lansford had any on the market.
The A's have always been one of my favorite teams in Baseball besides the Red Sox and Cubs. Love that Dennis Eckersley auto from '04 in particular.
That team was loaded. As a Pirates fan, I hate the 1990 Reds too as you mentioned. Thanks for joining the contest and plugging it.
johnnys trading spot - yeah... the braves were so awesome in the 90's. definitely thought they'd win more than one.
bulldog - i had been looking for a set that both mcgwire and canseco signed for... with both guys featured as a's. the tenacity pair happened to fall into my price range
defgav - yeah. can't complain. now if the padres could finally win one.
arpsmith - lansford was an excellent hitter. yeah, i was surprised he only made one myself
sumomenkoman - it's all about the cursive L ;)
bbcardz - wish i could have been born a few years earlier to appreciate those 3 they won in the 70's. i still make it a priority to pick up guys from those teams... even if i wasn't quite an a's fan yet.
parts of my past - boo hoo. ;)
kirk - there are few things i enjoyed more back in the day than watching rickey in action. good times
matt - stew is the man. a's fan love that guy. he's a big reason for their success those three years they went to the world series
zippy zappy - i'm crossing my fingers. i've liked everything i've heard about their young talent
nick - i'm so bummed that i don't have a dave henderson on-card autograph. one day... i hope to add one to my collection.
henry blanchette - looks like we look out for each others teams. i often cheer for the sox, mainly b/c i'd rather see them win than the yankees
collecting cutch - thanks for the contest and the idea for this post!
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