The 1974 Oakland Athletics season was the 74th season for the Oakland Athletics franchise, all as members of the American League, and their 7th season in Oakland. The Athletics won 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.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,

In early 1974, owner Charlie Finley tried to sell the team with an asking price of $15 million.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,

Offseason November 3, 1973: Horacio Piña was traded by the Athletics to the Chicago Cubs for Bob Locker. December 12, 1973: Rico Carty was released by the Athletics.Rico Carty page at Baseball Reference 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.

Regular season June 5, 1974: Outfielders Billy North and Reggie Jackson engaged in a clubhouse fight at Detroit's Tiger Stadium Jackson injured his shoulder, and catcher Ray Fosse, attempting to separate the combatants, 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 Sal Bando Vida Blue Bert Campaneris Reggie Jackson Ángel Mangual Billy North Joe Rudi Gene Tenace Manny Trillo1974 Oakland Athletics Roster by Baseball Almanac

Notable transactions May 10, 1974: Dal Maxvill was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.Dal Maxvill page at Baseball Reference June 5, 1974: Rick Lysander was drafted by the Athletics in the 19th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.Rick Lysander page at Baseball Reference August 19, 1974: Pat Bourque was traded by the Athletics to the Minnesota Twins for Jim Holt.Pat Bourque page at Baseball Reference

Roster 1974 Oakland Athletics Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Designated runner Manager

Coaches

Player stats = Indicates team leader

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 C 64 204 40 .196 4 23 1B 158 484 102 .211 26 73 2B 100 287 61 .213 2 22 3B 146 498 121 .243 22 103 SS 134 527 153 .290 2 41 LF 158 593 174 .293 22 99 CF 149 543 141 .260 4 33 RF 148 506 146 .289 29 93 DH 115 365 85 .233 9 43

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 115 365 85 .233 9 43 73 221 63 .285 0 19 99 220 46 .209 0 18 50 174 34 .195 7 23 76 121 20 .165 2 3 73 96 22 .229 1 16 60 52 10 .192 0 2 30 42 6 .143 0 0 18 41 10 .244 0 3 21 33 5 .152 0 2 30 28 5 .179 0 1 10 15 2 .133 0 0 11 7 2 .286 0 1 5 7 1 .143 0 0 92 0 0 ---- 0 0

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 41 318.1 25 12 2.49 143 40 282.1 17 15 3.25 174 39 255.1 19 17 3.07 117 19 96.0 5 7 3.00 38

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 29 117.0 7 4 3.69 69 34 87.1 1 5 3.81 52

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 76 9 5 18 2.65 95 45 4 4 6 2.06 46 45 3 3 3 4.22 18 6 0 0 0 3.24 1 4 0 0 0 0.00 2

Postseason

ALCS

The Athletics defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 3 games to 1.

GameScoreDateLocationAttendance1Baltimore – 6, Oakland – 3October 5Oakland Coliseum41,6092Baltimore – 0, Oakland – 5October 6Oakland Coliseum42,8103Oakland – 1, Baltimore – 0October 8Memorial Stadium32,0604Oakland – 2, Baltimore – 1October 9Memorial Stadium28,136

1974 World Series

Summary +AL Oakland Athletics (4) vs. NL Los Angeles Dodgers (1) GameScoreDateLocationAttendanceTime of Game1 Athletics – 3, Dodgers – 2 October 12Dodger Stadium 55,974 2:432 Athletics – 2, Dodgers – 3 October 13Dodger Stadium 55,989 2:403 Dodgers – 2, Athletics – 3 October 15Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 49,347 2:354 Dodgers – 2, Athletics – 5 October 16Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 49,347 2:175 Dodgers – 2, Athletics – 3 October 17Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 49,347 2:23

Awards and honors Rollie Fingers, World Series Most Valuable Player Award Catfish Hunter, P, American League Cy Young Award

All-Stars 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Bert Campaneris, shortstop, starter Reggie Jackson, outfield, starter Sal Bando, reserve Rollie Fingers, reserve Catfish Hunter, reserve Joe Rudi, reserve

Farm system

References

External links 1974 Oakland Athletics team page at Baseball Reference 1974 Oakland Athletics team page at www.baseball-almanac.com