Poll: Favorite Former Athletics?

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 10:44 AM PST

So, we're all accustomed to seeing players depart- sometimes it's a relief to see them go, usually not. Either way, we're used to seeing former A's wearing other uniforms. I've made a list of some former A's who had significant fan affection at one time or another and are now gone, and I think it would be interesting to see which ones A's fans still (or will) root for the most. Every player on the list had to have been with the A's for more than one season (so no Johnny Damon). I know I'm probably forgetting someone important- no, not Ben Grieve- but what the hell. Maybe I should have put Spiezio instead of Lidle- he was much loved by many fans back during the grim late-90s period- but Lidle's great run during the Streak won a place in my heart.

Poll

Which ex-A will you root for the most?

Mark Mulder

12 votes

Tim Hudson

110 votes

Matt Stairs

10 votes

Cory Lidle

1 votes

Miguel Tejada

68 votes

Jermaine Dye

3 votes

Terrence Long

2 votes

Jason Giambi

3 votes

Frank Menechino

4 votes

Ramon Hernandez

5 votes

218 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 55 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Didn't vote

because my two favorites in that list are Hudson and Tejada.

sniff i miss them!

by gotgreen on Mar 2, 2005 10:54 AM PST reply actions

I voted Huddy over Miggy

because the question was root for, and Huddy is in the NL, so it's safer to root for him. Not that I won't root for both, but, you know...

devo's gf: "what is it that you write about all day when they don't even play any games?"

by devo on Mar 2, 2005 11:41 AM PST up reply actions

Exactly

And my all time favorite Athletic would have to be Stew. Or Eckersley. Or Lansford. No, Stew. I think.

by peanut gallery on Mar 2, 2005 12:36 PM PST up reply actions

Great choices

Stewart, Eck and Lansford would qualify as my faves, too. Professionals who went out, did their jobs exceptionally well, and handled themselves with class. (Remember, Eck's alcoholism and Stew's run-in with a transvestite happened BEFORE they were A's.)

I also have a soft spot for Dick Green (I guess THAT confession revealed my age...). He was my favorite player when I was a kid - from the same mold as the guys above, and what a great glove man!

When I was but a lad, my folks took me to an A's/Angels game at the Big A (and yes, we had many unflattering theories as to what the "A" stood for), and we left after the bottom of the eighth to beat the traffic. On the ride home I listened as the A's rallied in the top of the 9th, capped off by a Dick Green grand slam.

My favorite player. All-field-no-hit-Dick-Green. Grand slam to win it.

I never put up with that "beat the traffic" B.S. again!

by seedspeed on Mar 2, 2005 10:45 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah.....

Huddy over Miggy for only that reason. Frank Menechino sucked.

by AlwaysSweatin on Mar 2, 2005 2:10 PM PST up reply actions

I agree

If you put tejada and hudson together...then I can vote.

by eastbayrider on Mar 2, 2005 10:57 AM PST reply actions

Its all about...

... Rickey Henderson for the Newark Bears.

I'd love to see us give him a spot in the fall when the rosters expand. Give him one last chance to wear the green and gold!

by RickeySteals on Mar 2, 2005 11:14 AM PST reply actions

Amen to That!

Let's give Rickey the respect he would deserve to finally hang 'em up as an Athletic

by Eck on Mar 2, 2005 11:39 AM PST up reply actions

I love Rickey too

...but I'm hoping we will need that roster spot in September because we'll be in the middle of the penant race.

But if it's a done deal, yeh, let's get Rickey out there one last time!

by nickolai on Mar 2, 2005 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

Ricky's still playing somewhere...

I don't know if it's in the continental U.S., but I know that my man Ricky - the king of the 3rd person reference - has got to be playing somewhere and until he hangs them up, he is my favorite!!!!

by WannaBeGM on Mar 2, 2005 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

damn right!!!!!!

much love for ricky comin' from me!!!

BILLY, BRING RICKY BACK FOR JUST ONE MORE GAME!!!

"And right now you could care less about me But soon enough you will care, by the time I'm done."- The White Stripes; Ball and Biscuit, Elephant (of course!!!)

by bigelephant on Mar 2, 2005 5:08 PM PST up reply actions

my second best is KING KONG KINGMAN

"And right now you could care less about me But soon enough you will care, by the time I'm done."- The White Stripes; Ball and Biscuit, Elephant (of course!!!)

by bigelephant on Mar 2, 2005 5:09 PM PST up reply actions

Where Are...

Mike Gallego, Walt Weiss and Carney Lansford?

by Uncle Charlie on Mar 2, 2005 11:17 AM PST reply actions

Older players

if we were to go back to older players, my two faves were rickey henderson and dave stewart! stew came to my elementary school for a just-say-no-to-drugs assembly when i was in the 5th grade back in '88! =)

by gotgreen on Mar 2, 2005 11:25 AM PST reply actions

Uhhh

My choices, in no order:
Shooty Babbit
Billy Bean (the gay one)
Troy Neel
Ariel Prieto
Steve Sax
Tony Phillips (who once called me a cunt and said my mother wanted a girl before telling me to meet him outside after the game because I made fun of his coke and crack habit)
Ronny Gant
Kenny Rogers
and don't forget Olmedo Saenz

Network Associates Stadium: Former home of the 'Fear Mecir' sign.

by dboysick on Mar 2, 2005 11:36 AM PST reply actions

Yo! Frankeeee!

Once I sat next to Frank Menechino's brother at a game.

He was visiting Frank from New York.

This guy was straight out of The Sopranos.

Velour sweat suit? yes.

Pinkie ring? yes

Wife Beater undershirt? yes

Gold chain? yes

He kept yelling YO! FRANKEEEE! in a classic New York accent and he was just brutal to the umpire on ball and strike calls when Frank was at the plate.

He must have played a little ball once, because he made a sweet bare hand catch on a screaming hot foul ball.

A nice ballpark memory.

2nd favorite team: WHOEVER IS PLAYING THE GIANTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by ConcordFanSince1968 on Mar 2, 2005 11:37 AM PST reply actions

Thats awesome

I loved menechino when he was on the team. I could totally picture it. Good post!

by pickinmachine on Mar 2, 2005 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

I meant guys who are still playing in the bigs

Only ten items allowed in the poll...

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 11:44 AM PST reply actions

Hey, don't right Rickey off yet

devo's gf: "what is it that you write about all day when they don't even play any games?"

by devo on Mar 2, 2005 11:46 AM PST up reply actions

geez ... I can't get right and write right ....

I've been doing that over and over lately

devo's gf: "what is it that you write about all day when they don't even play any games?"

by devo on Mar 2, 2005 11:46 AM PST up reply actions

I knew a guy with a last name "Wong"

He would tell women, "You've had Mr. Right before, now it's time for Mr. Wong."

Seriously.

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time." -Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on Mar 2, 2005 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

LOL

hahaha that's hilarious. Definition of the cheesy pickup line!

Jack Sparrow: [to Weatherby Swann] I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically.

by GreenNGoldGirl on Mar 2, 2005 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

And guess what?

It didn't work. :-(

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time." -Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on Mar 2, 2005 6:15 PM PST up reply actions

I voted for Tim Hudson

Although my all-time favorite is Rickey, followed by Stew.

My favorite personal memory of Hudson is giving him (and T-Long) High-5s after the A's clinched the Division title in 2003. After the A's game was over, they played the Angels-Mariners game on the screen. Clinching the division that night was dependent on the Angels beating the Mariners, and it was a strange sight watching several thousand A's fans cheering a Tim Salmon homer! After the Angels beat the M's, A's players took a lap around the stadium and gave High-5s to fans.

It was a nice moment.

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time." -Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on Mar 2, 2005 11:46 AM PST reply actions

I voted for Huddy

still one of my fav players

I hate any player thats got the initials NY on them!

by TorontoAsFan on Mar 2, 2005 12:14 PM PST reply actions

Jose Guillen

didn't make the poll????

by Brian in 317 on Mar 2, 2005 12:20 PM PST reply actions

No Arthur Rhodes either

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time." -Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on Mar 2, 2005 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

Hey, Sal Fasano is back in the news!

You need to register (free) with the NY Times to read this article.

I always liked Fasano when he was backup catcher for the A's- that 1890s facial hair ruled! Plus, he hit one of the wickedest home rusn I've ever seen at the Coliseum one time- broke one of the luxury-box windows on Mount Davis.

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 12:25 PM PST reply actions

I was there!!!!

I was in Section 116 and saw that blast leave the frickin' bat. When people ask me about the biggest jack I've ever scene at the Coliseum, I always mention that (and a monster shot to right that I saw Larry Walker just crush when he was still with the Rockies.)Sal was not much for average, but when he got a hold of one...lookout!!

by WannaBeGM on Mar 2, 2005 2:26 PM PST up reply actions

Bigger than anything I ever saw Canseco hit

Sure, Sal didn't hit many of them, but that shot was freakin' insane.

I think the hardest home run I've ever seen hit- in terms of velocity- at the Coliseum was last year, off Jairo Garcia. I think it was Rondell White- the ball went from bat to those concrete stairs in left in about .0009 seconds. Kind of a "welcome to the big leagues" sorta moment for Jairo, I think...

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 2:51 PM PST up reply actions

Mulder

he'll always be my fav player :)

Slaaam! galang galang gala gala lang gala...

by oakasfan20 on Mar 2, 2005 12:34 PM PST reply actions

Hard to believe he's tied with Franky Menechino

but would you check out Matty Stairs!

Beer for a homer Matty, beer for a homer!!

devo's gf: "what is it that you write about all day when they don't even play any games?"

by devo on Mar 2, 2005 12:36 PM PST up reply actions

I know

I'm surprised with the voting also.....Where is the Mulder love people?

Slaaam! galang galang gala gala lang gala...

by oakasfan20 on Mar 2, 2005 1:21 PM PST up reply actions

I just put Mulder ahead of Menechino ...

but he's still behind Matty Stairs. That is surprising. I'll be rooting for him hardest in April, praying that he's over what ailed him last September.

by rubin sierra on Mar 2, 2005 12:57 PM PST up reply actions

How can you not love Matt Stairs?

He looks like the guys I drink beer with in the BART lot! Of course, none of them drink Moosehead...

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

Huddy, Tejada and Mulder...

All great guys.....cant pick one.

by OaktownPower on Mar 2, 2005 12:47 PM PST reply actions

I didn't vote

Too many choices. I miss Huddy, Miggy, Ramon, and even Frankie.

Why is T-Long on the list. I'm pretty sure we're all glad he's gone.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!!!" -Brick Tamland, Anchorman

by secret ASian man on Mar 2, 2005 1:42 PM PST reply actions

T-Long was once a fan favorite

It's just hard to remember.

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

But...

By the time he left he wasn't.

I remember the days of T-LONG! (bump, bump) T-LONG! (buh-buh-buh-bump) But he did a whole lot to lose alot fan respect.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!!!" -Brick Tamland, Anchorman

by secret ASian man on Mar 2, 2005 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

The slide that wasn't

Where's my favorite weed smuggler/juicer/anti-slider on that list?

by AlwaysSweatin on Mar 2, 2005 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

Eventually that chant changed

To "He's been here... TOO LONG! (bump bump) TOO LONG! (buh-buh-bump)"

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 2:52 PM PST up reply actions

The first game ...

I watched with my girlfriend (now my wife) was the Fenway win in which T-Long made that amazing catch to take away a game-losing home run.

How amazing was that game? It was awesome!

by Eck on Mar 2, 2005 3:23 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, but...

...as I recall, T-Long had gone oh-for-45,892 with 3,427 errors prior to that play. Sure, I'm exaggerating a bit... but I soured on T-Long about the same time I soured on Ben Grieve: Game 5 of the 2000 ALDS. T-Long misplayed what ended up being a bases-clearing Yankees double while the scoreboard summary of Ben Grieve's day at the plate looked something like this:
STRIKEOUT SWINGING
STRIKEOUT SWINGING
STRIKEOUT SWINGING
STRIKEOUT SWINGING
STRIKEOUT SWINGING

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Mar 2, 2005 3:30 PM PST up reply actions

How about none?

All of the above are competition to my A's.

This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.

by baseballgirl on Mar 2, 2005 4:03 PM PST reply actions

I met Ramon Hernandez...

in addition to several others on that list and Ramon was frankly one of my favorites on the team. I was at the walk-off bunt game and it was the best baseball game I think I've ever been too. Random fans were hugging each other in the street after the game. It was amazing.

Ramon was also one of the nicest A's I've met. Mulder wasn't very friendly, but apparently he's just that way according to Aces.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 2, 2005 4:15 PM PST reply actions

Oh, and plus...

he's in the National League, unlike Miggy.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 2, 2005 4:16 PM PST up reply actions

I was there too

One of the best baseball moments I've ever seen.

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time." -Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on Mar 2, 2005 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

rickey

and Hendu

by babylabash on Mar 2, 2005 4:21 PM PST reply actions

i voted for Miggy...

the standing ovation at that first Oakland/Baltimore game brought tears to my eyes... i miss watching him cheer on his teammates from the dugout...

by high street on Mar 2, 2005 5:59 PM PST reply actions

Yeah

I've loved them all, but Viva Tejada!

by Eck on Mar 2, 2005 6:13 PM PST up reply actions

at the end of last year ...

... Tejada would've been my choice no doubt. He was so fun to root for; such a great name to yell out: Let's go, Miggy! And then all the drum rolls and then ... Tejada!! At the start of last season, I missed rooting for him so much that I would sort of refuse to recognize his absence, yelling out "C'mon Tejada!" whenever Crosby came to bat.

I say "would've been my choice" then because now, a year has passed and he spent that year on another team, and I'm glad he did well in his first year as an Oriole--but during that year, Mark Mulder became my favorite Athletic.

So hopefully at this time next year, those guys will still be 1-2 in my list of favorite former-A's, because if not, it'll mean we're losing someone else I like at the end of this year.

p.s. Was Ted Lilly on the list? That guy was awesome at the end of 2003.

by rubin sierra on Mar 2, 2005 8:42 PM PST up reply actions

My son got his autograph that night...

On a foul ball that he'd hit in the Pedro vs Hudson game the year before...

Here's the story from my journal...

http://www.sportsbarinfo.com/smf/index.php?topic=36.0

Posted By : "Man I miss the Rally-Miggy"

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Mar 3, 2005 9:31 AM PST up reply actions

I'm still rooting

for Rickey to make it back to the majors. ;)

MJB

by MJB on Mar 3, 2005 11:20 AM PST reply actions

Mike Bordick

I know he's done now. But that guy literally CREATED a major league career for himself with his incredible desire and work ethic, when the talent really wasn't there.

He's probably the only Oakland A that I followed and rooted for after he was traded.

It's also probably why I like Mark Ellis so much. He reminds me a lot of Bordick. :-)

TLAAoAitCoO - The Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim in the County of Orange.

by nodaclu on Mar 3, 2005 8:20 PM PST reply actions