Why now, you ask?  Well two reasons.  One, it is still an anniversary year (sort of).  And two, history seems a worthy topic since the A’s of the present are making hurried strides to compete with the dubious ghosts of Oakland’s past (and Kansas City’s and Philadelphia’s, too, oh my!).

So let me get these out of the way, and then you guys can do that dump thing you do so well.

On this date in 1970, Jim Hunter was defeated by Cleveland, 6-3.  He was better at the plate than on the mound that evening with two hits, including a solo homerun.

Jim Hunter had a thing for August 21st, it seems.

Catfish came back the next year (1971) with a complete-game, four-hit victory over Boston.  Then for the third consecutive season on this date he started for the A’s, and for the second straight year, came away with the win, this time 5-1 at Detroit.

Here’s something that might sound familiar: on this date in 1977, the A’s lost for the 19th time in 21 outings, falling to Cleveland’s Dennis Eckersley, 4-1.

Like Catfish, it’s a good thing that Eck grew a mustache.

The A’s lost 108 games in 1979, but lo and behold, August 21st was not one of them!

In Billy Martin’s last season as A’s manager, Oakland broke through with a victory on this date in 1982 (following losses the two previous seasons). Rickey  had three stolen bases (brining his season total to 114; four away from Lou Brock’s record).

Rickey was unstoppable on the base paths in 1982.

Oakland won in thrilling fashion on this date in 1985. Trailing the Tigers 3-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, the A’s scored four runs- the last two on a double by Rickey, and a Detroit error- to win it.

The Green-and-Gold survived three Yankee homeruns to beat New York, 6-4, on this date in 1987. Jay Howell pitched the ninth for his 16th save- his last one ever in an A’s uniform. Some guy named Eck took over after Howell went down with a season-ending injury. Tired yet?  We’re only halfway there!  Mark McGwire homered for the second straight season on this date (1989) and Oakland beat Detroit, 6-1.

Mac, when he was half the man he would become (kind of)

Rookie Frank Thomas doubled and scored a run in his White Sox’ 4-1 win against Oakland on this date in 1990 (I feel really old right now).  What is "this date in A’s history" without beating the hated Halos?  It happened in 1991, 2-0.

On this date in 1995, the A’s jumped out to a 10-1 lead after two innings and spanked the Yanks, 13-4. They nearly repeated that effort on this date in 1997, bolting out to a 12-1 advantage after three frames, and bashing Boston 13-6. Oakland hit six homeruns (six!) including four in a six-run third. Scott Brosius and Scott Spiezio were among the homerees in those games.

Great Scotts! Brosius and Spiezio won titles after leaving Oakland.

Almost there, oh non-nostalgic ones…A couple of close losses on this date to start the decade were hung out to dry as were the Cleveland Indians, victim of a stirring (finally, I get to use stirring) one-hit shutout by Cory Lidle in 2002. It was Oakland’s eighth win in a row. I think they won one or two more after that. Or maybe it was twelve. Yeah, that’s it; it was twelve.

Cory Lidle and the A’s were all smiles in August 2002

Red Sox Revenge: jumping out to an 8-3 lead after three innings, Boston bounced Oakland, 14-5 on this date in 2003. Rookie Rich Harden got the start, and check out this ugly line: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 7 BB (!), 2 HR. Thank God we traded this guy.

Remember August 21, 2006?  Danny Haren got the victory, after falling behind 8-0 after two innings! This was the game that Ted Lilly clashed with manager Josh Gibbons. Fun times.  Haren won again on this date last year, 6-4, over those same Jays. Well, not quite the same. Frank Thomas was on the opposite side, and he hit a pair of long balls off Haren, who ultimately laughed last.

"I don’t agree that this DLD sucks, Ted."

"It does suck! Even worse than gigglingone’s!"

Dump. Might as well dump. Dump! Go ahead and dump.