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Good morning, Athletics Nation!
The news has been a real bummer lately, whether you’re following just the Oakland A’s, or MLB in general, or just the world overall. To illustrate that point, the current Athletics Nation front page covers the following topics, in this order:
- White Sox signed our closer
- A different small-market team dumped their franchise star in an analogy of what we’re afraid our team will do
- Another Hall of Famer died
- Tigers signed our left fielder
- Hey did you remember there’s a pandemic going on?
Let’s break out of those doldrums with a little sliver of happy news.
On Monday, the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) announced its new Hall of Fame class for 2020, and one of the names on the list is former Oakland A’s broadcaster Bill King.
The NSMA Hall of Fame dates back to 1962 and boasts 120 members in total, including a record seven new inductees this year. The 2020 class will be inducted in June.
After getting his start in the MLB radio booth with the San Francisco Giants in 1958, King spent a quarter-century as the A’s play-by-play voice from 1981-2005, becoming a franchise icon along the way. His trademark phrase Holy Toledo is still emblazoned behind the CF wall at the Coliseum, lighting up after every Oakland homer.
But King didn’t just call baseball games. In addition to his work with the A’s, he also spent substantial time with the NFL’s Raiders (1966-92) and the NBA’s Warriors (1962-83), covering virtually every corner of Bay Area sports. He received both a World Series ring and a Super Bowl ring during his career, making him one of only two people ever to earn that combo (along with Bob Sheppard, longtime P.A. announcer of the Yankees and NY Giants).
King passed away in 2005, and in 2017 he was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award, the pinnacle of baseball broadcasting. Now he can add the NSMA Hall of Fame to his impressive and beloved legacy.
A’s Coverage
- AN: White Sox sign former A’s closer Liam Hendriks
- Coffey: With Liam Hendriks headed to Chicago, who will be the A’s next closer? ($$$)
- Coffey: ‘A man on a mission’: How A.J. Puk is working to become the pitcher the A’s need ($$$)
- Also, we’ll have a full story later today about this tweet:
One industry source believes an Andrew Benintendi deal could happen soon, but it won't be with MIA: "That's not happening.'' Others who've checked in: TEX, HOU and OAK. Other source calls PIT a potential fit, mindful of Cherington connection.
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) January 12, 2021
MLB News & Interest
- Adams (roundup): Rangers Sign Justin Anderson To Two-Year Minor League Deal
- Buchanan: ‘Such a hectic period’: What’s it like to be a GM candidate? ($$$)
- Today in Baseball History
Best of Twitter
Welcome to the A’s family!
I am proud to announce that I am officially the Social Media Coordinator for the Oakland @Athletics. It is such a blessing and an incredible opportunity after an extremely difficult year.
— Jess Seibert (@jseibertphoto) January 9, 2021
Also, a HUGE thank you to everyone who has helped & supported me along the way.
Go A’s! pic.twitter.com/6ZbVDu8QSg
Especially relevant if you live locally
The A's are in discussions with state and local officials, as well as local health care providers, about launching a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site at the Coliseum.
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) January 11, 2021
Dodger Stadium & Petco Park are expected to open up as vaccination sites this week, per Gov. Newsom.
Solid analogy
Every now & again a low budget movie with no name actors is $ success. Every now & again a mid/big budget movie fails. More often than not spending money&hiring talent with a history of success is the recipe for profit. Fisher needs to remember he’s in the entertainment industry.
— Thischarmingham (@Thischarminham) January 9, 2021
Case in point: No way Oakland can afford that
The Earth is going to get six years at $30M AAV, then https://t.co/yW8j0ezeQ7
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) January 13, 2021
In terms of offseason moves, it’s like an entire division of A’s
The Brewers signed Jace Peterson to a minor-league contract. Peterson has the second-highest ZiPS-projected WAR of any NL Central signee this offseason, behind just Daniel Robertson.
— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) January 13, 2021
Contract the NL Central?
Never mind, even the NL Central is doing something. Another cheap, interesting target off the board.
Brewers in agreement with free-agent infielder Daniel Robertson on a one-year deal, major-league contract, according to sources. The deal is pending physical.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 12, 2021
This video makes as much sense to my brain as a pig taking flight across a green sky
Have you ever seen a lefty third baseman?
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) January 13, 2021
Don Mattingly played three games at third in his career and looked pretty smooth at the hot corner. pic.twitter.com/QHdARwIZKf
Apologies for bringing up politics, but it’s relevant right now given recent public criticism of Sam Coonrod and Skye Bolt. I found this to be an interesting point — disappointing to those of us on the other side of the aisle, but in general (leaving aside all current-event context from the past week) not terribly surprising that a notoriously conservative industry filled exclusively with enormously high earners leans toward Republican politics.
Probably 80% of all major league players support Trump. https://t.co/SZqZbOdKsU
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) January 9, 2021
Perhaps the White House won’t see the only transition of power in 2021?
.@BarstoolHubbs this is your fault. https://t.co/uVtpZusTxV
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) January 13, 2021
Go home Cleveland, you’re drunk
MLB HAS TRIED TO BURY THIS FOOTAGE SINCE 1974, BUT I FINALLY UNCOVERED IT!
— Ben Porter (@Ben13Porter) January 9, 2021
REAL VIDEO FOOTAGE OF 10 CENT BEER NIGHT IN CLEVELAND! pic.twitter.com/NZYhUHau7S
U Can’t Touch This (Because It’s Probably Poisonous)
#Hamm400aos pic.twitter.com/sGhxKmLg99
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) November 10, 2020
